You can delete books from your Kindle in three ways: from the device itself, from your Amazon account online, or by removing them from your library entirely
Deleting a book from your Kindle does not erase it forever. Amazon keeps a record of every book you have ever bought in your account, and you can read it again later at no cost. This matters because it means you can safely remove books to free up storage space on your device without losing access to them.
The method you choose depends on what you want to do: delete a book just from one device, delete it from all your devices at once, or remove it from your library so you do not see it in your list anymore. Each takes a different number of steps.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a book from your Kindle device does not remove it from your Amazon account — you can read it again anytime.
- Removing a book from your device takes two taps on the Kindle itself, or a few clicks on Amazon.com.
- Permanently removing a book from your library (so it no longer appears in your list) requires going to Amazon.com and selecting "Remove from Library".
- If you borrowed a book through Kindle Unlimited or a library service, deleting it ends your access to that copy.
Delete a book from a single Kindle device
On your Kindle e-reader or Kindle app, find the book in your library. Press and hold the title (on an e-reader) or tap and hold (on a phone or tablet). A menu will appear with options. Select "Remove from Device" or "Delete" — the exact wording depends on which Kindle device you own.
The book disappears from your device when ready and frees up storage space. It remains in your Amazon account, so you can re-read it to this device or any other Kindle device you own by going to your library and selecting it again.
Delete a book from all your Kindle devices at once
Go to Amazon.com and sign into your account. Navigate to "Manage Your Content and Devices" — you will find this under "Account & Lists" in the top right corner. Click on the "Your Content" tab.
Find the book you want to remove. Click the three dots (or menu icon) next to the title and select "Delete" or "Remove from Library". If you choose "Delete", the book is removed from all your devices but stays in your account. If you choose "Remove from Library", it disappears from your library list entirely and no longer shows up when you browse your books.
The difference matters: "Delete" removes the file from your devices but keeps the book in your purchase history. "Remove from Library" hides it from view. You can restore a book removed from your library by searching for it on Amazon and re-purchasing it (if it was free, you can get it again at no cost).
Permanently remove a book from your library
If you want a book to stop appearing in your Kindle library list, go to "Manage Your Content and Devices" on Amazon.com, find the book, and select "Remove from Library". This action hides the book from your account.
You can undo this action. Go back to "Manage Your Content and Devices", click the filter dropdown, and select "Show Archived Items". Find the book and click the three dots next to it, then select "Restore to Library". The book reappears in your normal library list.
What happens to borrowed books when you delete them
If you borrowed a book through Kindle Unlimited, a library service, or a friend's shared library, deleting it ends your access to that copy. You cannot re-read it unless you borrow it again or renew your subscription.
For library books, check your library's app or website to see how many days you have left to read. Deleting the book before the loan period ends means you lose access to it. Some libraries let you return a book early through their app, which is cleaner than deleting it.
Freeing up storage space on your Kindle device
Kindle e-readers and tablets have limited storage. Deleting books you have finished reading is the main way to make room for new ones. Most modern Kindles hold hundreds of books, but if you read a lot of large files (like graphic novels or PDFs), you may run out of space faster.
You can also manage storage by going to your device settings and checking how much space is used. Some Kindles show you which books are taking up the most room. Deleting a few large books can free up gigabytes of space.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I delete a book, can I get it back?
Yes. If you deleted it from your device only, it is still in your Amazon account and you can read it again. If you removed it from your library, go to "Manage Your Content and Devices", filter for archived items, and restore it. If it was a free book, you can re-get it at no cost.
Does deleting a book from my Kindle delete it from my phone too?
Not automatically. Deleting from one device removes it only from that device. To remove a book from all your devices at once, use "Manage Your Content and Devices" on Amazon.com and select "Delete".
What if I borrowed a book from my library and deleted it by accident?
You have lost access to that copy. Check your library's app to see if you can borrow it again, or wait for your next opportunity to place a hold. Some libraries let you return and re-borrow the same book on the same day.
Can I delete a book I bought but keep it in my library list?
No. Deleting removes the file from your devices, but the book stays in your purchase history and library. If you want to hide it from view, use "Remove from Library" instead. You can restore it anytime from your archived items.