RSC-007 is reported as error by default. The EPUB breaks a rule of the specification and is invalid. Stores and Send to Kindle may reject it, and EPUBCheck exits with status 1.

EPUBCheck · Resources and references

`RSC-007`

Updated: Nov 3, 2026

EPUBCheck RSC-007 is an error message: “Referenced resource "…" could not be found in the EPUB.” A link or reference points to a file that is not in the EPUB.

The official message

Referenced resource "%1$s" could not be found in the EPUB.

Default severity: Error. The EPUB breaks a rule of the specification and is invalid. Stores and Send to Kindle may reject it, and EPUBCheck exits with status 1.
EPUBCheck version: 5.4.0

%1$s, %2$s… are filled in with the file, value or element EPUBCheck found.

Typical causes

A misspelled path or wrong case (paths are case-sensitive).
A file that was deleted or renamed, or a link left over from the source document, such as a converted PDF's internal link.

How to fix it

Correct the path, or add the missing file to the EPUB and the manifest.
Remove the link if the target no longer exists.

Terms used here

Other RSC messages

RSC-007w Referenced resource "…" could not be found in the EPUB.
RSC-006 Remote resource reference is not allowed in this context; resource "…" must be located in the EPUB container.
RSC-008 Referenced resource "…" is not declared in the OPF manifest.
RSC-005 Error while parsing file: …
RSC-009 A non-SVG image resource should not be defined with a fragment identifier.
RSC-004 File "…" is encrypted, its content will not be checked.

Message text and severity from EPUBCheck 5.4.0 (W3C, BSD-3-Clause). Explanation by EPUBLab.