You can remove books from your Kindle in two ways: delete them from your device only, or remove them from your Amazon account entirely
When you delete a book from your Kindle, you have two choices. You can remove it just from the device you are reading on — the book stays in your Amazon library and you can download it again later. Or you can delete it from your Amazon account completely, which removes it from all your devices and your library. Most people want the first option when they are done reading and need space. The second option is useful if you bought a book by mistake, want to hide it from your library, or are returning a borrowed book.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using a Kindle e-reader, a phone or tablet, or the web. This guide covers all three, because the method you use depends on what device you have in front of you right now.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a book from your Kindle device keeps it in your Amazon library; deleting it from your account removes it everywhere.
- On a Kindle e-reader, press and hold the book title, then select "Remove from Device" or "Delete" depending on your model.
- On a phone or tablet app, swipe left on the book (iPhone) or press and hold it (Android), then choose delete.
- On Amazon.com, go to "Manage Your Content and Devices," find the book, and select "Delete" to remove it from your account permanently.
- Deleted books can be re-downloaded to any device if they are still in your library, but books deleted from your account cannot be recovered without repurchasing.
Delete a book from a Kindle e-reader
On a Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Oasis, or standard Kindle, the process is the same. Go to your library by pressing the Home button. Find the book you want to remove and press and hold it until a menu appears.
You will see two options. "Remove from Device" takes the book off your Kindle but leaves it in your Amazon library — you can download it again anytime. "Delete" removes it from your device and your account permanently. Choose whichever matches what you want to do. The book will disappear from your library screen immediately.
If you have a very old Kindle model, the menu might say "Remove" instead of "Remove from Device." This still means the same thing: the book stays in your account. Either way, you are not losing the book unless you choose the "Delete" option.
Delete a book from the Kindle app on your phone or tablet
On an iPhone or iPad, open the Kindle app and go to the Library tab at the bottom. Find the book you want to remove and swipe left on it. A red "Remove" button will appear. Tap it, and the book is removed from your device but stays in your Amazon account.
On an Android phone or tablet, press and hold the book cover until a menu pops up. Tap "Remove from Device." The book disappears from your app but remains in your library on Amazon.
Neither of these methods deletes the book from your account — they only remove it from that particular app. If you want to delete it completely so it does not appear in your library on any device, you need to use the Amazon website instead.
Delete a book from your Amazon account using the web
Go to Amazon.com and sign in to your account. Hover over "Account & Lists" in the top right corner and click "Account." Scroll down and click "Manage Your Content and Devices."
You will see a list of all your books. Find the one you want to delete and click the three dots next to it. Select "Delete" from the menu. A confirmation message will appear asking if you are sure. Click "Delete" again to confirm. The book is now removed from your Amazon account and will no longer appear in your library on any device.
This is the only way to permanently remove a book from your account. Deleting it from individual devices does not remove it from this master list. If you want a book completely gone, this is the step that makes it happen.
What happens when you delete a book
If you removed the book from a device only, it still appears in your library on Amazon.com and on any other device where you own it. You can re-download it to your Kindle, phone, or tablet at any time without paying again. Your bookmarks, highlights, and notes in that book are saved in your Amazon account, so they will be there if you download the book again.
If you deleted the book from your account, it is gone from your library everywhere. Your highlights and notes are deleted along with it. You cannot recover the book unless you buy it again or borrow it from a library that offers Kindle lending. Amazon does not restore deleted books, so make sure you actually want it gone before you confirm the deletion.
Free up space on your Kindle device
If your Kindle is running low on storage, removing books from the device (not your account) is the fastest way to free up room. Most Kindle e-readers have enough storage for hundreds of books, but older models or heavily used devices can fill up. Removing books you have already finished reading is safe — they stay in your library and you can download them again whenever you want.
You do not need to delete books to make room for new ones. Kindle automatically manages storage by removing older books you have not read recently, then re-downloading them when you open them. But if you want to manually remove books to speed things up, the "Remove from Device" option is the way to do it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a book back after I delete it from my account?
No. Once you delete a book from your Amazon account, it is gone permanently. Your highlights and notes are deleted too. You would have to buy the book again or borrow it from a library to get it back. Always double-check before you confirm a deletion from your account.
Will deleting a book from my Kindle remove it from my phone?
No. Deleting a book from one device does not affect it on other devices. If you remove it from your Kindle e-reader, it stays in the Kindle app on your phone and in your Amazon library. You have to remove it separately from each device, or delete it from your account to remove it everywhere at once.
What happens to my highlights and notes when I delete a book?
If you delete the book from your device only, your highlights and notes are saved in your Amazon account. If you delete the book from your account entirely, all highlights and notes are deleted with it and cannot be recovered.
Do I lose my money if I delete a book I bought?
No. Deleting a book does not refund your money, but you can re-download it to any device without paying again. The book stays in your account until you choose to delete it. If you want a refund, you need to contact Amazon customer service separately.
How do I delete a borrowed book from my Kindle?
Borrowed books work the same way as purchased books. Remove it from your device using "Remove from Device," or delete it from your account using the Manage Your Content and Devices page. When the loan period ends, the book automatically disappears from your devices anyway.