A valid main h5p.json file is missing

Find the manifest, check the ZIP root, and understand when a fresh export is needed.

This error means the importer could not find or read the package manifest. Start by checking the archive structure before changing any metadata.

Check the package root

Open a copy as a ZIP archive. The file h5p.json should be at the top level. If all files are inside a single folder such as lesson/, the package has an extra wrapper. H5P Doctor can remove an unambiguous wrapper from a copy.

If the file is present

It may contain invalid JSON, an encoding marker, or incorrect field values. Scan the package to see the exact path and diagnostic. The tool can remove a UTF-8 byte-order mark from JSON that otherwise parses correctly. It will not invent missing lesson metadata.

If the file is absent

Re-export the activity from its source editor. Renaming a SCORM archive or an HTML export to .h5p does not turn it into an H5P package.

Technical references

H5P file structure · Package definition · Library definition · H5P validator source

This guide describes package checks, not certified platform compatibility. Reviewed for this MVP in September 2026.