You can delete a book from your Kindle in three ways, depending on where you want it gone
Deleting a Kindle book is straightforward, but the method depends on what you're trying to do. You can remove a book from just one device, delete it from your entire Amazon account so it stops appearing on all your devices, or permanently remove it from your Amazon library so you can't re-download it later. Most people want the second option — getting a book off their device without losing the ability to re-download it if they change their mind.
The steps differ slightly between Kindle e-readers, tablets, phones, and the web. This guide covers all of them, so you can find the exact steps for whatever device you're using right now.
Key Takeaways
- Removing a book from a Kindle device does not delete it from your Amazon account — you can re-download it anytime.
- To delete a book from all your devices at once, you must go to Amazon.com and remove it from your library there.
- Permanently deleting a book from your Amazon account is a separate step that prevents you from ever re-downloading it.
- Different devices use different steps: Kindle e-readers use a long press, phones and tablets use a swipe or menu button, and the web uses a dropdown menu.
Removing a book from a single Kindle device
On a Kindle e-reader, press and hold the book title on your home screen or in your library until a menu appears. Tap Remove from Device. The book disappears from that Kindle, but stays in your Amazon account — you can download it again anytime by going to your library and tapping the cloud icon next to the title.
On an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone, open the Kindle app and find the book in your library. Swipe left on the book (iPhone and iPad) or press and hold it (Android), then tap Remove from Device. Again, this only removes it from that specific device, not from your account.
On a computer using the Kindle Cloud Reader (the web version at read.amazon.com), hover over the book and click the three-dot menu, then select Remove from Device. The book stays in your account but leaves that browser.
Removing a book from all your Kindle devices at once
Go to Amazon.com and sign in to your account. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left, then select Your Content and Devices. You'll see a list of all your books, audiobooks, and other content.
Find the book you want to remove and click the three-dot menu next to its title. Select Remove from Library. This removes the book from all your Kindle devices and apps at once. It will no longer appear in your library on any device, and you won't see it when you sync.
If you change your mind later, you can re-download the book by searching for it in the Kindle Store and clicking the cloud icon with a download arrow. Amazon remembers your purchase, so you won't be charged again.
Permanently deleting a book so you can't re-download it
Removing a book from your library is not the same as permanently deleting it. If you want to erase all record of owning a book — so you can't accidentally re-download it and it doesn't clutter your account — you need an extra step.
Go to Amazon.com, sign in, and navigate to Your Content and Devices again. Find the book, click the three-dot menu, and this time select Delete from Library (not "Remove from Library"). A confirmation box will appear asking if you're sure. Click Delete. The book is now permanently gone from your account. You can still buy it again if you want, but Amazon will treat it as a new purchase.
This step is useful if you borrowed a book through a library service or received it as a gift and don't want it taking up space in your account history. Most people never need to do this — removing from the library is enough.
What happens to your notes and highlights when you delete
If you've highlighted passages or written notes in a book, those annotations are stored separately from the book file itself. When you remove a book from your device, your notes stay in your Amazon account under Your Highlights (accessible from the menu on Amazon.com). You can view them anytime, even after the book is gone.
If you permanently delete a book from your library, your highlights and notes are also deleted. There's no way to recover them after permanent deletion, so if you've marked up a book you care about, consider exporting your highlights before you delete. You can copy them manually or use a third-party tool designed to extract Kindle highlights.
Removing books you borrowed from a library
If you borrowed a Kindle book through your library's digital lending service (usually through OverDrive, Libby, or your library's own app), the book automatically disappears from your devices when the loan period ends. You don't need to manually delete it.
If you want to return the book early, go to your library's lending service website or app and look for a Return or Remove Loan button next to the title. The exact steps depend on which service your library uses, but most have a straightforward return process. After you return it, the book will be removed from your Kindle devices within a few minutes.
Troubleshooting: A book won't delete
If you try to remove a book and it keeps reappearing, the most common cause is that you're syncing multiple devices to the same Amazon account. When you delete from one device, another device might re-download it during the next sync. To stop this, go to each device and remove the book individually, or turn off automatic sync temporarily while you delete.
Another possibility is that the book is still checked out from your library. Borrowed books can't be deleted from your library — you have to return them first through your library's lending app or website. Once the loan is returned, you can delete it normally.
If a book still won't delete after trying these steps, sign out of your Amazon account on the device, wait a few minutes, and sign back in. This forces a fresh sync with Amazon's servers and often clears up stuck books.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I remove a book from my Kindle, will I be charged to download it again?
No. Removing a book from your device does not affect your purchase. Amazon keeps a record that you own the book, so you can re-download it free anytime. You're only charged once, when you first buy it.
Can I delete a book from my Kindle but keep it on my phone?
Yes. Each device has its own storage, so you can remove a book from your Kindle e-reader while leaving it on your phone, tablet, or computer. Use the device-specific removal steps (long press on Kindle, swipe on phone) rather than the "Remove from Library" option on Amazon.com, which removes it from all devices.
What's the difference between "Remove from Device" and "Remove from Library"?
"Remove from Device" takes the book off just that one device but leaves it in your Amazon account. "Remove from Library" (on Amazon.com) removes it from all your devices and your account, though you can still re-download it. "Delete from Library" is the permanent option that erases it completely.
Do my highlights disappear if I remove a book from my device?
No. Your highlights and notes stay in your Amazon account under "Your Highlights" even after you remove the book. They only disappear if you permanently delete the book from your library using the "Delete from Library" option.
Can I delete a book I borrowed from my library early?
Yes, but you return it through your library's lending service (Libby, OverDrive, or your library's app), not through Kindle. Look for a "Return" button in the lending app. The book will be removed from your Kindle within a few minutes.