Delete a book by long-pressing its cover
Open your Kindle app and find the book you want to remove. Press and hold the book's cover image for two to three seconds until a menu appears. Tap Delete from the options that show up. The book disappears from your library when ready.
This method works the same way on phones, tablets, and most devices running the Kindle app. The book is removed from your device but stays in your Amazon account — you can read it again later without paying again if you own it.
Key Takeaways
- Long-press any book cover in your Kindle library to see a delete option that removes it from your device.
- Deleting a book from your device does not delete it from your Amazon account, so you can re-read it anytime.
- Borrowed books from library apps like Libby or OverDrive delete automatically when the loan period ends.
- If you want to permanently remove a book from your account so you cannot re-read it, you must do that on Amazon's website, not in the app.
The difference between deleting from your device and your account
When you delete a book from the Kindle app, you are only removing it from that specific device. The book stays in your Amazon library under Your Books on Amazon.com. If you buy a new phone or tablet and install Kindle again, that book will still be there waiting to read.
This is useful if you want to free up storage space on your phone but keep the option to read the book later. It is also why deleting a book does not cost you anything — you already own it.
Permanently remove a book from your Amazon account
If you want to delete a book so completely that it no longer appears in your Amazon library, you must go to Amazon.com on a computer or web browser. Go to Your Books, find the title, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select Delete from Library. This removes it from your account entirely.
Once you delete a book this way, you cannot read it again unless you buy it a second time. Use this option only if you are certain you will not want to read the book again. Borrowed books from library services do not need this step — they disappear automatically when your loan ends.
Managing storage on your device
If your phone or tablet is running low on storage space, deleting books from the Kindle app is a quick way to free up room. Each book takes up different amounts of space depending on its length and whether it contains images. A typical novel might use 1 to 5 megabytes, while illustrated books or textbooks can use much more.
You can see how much space an app is using by going to your device's storage settings. On an iPhone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and tap Kindle. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Kindle > Storage. Deleting books you are not actively reading can help free up several hundred megabytes if you have a large library downloaded.
What happens to borrowed books
If you borrowed a book through a library app like Libby, OverDrive, or your library's own lending service, the book deletes itself automatically when your loan period ends. You do not need to manually remove it. The app will show you how many days are left on your loan, usually at the top of the book's page.
If you want to return a borrowed book early, you can delete it from your device the same way you delete any other book — long-press and tap delete. The loan ends when ready, and the book becomes available for other people on the library's waiting list.
Recovering a deleted book
If you accidentally deleted a book from your device, you can get it back by downloading it again. Open your Kindle app, tap the menu (three horizontal lines), and go to Your Books. Scroll to find the title, tap it, and select read. The book reappears on your device within a few seconds.
This works as long as the book is still in your Amazon account. If you permanently deleted it from your account on Amazon.com, you will not see it in Your Books anymore, and you will need to purchase it again to read it.
Organizing your library instead of deleting
Rather than deleting books, you can organize your library using collections. In the Kindle app, tap and hold a book cover, then select Add to Collection. Create collections for different genres, reading status (currently reading, want to read, finished), or any other system that works for you. This keeps all your books in your account while making it easier to find what you want to read.
You can also use the search function at the top of your library to find books by title or author. If your library is very large, organizing by collection takes less time than deleting and re-downloading books later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting a book from Kindle remove it from my other devices?
No. Deleting a book from your phone's Kindle app does not affect the book on your tablet, computer, or other devices. Each device has its own storage, so you can delete from one device and the book stays on others. If you want to remove it from all devices, delete it from each one separately, or permanently delete it from your Amazon account.
Can I get my money back if I delete a book I bought?
Deleting a book does not refund your purchase. If you bought a book and want a refund, contact Amazon directly through your account. Amazon allows returns within seven days of purchase for most books. Deleting the book from your device does not start this process — you must request the return through Amazon.com.
What if I delete a book by mistake?
You can re-read it when ready by opening Your Books in the Kindle app and tapping the book title. As long as the book is still in your Amazon account, you can read it as many times as you want at no extra cost. If you permanently deleted it from your account, you will need to purchase it again.
Do library books delete automatically when the loan ends?
Yes. Borrowed books from Libby, OverDrive, and most library apps delete themselves automatically when your loan period expires. You do not need to do anything. If you want to return a book early, you can delete it manually from your device, and it becomes available for other borrowers right away.
How do I delete all my books at once?
The Kindle app does not have a bulk delete feature. You must delete books one at a time by long-pressing each cover. If you want to clear your entire library, you can permanently delete all books from your Amazon account on Amazon.com, but this is permanent and cannot be undone — you would need to repurchase any books you want to read again.