You can delete a book from your Kindle in three ways, depending on where you are
The fastest way is through your Kindle device itself: open the library, find the book, hold your finger on it, and tap "Remove from Device" or "Delete." On a Kindle e-reader, this removes it from the device but keeps it in your Amazon account. On a Kindle app (phone, tablet, or computer), deleting also removes it from that app, but the book stays in your account and you can re-download it later.
If you want to delete a book permanently from your Amazon account so it never appears in your library again, you have to go through Amazon's website. This is the only way to truly erase a book — the device and app methods just hide it.
The reason for this split is that Amazon owns the license to books you buy, not the books themselves. When you delete from a device, you are removing your local copy. When you delete from your account, you are removing your access to Amazon's copy. Amazon keeps records of what you have bought, so even after deletion, the purchase history remains in your account.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a book from your Kindle device or app removes it from that device only — the book stays in your Amazon account and can be re-downloaded.
- To permanently remove a book from your Amazon account, you must go to Amazon's website and delete it from your library there.
- On Kindle e-readers, hold your finger on the book title and tap "Remove from Device"; on Kindle apps, tap and hold or right-click the book and select "Delete."
- Deleting a book does not refund your money or remove it from your purchase history, which Amazon keeps permanently.
How to delete a book from a Kindle e-reader
On a physical Kindle device (Paperwhite, Oasis, or basic Kindle), open your library by pressing the home button. Scroll to find the book you want to remove. Press and hold your finger on the book cover for two to three seconds until a menu appears.
Tap "Remove from Device." The book disappears from your device immediately, freeing up storage space. The book remains in your Amazon account, so you can re-download it to this device or any other Kindle device you own by going to your library and selecting the book again.
If you see "Delete" instead of "Remove from Device," you are looking at a book you sideloaded (added manually from your computer) rather than one you bought from Amazon. Tapping "Delete" removes it permanently from that device. Sideloaded books do not sync across devices, so deletion is final for that device only.
How to delete a book from a Kindle app on your phone, tablet, or computer
On the Kindle app for iPhone, iPad, or Android, open your library. Find the book and tap and hold the cover until a menu appears. Select "Delete" or "Remove Download." The book is removed from that app on that device.
On the Kindle app for Mac or Windows, right-click the book cover and select "Delete from Library" or "Remove Download." Again, this removes it from that specific app and device only.
After deletion, the book no longer appears in that app's library view. If you open the Kindle app on a different device, the book may still appear there because each app maintains its own library. To remove it from all your apps and devices at once, you need to delete it from your Amazon account online.
How to permanently delete a book from your Amazon account
Go to Amazon.com and sign in. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner and select "Your Content and Devices" or "Manage Your Content and Devices." You may see "Digital Content" or "Books" depending on your account region.
Find the book you want to remove. Click the three-dot menu next to the title and select "Delete from Library." A confirmation message appears asking if you are sure. Click "Yes, delete permanently." The book is now removed from your Amazon account entirely.
After permanent deletion, the book no longer appears in any of your Kindle devices or apps. If you want to read it again, you would have to purchase it again. Your purchase history still shows that you bought it, but the book itself is gone from your library.
Why you might want to delete a book versus just hiding it
If a book is simply taking up space on your device, removing it from the device (not from your account) is usually enough. You can always re-download it later without paying again. This is the best choice if you think you might want to read the book in the future.
Permanent deletion from your account makes sense if you want the book completely out of your library and off your device list. Some readers do this for privacy reasons — for example, if you share your Amazon account with family members and want certain books hidden from the library view. Permanent deletion is also useful if you bought a book by mistake or if you want to clean up your account.
Keep in mind that deleting a book does not refund your money. If you bought a book and want your money back, contact Amazon customer service instead of deleting it yourself. Amazon may offer a refund within a certain window after purchase, depending on the book and your account history.
What happens to your reading progress and notes when you delete
When you delete a book from a device, your reading progress, bookmarks, and notes are stored in Amazon's cloud. If you re-download the book to the same device or a different Kindle device, your progress and notes reappear automatically.
If you permanently delete the book from your Amazon account, your notes and bookmarks are deleted along with it. Amazon does not preserve them separately. If you want to keep your notes, export them or copy them to a document before you delete the book from your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a book from my Kindle device delete it from my other devices?
No. Deleting from one device removes it only from that device. Your other Kindle devices and apps still have the book in their libraries. To remove it from all devices at once, delete it from your Amazon account online.
Can I get a refund if I delete a book I bought by mistake?
Deleting the book does not refund your money. Contact Amazon customer service through your account and request a refund. Amazon may grant one if you are within the return window, which varies by book and region. Explain that you purchased by mistake.
Will anyone know I deleted a book from my library?
No. Deleting a book is private. Your Amazon account shows your purchase history, but deleted books do not appear in your library. If you share your account with family, they will not see deleted books in the shared library view.
What is the difference between "Remove from Device" and "Delete"?
"Remove from Device" takes the book off that specific Kindle device but keeps it in your Amazon account. "Delete" (when you see it as an option) usually means removing a sideloaded book permanently from that device. To delete from your account entirely, use Amazon's website.
Can I recover a book after I permanently delete it from my account?
You cannot recover the book itself, but you can purchase it again. Your notes and bookmarks are gone. If you think you deleted by mistake, contact Amazon customer service immediately — they may be able to restore it within a short window.