Delete a book by long-pressing it on your device
On a phone or tablet, open the Kindle app and go to your library. Find the book you want to remove, then press and hold the cover image until a menu appears. Tap Delete or Remove from Device — the exact wording depends on your phone's operating system and which Kindle app version you have.
This removes the book from your device's storage, freeing up space. The book stays in your Kindle account, so you can read it again later without paying. If you want to permanently delete it from your account entirely, you need to use a computer or the Kindle website instead.
Key Takeaways
- Long-press a book cover in the Kindle app to see the delete option, which removes it from your device but keeps it in your account.
- Deleting from your device frees up phone or tablet storage but does not erase your purchase history.
- To permanently remove a book from your Kindle account so it no longer appears in your library, use the Kindle website on a computer.
- Library books borrowed through your public library disappear from the app automatically when the loan period ends.
Remove a book permanently from your Kindle account
If you want to delete a book so it no longer shows up in your library at all, you must use a web browser. Go to amazon.com, sign in with the same account you use for Kindle, and click on your account name in the top right corner. Select Manage Your Content and Devices.
Find the book in the list, click the three-dot menu next to it, and choose Delete. This removes it from your account permanently. You will no longer see it in your library on any device, and you cannot read it again unless you purchase it a second time. This action cannot be undone.
Understand the difference between device storage and account removal
The Kindle app stores books in two places: on your phone or tablet, and in your Amazon account. When you delete a book from your device, you are only removing the file that takes up storage space. Your Amazon account still remembers you own it.
Think of it like a library card: deleting from your device is like returning a physical book to the shelf. Deleting from your account is like asking the library to remove the title from your record entirely. Most people only need to delete from their device to save space. You only need account deletion if you want the book to disappear from your library view.
Handle borrowed library books differently
If you borrowed a book through your public library using the Kindle app, you do not need to delete it manually. The book automatically disappears from your library when the loan period ends, usually after 14 or 21 days depending on your library's settings.
If you want to return a library book early, open the Kindle app, long-press the book, and select Return. This makes it available for other patrons to borrow when ready. The book then vanishes from your library. You can borrow it again later if you want.
Free up space on your phone or tablet
If your phone is running low on storage, deleting books from your Kindle app is one way to reclaim space. Each book takes up different amounts of room — a short novel might use 1 to 2 megabytes, while a long book with images can use 10 or more. Deleting 10 books might free up 50 megabytes, which is modest but can add up.
You can also manage which books stay on your device by going to your Kindle library settings. Some phones let you set the app to read books only when you tap them, rather than storing them automatically. Check your device's Kindle app settings under Library or Downloads to see what options are available.
Recover a book you deleted by mistake
If you permanently deleted a book from your account and want it back, you cannot undo the deletion directly. However, if you purchased the book, you can read it again from your Amazon purchase history at no cost. Go to amazon.com, click your account, select Returns, Orders, and Settings, then Your Orders. Find the book and read it again.
If the book was a library loan you returned early, straightforward borrow it again through your library's Kindle lending service. There is no penalty for returning a book early and borrowing it again later.
Manage your library on a computer instead
If you find it easier to manage books on a larger screen, you can delete them from the Kindle website instead of using the app. Sign in at amazon.com, go to Manage Your Content and Devices, and use the checkboxes to select multiple books at once. Then click Delete to remove them all together.
This method is faster if you want to clean up your library in bulk. You can also sort your library by date added, title, or author to find books more easily. Any changes you make on the website appear in your Kindle app within a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a book from my Kindle app delete it from my Amazon account?
No. Deleting from the app only removes the file from your device. Your Amazon account still shows you own the book, and you can read it again anytime. To remove it from your account completely, use the Kindle website.
Can I get my money back if I delete a book I purchased?
Deleting a book does not trigger a refund. If you want a refund for a Kindle book, contact Amazon customer service separately — deletion is not the same as a return request.
What happens to library books when I delete them?
If you delete a borrowed library book from your device, it stays checked out to you until the loan period ends. To return it early, use the Return option instead of delete. Deleting just removes the file from your phone.
Can I delete books in bulk from the Kindle app?
The Kindle app does not have a bulk delete feature. You must delete books one at a time by long-pressing each cover. If you want to delete many books at once, use the Kindle website instead, where you can select multiple titles and delete them together.
Will deleting a book affect my reading progress or notes?
If you delete a book from your device but keep it in your account, your bookmarks and notes stay saved in Amazon's servers. When you read the book again, your progress reappears. If you delete the book from your account entirely, those notes are lost.