Book barcodes

Why is my ISBN not accepted?

Updated

Answer

Barcode Rocket does not accept an ISBN that has the wrong number of digits, does not start with 978 or 979, or has a last digit that does not fit the others. The message under the picture says which of the three it is. Almost always it is a typo: copy the ISBN again from your ISBN agency's record.

What the message says

You seeWhat it meansWhat to do
You entered 12 digits. An ISBN has 13.A digit is missing or there is one too many.Copy the whole number again.
An ISBN starts with 978 or 979.This is not an ISBN-13.An old 10-digit ISBN has a 13-digit version that starts with 978. Your ISBN agency's record shows it.
The last digit (check digit) should be 7, not 4.The last digit does not fit the others.One digit is wrong. Compare every digit with your record.

How to fix it

  1. Open the record from your ISBN agency (for example Bowker in the US or Nielsen in the UK and Ireland).
  2. Copy the 13-digit ISBN and paste it into the field. Hyphens and spaces are fine.
  3. When the picture appears, compare the Scans as line in PRINT CHECK with your record.
The field Your ISBN (13 digits, starts with 978 or 979) with the ISBN 9781402894626 typed
Step 2: Paste the ISBN into the field.
PRINT CHECK for an ISBN with price: the Dark, Light and White buttons, the Ready badge, the barcode with 51999 and three green checks. The last check reads Scans as 9781402894626 + 51999
Step 3: Compare the Scans as line with your record.

Why the site checks the last digit

The last digit of an ISBN is a check digit. It is calculated from the other twelve, so almost every typo, including most swapped digits, is caught at once. Barcode Rocket never changes your number: if the check digit is wrong, you need the right ISBN, not a corrected one.

Still not working?

Make sure you are on a book type (ISBN, KDP layout, IngramSpark layout or Connect QR). For a product number, use More barcode types: see How do I make EAN, UPC and carton barcodes?

Go deeper in the Guides

Getting startedWhat does this message in the studio mean?A list of the messages Barcode Rocket shows in the studio, from wrong ISBN digits to daily limits, with what each one means and what to do next.Getting startedWhy is the Download button gray or red?A faded Download button on Barcode Rocket means something is still missing; tap it to jump there. A red Fix button means something is wrong; read the message.Book barcodesHow do I make an ISBN barcode for my book?Make an ISBN barcode on Barcode Rocket: pick Books and ISBN, choose Price or No price, type your 13-digit ISBN and download a 100% K vector PDF. Free, no account.