Delete a book from your Kindle device in three steps
To remove a book from a Kindle e-reader or tablet, open your library, find the title, and press and hold it until a menu appears. Select "Remove from Device" or "Delete" depending on your device type. The book stays in your Amazon account — you can download it again later without repurchasing.
The exact wording and steps vary slightly between Kindle e-readers (Paperwhite, Oasis, Basic) and Kindle reading apps on phones or tablets. On an e-reader, the menu usually appears after a long press. On a phone or tablet app, you may see a trash icon or three-dot menu next to the title instead.
Removing a book from your device frees up storage space but does not delete your purchase history or your right to read it. Amazon keeps a record that you own the book, and you can re-download it to any of your devices at any time.
Key Takeaways
- Removing a book from your device does not delete it from your Amazon account — the book remains in your library and can be downloaded again.
- On Kindle e-readers, press and hold the book title until a menu appears, then select "Remove from Device."
- On Kindle apps for phones and tablets, tap the three-dot menu or trash icon next to the book title.
- Deleting a book frees storage space on your device but does not refund your purchase or remove it from your purchase history.
Steps for Kindle e-readers (Paperwhite, Oasis, Basic)
Open the Home screen or Library view on your e-reader. Scroll through your books or use the search function to find the title you want to remove. Once you locate it, press and hold the book cover or title for two to three seconds until a menu pops up.
Look for an option labeled "Remove from Device" or "Delete." Tap it. A confirmation message may appear asking whether you want to remove the book — select "Yes" or "Confirm" to complete the action. The book will disappear from your device immediately, though it remains tied to your Amazon account.
If you do not see a menu after pressing and holding, try a longer press (three to five seconds) or check whether your device is in airplane mode, which can prevent menus from appearing. Some older Kindle models use slightly different menu systems — consult your device manual if the standard method does not work.
Steps for Kindle apps on phones and tablets
Open the Kindle app on your phone or tablet and go to your library. Find the book you want to remove. Depending on your device and app version, you will see either a three-dot menu icon or a trash icon next to the book title.
If you see three dots, tap them and select "Remove from Device" or "Delete." If you see a trash icon, tap it directly. Some versions of the app show these options only when you swipe left or right across the book title — try swiping if the icons do not appear immediately.
After you select remove or delete, the book will vanish from your library view on that device. It will still appear in your library on other devices unless you remove it from those as well. To re-download the book to this device later, go to your library, find the title, and select "Download" or "Read Now."
The difference between removing and permanently deleting
Removing from device takes the book off your e-reader or app but keeps it in your Amazon account. You can download it again anytime without paying again. This is the option you see in most menus.
Permanently deleting removes the book from your Amazon account entirely. This option is less common and usually requires you to go to your Amazon account settings online rather than through the device or app. Most readers never need to use permanent deletion — removing from device is sufficient to free up space.
If you want to permanently delete a book from your account, log into Amazon.com, go to "Manage Your Content and Devices," find the book, and select "Delete" from the three-dot menu. This action cannot be undone, and you will have to repurchase the book if you want to read it again.
What happens to your books when you remove them
Removing a book from your device does not affect your purchase history, your reading progress, or your bookmarks and highlights. Amazon stores all of these in the cloud tied to your account. When you re-download the book, your notes and bookmarks will be there waiting.
The book also remains visible in your library on other devices you own. If you remove it from your Kindle Paperwhite, it will still show up in the Kindle app on your phone unless you remove it there too. Each device has its own storage, so you control what sits on each one independently.
Freeing up storage space on your Kindle
Kindle e-readers have limited storage — typically 4 GB to 32 GB depending on the model. If your device is running slowly or you cannot download new books, removing titles you have finished reading can help. Most e-readers show how much storage you have used in the device settings.
Removing books is usually the fastest way to free space. If you have many books stored, removing the largest ones (usually graphic novels or books with many images) will make the biggest difference. You can always download them again later, so there is no permanent loss.
Kindle apps on phones and tablets use your device's general storage rather than dedicated Kindle storage, so removing books also frees space for photos, messages, and other apps. The process is the same — find the book and select remove.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I remove a book from my Kindle, do I lose my bookmarks and highlights?
No. Amazon stores your bookmarks, highlights, and notes in the cloud. When you re-download the book, all of your annotations will be there. You can also view your highlights and notes on Amazon.com even if the book is not on any of your devices.
Can I remove a book I borrowed from a library?
Yes. Borrowed books work the same way — you can remove them from your device to save space. The loan period continues, and you can re-download the book before the loan expires. If the loan expires while the book is removed, you will not be able to download it again.
What if I accidentally delete a book I want to keep?
If you removed it from your device but not from your account, simply re-download it from your library. If you permanently deleted it from your Amazon account, you will need to repurchase it. There is no undo for permanent deletion, so be certain before you use that option.
Does removing a book from my Kindle refund my money?
No. Removing a book from your device does not refund your purchase. You own the book permanently and can download it again whenever you want. If you want a refund, you will need to contact Amazon customer service separately.
Can I remove multiple books at once?
Most Kindle devices and apps do not have a bulk delete feature. You will need to remove books one at a time by pressing and holding each title. Some third-party tools claim to batch-delete, but Amazon does not officially support this method.