Delete a book from your Kindle app in three steps

To remove a book from your Kindle app, open the app, find the book in your library, press and hold it (or right-click on a computer), and tap Delete. The book disappears from your device immediately, though you can download it again later from your library if you change your mind — deleting it does not erase your purchase history or remove it from your account.

The exact steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using a phone, tablet, or computer, but the core action is the same on all of them. This guide walks you through each device type so you know exactly what to tap or click.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting a book from your Kindle app removes it from your device but does not delete your purchase — you can download it again anytime.
  • On a phone or tablet, press and hold the book cover, then tap Delete from the menu that appears.
  • On a computer, right-click the book cover and select Delete from Library to remove it from that device.
  • If you want to permanently remove a book from your Amazon account entirely, you must do that on Amazon's website, not in the app.

Delete a book on iPhone or iPad

Open your Kindle app and go to your library. Scroll through your books until you find the one you want to remove. Press and hold the book cover for about two seconds until a menu pops up with options.

Tap Delete from the menu. The book vanishes from your library on that device. If you have the book on multiple devices, it stays on your other phones, tablets, or e-readers until you delete it from those too — deleting from one device does not affect the others.

Delete a book on Android phone or tablet

The process on Android is nearly identical to iPhone and iPad. Open the Kindle app, find the book in your library, and press and hold the book cover until a menu appears.

Tap Delete. The book is removed from that Android device. Like with iPhone, deleting from your phone does not delete it from your tablet or any other device where you have the Kindle app installed.

Delete a book on a computer or web browser

Go to your Kindle library on your computer by opening the Kindle app (on Windows or Mac) or by visiting amazon.com and signing in. Find the book you want to remove.

Right-click the book cover. A menu appears with several options. Click Delete from Library. The book is removed from your computer or web view. Just like on phones and tablets, this only affects the device or browser you are using — the book remains on your other devices unless you delete it there too.

The difference between deleting from a device and removing from your account

When you delete a book from your Kindle app, you are only removing it from that specific device or app. Your Amazon account still owns the book, and your purchase history still shows it. You can download the book again to any device whenever you want, and you will not be charged again.

If you want to permanently remove a book from your Amazon account so it no longer appears in your library at all, you must do that on Amazon's website, not in the Kindle app. Go to amazon.com, sign in, go to Your Content and Devices (or Manage Your Content and Devices), find the book, and select the option to delete it permanently. This is a separate action from deleting it from individual devices.

What happens to your notes and highlights when you delete a book

If you have made notes or highlighted passages in a book, those annotations are tied to your Amazon account, not to the book file on your device. When you delete the book from your Kindle app, your notes and highlights remain in your Amazon account and are still visible if you download the book again.

To see your notes and highlights from a deleted book, go to amazon.com, sign in, and visit your Highlights and Notes page. You can view, edit, or export them even though the book is no longer on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I delete a book from my Kindle app, will I have to pay for it again?

No. Deleting a book from your device does not affect your purchase. You own the book permanently, and you can download it to any device as many times as you want without paying again. Your purchase history on Amazon will still show the book.

Can I delete a book from just one device and keep it on another?

Yes. Deleting a book from your phone does not remove it from your tablet, e-reader, or computer. Each device has its own library, and you control what appears on each one separately. You can delete from one device and download it again on another whenever you want.

What if I accidentally delete a book I wanted to keep?

You can download it again immediately. Open your Kindle app, go to your library, and look for a section that shows books you own but have not downloaded to that device. Find the book and tap the download button. It will be back on your device in seconds.

How do I delete a book permanently so I can never download it again?

Go to amazon.com, sign in, and navigate to Your Content and Devices. Find the book and select the option to delete it permanently from your account. This removes it from your library entirely, though you can still repurchase it if you change your mind later.