Remove a book from your Kindle in three steps
To delete a book from your Kindle library, open your Kindle device or app, find the title you want to remove, and press and hold on it until a menu appears. Select "Remove from Device" or "Delete" depending on which Kindle you use. The book disappears from your library when ready, though you can re-read it later if you change your mind — the purchase record stays in your account.
The exact steps depend on whether you are using a Kindle e-reader (Paperwhite, Oasis, or basic model), the Kindle app on a phone or tablet, or the web version of your Kindle library. Each method works the same way conceptually but the buttons and menus look different.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a book from your device does not delete it from your account — you can re-read it anytime without paying again.
- On a Kindle e-reader, press and hold the book title, then tap "Remove from Device" in 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 select delete.
- On Amazon.com, you can permanently delete a book from your account entirely, which removes it even from your purchase history.
Deleting from a Kindle e-reader device
On any Kindle e-reader — whether a Paperwhite, Oasis, or basic model — go to your library. This is usually the home screen or accessible from the menu. Scroll through your books until you find the one you want to remove.
Press and hold your finger on the book cover for two to three seconds. A menu will pop up with options. Tap "Remove from Device." The book vanishes from your library view. If you want to read it again later, you can go to "Archived Items" or search for the title and re-read it in seconds.
Deleting 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. Swipe left on the book cover — the same motion you would use to delete an email. A red "Delete" button appears. Tap it to confirm.
On Android phones and tablets, open the Kindle app and navigate to your library. Press and hold the book cover until a menu appears. Select "Remove from Device" or "Delete" depending on your app version. The book is removed from your device when ready.
Deleting from Amazon.com permanently
If you want to remove a book from your account entirely — so it does not appear in your library or purchase history — you can do this through Amazon.com on a computer or phone browser. Go to "Manage Your Content and Devices" in your Amazon account settings. This is usually found under "Account" or "Your Account."
Find the book in your library list and click the three-dot menu next to it. Select "Delete from Library" or "Remove." Amazon will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, the book is gone from your account completely. You cannot re-read it without purchasing it again, though Amazon may still show it in your order history.
The difference between removing and deleting
Removing from device takes the book off your Kindle or app, but keeps it in your account. You paid for it once, and it stays yours. You can read it again anytime by searching for the title in your library or going to "Archived Items."
Deleting from your account removes it completely. This is permanent and means you no longer own it in your Kindle library. You would have to buy it again if you wanted to read it. Most people remove books from their device instead of deleting them entirely, because storage space on a Kindle is cheap and you might want to re-read something later.
Why you might want to remove a book
Kindle devices have limited storage, though the limit is high enough that most readers never hit it. A Kindle Paperwhite can hold thousands of books. If you have a very old Kindle with less storage, removing books you have finished makes room for new ones.
More often, people remove books to clean up their library and make it easier to find what they want to read next. A cluttered library is harder to browse. Removing books you did not finish or did not enjoy makes your "Currently Reading" or "All Items" list shorter and more useful.
Re-downloading a book you removed
If you removed a book and want to read it again, go to your library and look for "Archived Items" or a similar section. Search for the title by name or author. When you find it, select it and choose "read" or "Send to Device." The book downloads in seconds and appears in your main library again.
You can also search for the book on Amazon.com, and if you have already purchased it, you will see a "Read for Free" or "read" button instead of a "Buy" button. Click it and the book goes back to your Kindle.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I delete a book, do I lose my reading progress and notes?
If you remove a book from your device, your progress and notes stay in your account. When you re-read it, you can pick up where you left off. If you delete the book from your account entirely, you lose the notes but your reading progress may still be saved depending on the book and your settings.
Can I remove a book I borrowed from Kindle Unlimited?
Yes. Removing a Kindle Unlimited book from your device works the same way as removing a purchased book. You can re-borrow it anytime while your Kindle Unlimited subscription is active. Deleting it from your account permanently removes it, and you would have to borrow it again.
What happens if I remove a book but still have it checked out from my library?
Removing a library book from your device does not return it. You still have it checked out and it will disappear from your Kindle when the loan period ends. If you want to return it early, look for a "Return" button in the book details or your library app, separate from the remove function.
Does removing a book free up storage space on my Kindle?
Yes, removing a book frees up the storage it was using. Most Kindles have enough storage that this does not matter unless you have thousands of large books or a very old device. Removing books is more useful for keeping your library organized than for managing space.