Understanding Error 90217: How to Fix Invalid Image Format Issues in Amazon Listings
Error 90217 occurs when an image URL in a product listing contains an unsupported file format. Sellers must use accepted formats like JPEG, PNG, TIFF, or GIF to resolve the error and ensure listings process correctly.
Overview
Error 90217 is a product listing validation error that Amazon returns when a seller submits an image URL containing an unsupported file format. This error blocks listing creation or updates until the image is replaced with a file in one of Amazon's accepted formats. Understanding this error and how to resolve it quickly is essential for sellers who manage product catalogs at scale or use automated listing tools.
Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know
- What triggers it — Error 90217 fires when an image URL submitted for a product attribute contains a file format that Amazon does not recognize or support, such as WebP, BMP, SVG, or other non-standard formats.
- Affected attributes — The error can appear on any image-related attribute field, including the main product image, alternate images, swatch images, and any other field that accepts an image URL.
- Supported formats — Amazon generally accepts JPEG (.jpg/.jpeg), PNG (.png), TIFF (.tif/.tiff), and GIF (.gif) for product images. The exact supported formats are included in the error message itself.
- Blocking behavior — This is a hard validation error, meaning Amazon will reject the entire feed submission or listing update for the affected SKU until the image format issue is corrected.
- Common sources — The error frequently occurs when sellers use bulk upload tools, third-party listing software, or API-based integrations that reference images hosted on external servers in non-standard formats.
How the Error Works
When you submit a product listing or update through Seller Central, a flat file upload, or the SP-API, Amazon validates every image URL against its list of accepted file formats. The system inspects the file extension in the URL to determine the format. If the URL points to an image with an unsupported extension — or if the URL lacks a recognizable image extension altogether — Amazon returns Error 90217 along with the specific attribute name that failed validation and the list of formats it does accept. This means the error message itself is your best guide: it tells you exactly which attribute has the problem and which formats you should be using instead.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
Invalid image formats block listing creation and updates, which can delay product launches and reduce sales. Sellers using bulk uploads or automated tools are especially vulnerable to this error affecting multiple SKUs at once.
Key Takeaways
- Error 90217 means your image URL uses a file format Amazon doesn't accept — check the error message for the specific attribute and supported formats
- JPEG and PNG are the safest image formats for Amazon listings
- The error commonly occurs with WebP images or URLs that obscure the file extension
- Adding format validation to your image pipeline prevents this error from recurring across bulk uploads
Recommended Actions
- →Convert all product images to JPEG or PNG before submitting to Amazon
- →If using bulk uploads or API tools, add a pre-submission check that validates image URL extensions against Amazon's supported formats
- →Review the specific error message to identify which attribute and SKU is affected, then resubmit only the corrected rows
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