# PKG-025: content file inside META-INF, how to fix it

Source: https://epubcc.com/epubcheck/pkg-025/ (updated 2026-11-04)

EPUBCheck PKG-025 is an error message: “Publication resource must not be located in the META-INF directory.” A file of the publication (a chapter, image or stylesheet) is stored inside META-INF, a folder reserved for container files such as container.xml. EPUB 3.3 does not allow publication resources there.

- Official message (EPUBCheck 5.4.0): Publication resource must not be located in the META-INF directory
- Default severity: Error

## Typical causes

- Content files placed next to container.xml by mistake, or a package document saved inside META-INF.
- A build script that copies everything into the same folder.

## How to fix it

1. Move the file out of META-INF, into the folder that holds the rest of the content.
2. Update the manifest and every reference, and the rootfile path in container.xml if you moved the package document.
3. Rebuild the archive and validate again.

## When it's not this

If container.xml itself is missing from META-INF, the error is RSC-002.

## Sources

- EPUB 3.3, §4.2.6 META-INF directory: https://www.w3.org/TR/epub-33/#sec-container-metainf (read 2026-11-04)

Message text and severity: EPUBCheck (W3C, BSD-3-Clause). Explanation: EpubCC.