The fastest way to exit a book on Kindle
To close a book and return to your library, press the Menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of the screen, then tap Go to Library. On older Kindle models without a touchscreen, press the Menu button on the device itself and use the directional pad to select Go to Library, then press Select. You are now back at your bookshelf and can choose a different title or adjust your settings.
If you are reading on a Kindle app on a phone or tablet instead of a physical Kindle device, the process is slightly different. Tap the three dots (more options menu) in the top right corner, then select Go to Library or Back to Library depending on your app version. The button location may vary slightly between iOS and Android, but the three-dot menu is the standard place to find it.
You do not need to do anything special to "save" your place. Kindle automatically remembers where you stopped reading, the font size you chose, and any notes or highlights you made. The next time you open that book, it will open exactly where you left off.
Key Takeaways
- Press the Menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner and select Go to Library to exit any book on a Kindle device.
- On Kindle apps for phones and tablets, tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner and select Go to Library or Back to Library.
- Your reading progress saves automatically — you do not need to manually save before closing a book.
- Exiting a book does not delete it from your device or remove any highlights, notes, or bookmarks you created.
What happens to your reading progress when you exit
When you exit a book, Kindle stores your location, any bookmarks you set, highlights you made, and notes you typed. This data syncs across all your devices if you are signed into the same Amazon account. If you read the same book on your Kindle device and later open it on your phone, it will jump to the same page you were on.
You can also see your reading progress from the library view. Each book shows a progress bar at the bottom indicating how far through the book you are. If you want to jump to a specific chapter instead of resuming from where you left off, open the book, press Menu, and select Go to or Table of Contents to navigate to a different section.
Exiting without losing your place on older Kindle models
Older Kindle e-readers (Kindle Paperwhite from 2012 or earlier, basic Kindle models without touchscreens) use physical buttons instead of a touchscreen menu. To exit a book on these devices, press the physical Menu button on the device itself — usually located on the bottom edge or side. A menu will appear on the screen.
Use the five-way directional pad (the small cross-shaped button) to highlight Go to Library or Return to Library, then press the center Select button. The book will close and you will return to your library. Your reading position is saved automatically, just as it is on newer models.
If you cannot find a Menu button on your device, check your Kindle's user manual or the Amazon support page for your specific model number. Different Kindle generations have slightly different button layouts, but all of them have a way to return to the library without losing your place.
Removing a book from your device versus exiting it
Exiting a book (returning to the library) is different from removing it from your device. When you exit, the book stays on your Kindle and you can open it again anytime. When you remove a book, it is deleted from your device but remains in your Amazon library in the cloud — you can read it again later without repurchasing it.
To remove a book from your device, go to your library, find the book title, press and hold it (or right-click on it in the app), and select Remove from Device. The book disappears from your library view, but you can still see it in your Cloud Library (the section showing books you own but have not downloaded). Tap or click the cloud icon next to the title to read it again.
Most people straightforward exit books rather than remove them, since Kindle devices have enough storage for hundreds of titles. Removing books is useful only if you are running out of storage space or want to clean up your library view.
Switching between multiple books at once
You can have multiple books open on your Kindle at the same time without losing your place in any of them. Each book remembers exactly where you stopped. To switch between books, exit the current book (go to Library), then tap or click on a different title to open it. When you return to the first book later, it will open at the exact page you left it on.
Some readers like to keep several books in progress — one fiction title, one nonfiction, one short story collection. Kindle handles this seamlessly. Your reading history and progress bar show all the books you have been reading recently, making it straightforward to jump between them without losing track of where you are in each one.
Troubleshooting: What to do if the Menu button does not work
If the Menu button does not appear or does not respond, try these steps. First, make sure you are actually reading a book — the Menu button only works when a book is open. If you are on a cover page or in the library, the button may not be visible. Tap the screen once to wake it up and make sure the display is active.
If the button still does not appear, try restarting your Kindle. On a touchscreen Kindle, hold the power button for 20 seconds until the screen goes black, then release it. On a non-touchscreen model, hold the power button for 10 seconds. Wait a few seconds for the device to restart, then open your book again and try the Menu button.
If you are using a Kindle app on a phone or tablet and the menu does not appear, check that you have the latest version of the Kindle app installed. Open your device's app store (Apple App Store or Google Play), search for Kindle, and update if a newer version is available. Close the app completely and reopen it, then try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does exiting a book delete my highlights and notes?
No. All highlights, notes, and bookmarks you created stay with the book permanently. They sync across your devices and are stored in your Amazon account. You can view them anytime by opening the book again or by visiting your Highlights page on Amazon.com.
Can I exit a book and then open it on a different device at the same spot?
Yes, as long as you are signed into the same Amazon account on both devices. Kindle syncs your reading progress across all your devices — phone, tablet, and e-reader. Open the book on your other device and it will jump to the page where you left off.
What if I want to start a book over from the beginning?
Open the book, press Menu, and select Go to or Table of Contents. Choose the first chapter or page 1 to jump to the start. Your bookmark will move to wherever you are reading, but you can always jump back to the beginning anytime without losing your place.
Is there a way to exit a book without using the Menu button?
On touchscreen Kindles, you can also swipe from the left edge of the screen toward the right to go back to the library. This gesture works in most Kindle apps as well. If swiping does not work, the Menu button method is the most reliable option across all Kindle devices.
Will exiting a book use up my battery faster?
No. Exiting a book and returning to the library uses the same amount of battery as any other action on your Kindle. E-ink Kindles use very little power overall, and switching between books does not drain the battery noticeably.