You can delete books from your Kindle in under a minute, and the book stays in your Amazon library unless you remove it there too
Deleting a book from your Kindle device or app does not erase it from your Amazon account. The book moves to your library's "Archived" section, where you can read it again later at no cost. If you want to permanently remove it so it no longer appears in your library at all, you need to take a second step on Amazon's website. Most people delete books to free up storage space on their device, especially if they read on a phone or tablet with limited room.
The process differs slightly depending on whether you are using a Kindle e-reader (like a Paperwhite or Oasis), the Kindle app on a phone or tablet, or the Kindle Cloud Reader in a web browser. All three methods take less than a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a book from your device removes it from your Kindle but keeps it in your Amazon library under "Archived" items.
- On a Kindle e-reader, press and hold the book title, then select "Remove from Device" from the menu that appears.
- On the Kindle app for phones and tablets, swipe left on the book (iOS) or press and hold it (Android), then tap "Remove from Device."
- To permanently delete a book so it no longer appears in your library at all, you must remove it from your Amazon account on the website.
- Deleting a book does not refund your purchase or affect your reading history on Amazon.
Deleting books from a Kindle e-reader
On a physical Kindle device, navigate to your library by pressing the Home button. Find the book you want to remove and press and hold it until a menu appears. Select "Remove from Device" — this is the only option you need if you want to keep the book in your Amazon library for later.
The book disappears from your device when ready and frees up storage space. You can read it again anytime by going to your library on the device, finding the "Archived" section, and selecting the book to re-read it. This process works the same way on all Kindle e-readers: Paperwhite, Oasis, Voyage, and the basic Kindle.
Deleting books from the Kindle app on your phone or tablet
On iPhone or iPad, open the Kindle app and go to your library. Find the book you want to remove and swipe left on it. A red "Remove from Device" button appears — tap it. The book is now deleted from your app but remains in your Amazon library.
On Android phones and tablets, press and hold the book cover until a menu pops up. Tap "Remove from Device." The book disappears from your app when ready. Like the e-reader, you can re-read it anytime from your library's archived section.
Deleting books from Kindle Cloud Reader
Kindle Cloud Reader is the web version of Kindle that runs in your browser. Open it at read.amazon.com, find the book in your library, and hover your mouse over the book cover. A menu icon (three dots) appears in the top right corner of the cover. Click it and select "Remove from Device."
The book is removed from Cloud Reader but stays in your Amazon library. You can open it again in Cloud Reader or read it to a physical Kindle device anytime.
Permanently removing a book from your Amazon library
If you want to delete a book so it no longer appears in your Amazon library at all — not just archived, but completely gone — you must do this on Amazon's website, not on your device or app. Go to amazon.com, sign in, and navigate to "Manage Your Content and Devices" under your account menu. This is sometimes labeled "Your Content and Devices" depending on your account region.
Find the book in the list and click the three-dot menu next to it. Select "Delete" or "Remove from Library." A confirmation message appears asking if you are sure. Confirm, and the book is permanently removed from your account. You will no longer see it in your library, and you cannot re-read it unless you purchase it again.
Permanent deletion does not refund your purchase. If you bought the book, you paid for it, and removing it from your library does not reverse that transaction. If you borrowed the book through a library service or Kindle Unlimited, it straightforward returns to the lending pool.
What happens to your notes and highlights when you delete a book
If you delete a book from your device but keep it in your library (archived), your notes and highlights are preserved. When you re-read the book, all your annotations return with it.
If you permanently delete a book from your Amazon library, your notes and highlights are deleted along with it. Amazon does not keep a separate backup of your annotations once the book is gone from your account. If you want to save your notes before deleting a book permanently, take screenshots or copy them to a document first.
Freeing up storage space on your Kindle device
Kindle e-readers have built-in storage that holds hundreds or thousands of books depending on the model. The basic Kindle has 8 GB, while Paperwhite and Oasis models have 8 GB or 32 GB options. Even with the smallest storage, you can fit several hundred books before running out of room.
If you are running low on storage, deleting books you have finished reading is the fastest way to free space. You can also delete samples of books you are considering buying — these take up storage but can be removed without affecting your library. On your Kindle device, go to Settings, then Device Storage, to see how much space you have left and which books are taking up the most room.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I delete a book from my Kindle, can I get it back?
Yes, if you deleted it from your device but not from your Amazon library. Go to your library, find the "Archived" section, and re-read the book. It returns to your device with all your notes and highlights intact. If you permanently deleted it from your Amazon account, you can only get it back by purchasing it again.
Does deleting a book from my Kindle affect other devices?
No. If you delete a book from your Kindle e-reader, it stays on your phone's Kindle app and your computer's Cloud Reader unless you delete it from those separately. Each device has its own library view. To remove a book from all your devices at once, permanently delete it from your Amazon account on the website.
Will I get my money back if I delete a book I purchased?
No. Deleting a book from your device or library does not refund your purchase. If you want to return a book within seven days of purchase, you must use Amazon's return process on the website, not the delete function. After seven days, the return window closes and deletion is permanent without a refund.
What is the difference between "Remove from Device" and "Delete"?
"Remove from Device" takes the book off your Kindle or app but keeps it in your Amazon library archived. "Delete" on the Amazon website permanently removes it from your account entirely. Use "Remove from Device" if you might want to read it again later. Use "Delete" only if you are certain you do not want it anymore.
Can I delete multiple books at once?
On your Kindle e-reader or app, you must delete books one at a time. On Amazon's website in "Manage Your Content and Devices," you can select multiple books using checkboxes and delete them together, which is faster if you are cleaning out your library.