Delete a book in three steps
To delete a book from your Kindle device or app, find the title in your library, press and hold it (or right-click on a computer), and select the delete option. The book disappears from your device when ready, though Amazon keeps a record that you own it — you can read it again later at no cost if you change your mind.
The exact steps depend on whether you're using a Kindle e-reader, a phone or tablet app, or a web browser. Each method is slightly different, but all three take less than a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a book from your device does not remove your ownership — Amazon stores your purchase history, and you can re-read the book anytime.
- On a Kindle e-reader, highlight the book title, press the menu button, and choose "Remove from Device".
- On the Kindle app for phones and tablets, press and hold the book cover until a menu appears, then tap "Remove from Device".
- On a computer, sign into Amazon.com, go to your library, right-click the book, and select "Remove from Device".
- If you want to permanently erase a book from your account so you cannot re-read it, you must do that through Amazon's website, not the device or app.
Delete a book on a Kindle e-reader
On any Kindle device (Paperwhite, Oasis, or basic model), navigate to your library by pressing the home button. Scroll through your books or use the search function to find the title you want to remove.
Highlight the book by pressing the five-way controller or touchscreen, then press the menu button (three horizontal lines). A menu will appear with several options. Select "Remove from Device". The book will vanish from your library screen within seconds.
Your Kindle will free up storage space, but the book remains in your Amazon account. If you later want to read it again, go to your library, find the title, and select "read" to put it back on the device.
Delete a book on the Kindle app for phones and tablets
Open the Kindle app on your iPhone, iPad, Android phone, or Android tablet. Tap the "Library" tab at the bottom of the screen (or the menu icon if you're on an older version of the app).
Find the book you want to remove. Press and hold the book cover for two to three seconds until a menu pops up. Tap "Remove from Device". The book will disappear from your library view when ready.
If you do not see the book in your library, it may be in a collection or filtered by a category. Check the filter at the top of the screen — you can change it to "All Items" to see every book in your account, including ones you have not downloaded yet.
Delete a book using a web browser
Go to Amazon.com and sign in with your account. Hover over "Account & Lists" in the top right corner and select "Your Content and Devices" (or "Manage Your Content and Devices" on older versions of the site).
Click the "Books" tab to see your entire Kindle library. Find the book you want to remove and hover over it. A menu icon (three dots) will appear on the right side of the title. Click it and select "Remove from Device".
This method works the same way as deleting from your device or app — the book stays in your account and you can read it again later. If you want to permanently erase the book from your account entirely (so you cannot re-read it), that option is also in this menu, but it is rarely what you need.
The difference between removing and permanently deleting
When you remove a book from your device, it stays in your Amazon account. You own it, and you can read it as many times as you want. This is the standard way to free up space on a Kindle without losing the book.
If you want to permanently erase a book from your account so that it no longer appears in your library and you cannot read it again, you must do that through the website. Go to "Your Content and Devices", find the book, click the menu, and select "Delete from Library". This action cannot be undone, so use it only if you are certain you will never want to read the book again.
Most people only need to remove books from their device, not delete them from their account. Removing saves storage space without any downside.
What happens to books you borrowed or received as gifts
If you borrowed a book through Kindle Unlimited or a library lending program, removing it from your device works the same way. The book goes back to being available (you no longer have a copy), but you can borrow it again later if you want.
If someone sent you a book as a gift and you have not yet accepted it, you will see it in a "Gifts" section of your library. You can remove it from there without accepting it, and it will not appear in your library. If you already accepted the gift and then removed it from your device, you can still re-read it like any other book you own.
Troubleshooting: book won't delete or keeps reappearing
If you try to delete a book and it reappears on your device, your Kindle may be syncing with your Amazon account. Wait a few minutes and try again. If the book is set to auto-read (a feature that automatically puts new purchases on all your devices), removing it from one device may cause it to reappear.
To turn off auto-read, go to "Your Content and Devices" on Amazon.com, click "Preferences", and uncheck "Automatic Book Delivery". After that, books will only appear on devices where you manually read them.
If a book is stuck and will not delete, try restarting your Kindle device or closing and reopening the Kindle app. If the problem persists, contact Amazon customer service — they can remove the book from your account on their end.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I delete a book, will I lose my notes and highlights?
Your notes and highlights are saved to your Amazon account separately from the book file itself. When you re-read the book, your annotations will still be there. If you permanently delete the book from your library (not just remove it from your device), your notes will be deleted as well.
Can I delete multiple books at once?
On the Kindle app and website, you can select multiple books and remove them together. On a Kindle e-reader, you must remove books one at a time. The website method is fastest if you need to delete many books.
Does deleting a book free up storage space on my Kindle?
Yes. Removing a book from your device frees up the storage it was using. If your Kindle is running slowly or you are running out of space, deleting books you have finished reading is a straightforward way to improve performance.
What if I accidentally deleted a book I wanted to keep?
If you removed it from your device (not permanently deleted it from your library), you can re-read it when ready. Go to your library, find the title, and select "read". If you permanently deleted it from your account, contact Amazon customer service — they may be able to restore it within a limited time window.