You close a Kindle book by pressing the back button or swiping left, then selecting the book again to reopen it later
Closing a book on Kindle is not the same as deleting it. When you close a book, you straightforward exit the reading app and return to your library or home screen. The book stays in your account, your reading progress is saved, and you can open it again whenever you want. There is no special "close" command — you just leave the book the way you would set down a physical book.
The method depends on what device you are using. On a Kindle e-reader (like a Paperwhite or Oasis), you press the back button or swipe from the left edge of the screen toward the right. On a phone or tablet running the Kindle app, you tap the back arrow or swipe back. On a computer browser, you click the back arrow or close the browser tab. Your place is automatically saved no matter which device you use.
Key Takeaways
- Closing a book saves your reading progress automatically and returns you to your library without deleting anything.
- On Kindle devices, press the back button or swipe from left to right; on phones and tablets, tap the back arrow.
- Your reading progress syncs across all your devices, so you can close a book on one device and open it on another at the same spot.
- Closing a book is different from removing it from your library — closed books stay in your account until you delete them.
Closing a book on a Kindle e-reader device
On a physical Kindle device, the back button is usually located in the top left corner of the screen. Press it once while you are reading, and the book closes. You will return to the home screen or library view. If your Kindle has a touchscreen (Paperwhite, Oasis, or Scribe), you can also swipe from the left edge of the screen toward the right to go back.
Some older Kindle models have a physical back button on the device itself rather than a touch-based one. Check your device manual if you are unsure where the button is. Either way, closing the book does not affect your reading progress — Amazon saves where you stopped reading every few seconds while you are in the book.
Closing a book in the Kindle app on your phone or tablet
If you are reading on an iPhone, iPad, or Android device using the Kindle app, look for the back arrow in the top left corner of the reading screen. Tap it once, and the book closes. You will return to your library or the app's home screen. On some devices, you can also swipe from the left edge of the screen toward the right to go back.
The Kindle app saves your reading progress in the background, so you do not need to do anything special before closing. If you close the app entirely (by swiping it away or force-closing it), your progress is still saved. The next time you open the Kindle app and select the same book, you will be at the exact page where you stopped.
Closing a book when reading in a web browser
If you are reading a Kindle book through Amazon's website (amazon.com), look for the back arrow in the top left corner of the reading area. Click it to close the book and return to your library. You can also close the browser tab entirely — your progress is saved automatically.
Browser-based reading is useful if you do not have a Kindle device or app installed, but it works best on a computer or large tablet. The reading experience is simpler than the app version, with fewer customization options for font size and background color.
Understanding the difference between closing and deleting
Closing a book and deleting a book are two separate actions. When you close a book, it stays in your library. When you delete a book, it is removed from your library and you lose access to it (though you can usually re-read it later if you purchased it).
To delete a book, you typically need to go to your library, find the book, and select a delete or remove option. On a Kindle device, this is usually done by long-pressing the book cover. In the Kindle app, you swipe left on the book or tap a menu icon. On the web, you right-click the book or use a menu option. Closing a book never deletes it, so you do not need to worry about accidentally losing a book by closing it.
How reading progress syncs across your devices
Amazon syncs your reading progress across all devices linked to your Amazon account. If you close a book on your Kindle e-reader at page 150, then open the Kindle app on your phone, the app will show you page 150 as well. This sync happens automatically and usually takes a few seconds to a few minutes.
Occasionally the sync can lag if you switch devices very quickly. If you notice you are at a different page than expected, close the book and reopen it. The app will refresh and pull the latest progress from Amazon's servers. This feature means you can read on whichever device is most convenient at any moment without losing your place.
What happens to your book after you close it
After you close a book, nothing happens to it. It remains in your library, your reading progress is saved, and you can open it again at any time. There is no timer that deletes it, no automatic removal, and no penalty for leaving a book closed for weeks or months.
Your library can hold thousands of books. If you want to organize them, you can create collections (folders) or use the search function to find a specific title. Some readers create a "currently reading" collection to keep track of books they are actively working through, separate from books they have finished or are not reading right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing a book delete my reading progress?
No. Closing a book saves your progress automatically. Amazon stores where you stopped reading on its servers, so your progress is safe even if you close the book, close the app, or turn off your device. When you reopen the book, you will be at the exact page where you left off.
Can I close a book and open it on a different device?
Yes. Your reading progress syncs across all devices linked to your Amazon account. Close a book on your Kindle, then open it on your phone or tablet, and you will be at the same page. The sync usually happens within a few minutes.
What if I want to remove a book from my library entirely?
Closing a book does not remove it. To remove a book, you need to delete it from your library. On a Kindle device, long-press the book cover and select delete. In the Kindle app, swipe left on the book or use the menu. On the web, right-click the book and select remove. You can usually re-read purchased books later.
Is there a way to close all open books at once?
No. You close one book at a time by pressing the back button or swiping back. However, if you close the Kindle app or turn off your device, all books close automatically. Your progress in each book is saved separately, so you can pick up where you left off in any book.
Why does my book show a different page on my phone than on my Kindle?
This usually means the sync has not finished yet. Close the book on both devices and reopen it. The app will pull the latest progress from Amazon's servers. If the problem persists, sign out of the Kindle app and sign back in to force a full sync.