Delete a book you no longer want to read
You can remove a book from your Kindle device or app in two ways: delete it from the device itself so it no longer takes up storage space, or remove it from your library entirely so it stops appearing across all your devices. Most people want the first option — getting the book off one device — but the steps differ slightly depending on whether you're using a Kindle e-reader, a tablet, a phone, or the Kindle app on a computer.
The book remains in your Amazon account either way, so you can read it again later without paying a second time. Deleting from your device does not delete your notes, highlights, or bookmarks if you read the book again — Amazon stores those separately.
Key Takeaways
- Removing a book from your Kindle device frees up storage but keeps it in your Amazon library, so you can read it again anytime.
- 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 phone or tablet, swipe left on the book (iPhone) or press and hold it (Android), then choose delete.
- On a computer, you can only manage your library through Amazon.com — the Kindle app for Windows and Mac does not have a delete function.
- If you want to erase a book from your entire Amazon account so no one else can see it, you must do that through your Amazon library page, not through the device.
Delete a book from a Kindle e-reader
On any Kindle e-reader — Paperwhite, Oasis, Keyboard, or basic model — press and hold your finger on the book's cover or title in your library. A menu will pop up with several options. Select "Remove from Device" or "Delete" depending on your Kindle model and software version.
The book disappears from your device when ready and frees up storage. You will still see it in your "All Items" or "Cloud" section if you go looking, which means it is still in your Amazon account. To read it again, find it in that Cloud section and press the read arrow.
If you want to remove the book from your library entirely so it never shows up on any of your devices, you cannot do that from the Kindle itself. You must go to Amazon.com on a computer or phone browser and manage it from there — see the section below on removing from your entire library.
Delete a book from the Kindle app on iPhone or iPad
Open the Kindle app and go to your library. Find the book you want to remove. Swipe left across the book's cover or title with one finger. A red "Delete" button appears on the right side. Tap it to remove the book from your device.
The book stays in your Amazon account. If you want to read it again, go to the "Archived Items" section of your library, find the book, and tap the read cloud icon next to it.
Delete a book from the Kindle app on Android phone or tablet
Open the Kindle app and view your library. Press and hold your finger on the book's cover until a menu appears. Select "Remove from Device" or "Delete from Device." The book is removed from your phone or tablet but remains in your Amazon library.
To re-read it later, look in your library for an "Archived" or "Cloud" section, find the book, and tap the read icon.
Delete a book from the Kindle app on Windows or Mac
The Kindle reading app for computers does not have a built-in delete function. If you want to remove a book from your computer, you must uninstall and reinstall the app, or straightforward close the book and open a different one.
To actually remove the book from your library across all devices, you need to use a web browser and go to your Amazon account. See the next section for those steps.
Remove a book from your entire Amazon library
If you want to erase a book so it no longer appears in your library on any device — and so it does not show up if someone else uses your Amazon account — you must remove it through Amazon.com. Open a web browser and go to amazon.com. Sign in with your Amazon account.
Go to "Manage Your Content and Devices" or "Your Content and Devices." This link is usually in the "Account" menu or under "Digital Content." Find the book you want to remove. Click the three-dot menu button next to it and select "Delete" or "Remove from Library." The book disappears from your account entirely.
You can still purchase it again later if you change your mind, but it will cost money the same as if you were buying it for the first time. Amazon does not offer a way to restore a deleted purchase without buying it again.
What happens to your notes and highlights when you delete
If you delete a book from your device only, your notes and highlights are safe. Amazon stores them separately in your account. When you read the book again, all your markings reappear exactly where you left them.
If you remove the book from your entire library through Amazon.com, your notes and highlights are deleted along with it. There is no way to recover them after removal, so if you think you might want to read the book again, delete it from your device only rather than removing it from your library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a book from my Kindle mean I have to buy it again?
No. Deleting from your device removes the file but keeps the book in your Amazon library. You can read it again anytime at no cost. Only if you remove it from your entire library through Amazon.com will you have to purchase it again.
Can I delete a book someone else sent me as a gift?
Yes. A gifted book works the same as one you purchased. You can delete it from your device or remove it from your library. The person who sent it cannot see whether you still have it.
What if I delete a book by accident?
If you deleted it from your device only, go to your library, find the book in your Cloud or Archived section, and read it again. If you removed it from your entire library, you can still find it on Amazon and purchase it again, but you will have to pay for it a second time.
Will deleting a book free up storage on my Kindle?
Yes. Removing a book from your device frees up the storage space it was using. This matters most on older Kindle models with limited storage, though modern Kindles have enough space that storage is rarely a concern.
Can I delete multiple books at once?
On most Kindle devices and apps, you can only delete one book at a time. On the Kindle app for iPhone, you can swipe left on multiple books in succession. On Amazon.com, you can select multiple books using checkboxes and delete them together, which is faster if you want to remove many at once.