How to leave a book and go back to your library

To exit a book on Kindle, press the back button or swipe from the left edge of the screen toward the right. On most devices, this takes you directly back to your library or the last menu you were viewing. On Kindle e-readers, the physical back button is usually on the left side of the screen bezel. On phones and tablets running the Kindle app, swiping from the left edge works the same way.

If swiping does not work, you can also tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top of the page and select "Go to Library" or "Back to Library" from the dropdown. The exact wording depends on which Kindle device or app version you are using, but the option is always there.

You do not lose your place when you exit. Kindle automatically saves where you stopped reading, so the next time you open that book, it opens to the exact page you left off on.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe from the left edge of the screen toward the right to exit any book on Kindle devices and apps.
  • On e-readers, use the physical back button on the left side of the device bezel.
  • If swiping does not work, tap the menu icon and select "Go to Library" or "Back to Library."
  • Your reading progress is saved automatically, so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
  • Exiting a book does not delete it or remove it from your library.

Using the menu to exit on phones and tablets

On the Kindle app for iPhone, iPad, or Android, tap anywhere on the page to bring up the reading toolbar. At the top of the screen, you will see a menu icon (three stacked lines). Tap it to open a dropdown menu with several options.

Look for "Go to Library," "Back to Library," or sometimes just "Library" depending on your app version. Tap that option and you return to your book list. This method works the same way on all phone and tablet versions of the Kindle app.

Exiting on Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets

On Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Oasis, and other e-ink readers, the back button is a physical button on the left side of the device, usually near the bottom. Press it once to exit the book and return to your library or home screen.

On Fire tablets, you can swipe from the left edge or press the back button at the bottom left of the screen. Both methods work equally well and take you back to your library when ready.

What happens to your book when you exit

Exiting a book does not delete it, remove it from your library, or affect your reading progress in any way. The book stays in your library exactly where it was, and Kindle remembers your exact location down to the page and even the paragraph.

If you have synced your Kindle account across multiple devices, your reading progress syncs too. If you read three chapters on your phone, then open the same book on your e-reader, it opens to the same spot where you stopped on your phone.

Removing a book from your library permanently

If you want to actually delete a book from your library instead of just exiting it, that is a different action. On your Kindle device or app, find the book in your library, press and hold it (or right-click on some devices), and select "Remove from Device" or "Delete." This removes it from that device but keeps it in your Amazon account, so you can re-read it later.

To remove a book from your Amazon account entirely so it no longer appears in any of your libraries, you have to do that through Amazon's website, not through the Kindle device or app itself. Go to your Amazon account, find "Manage Your Content and Devices," locate the book, and select "Delete" from there.

Troubleshooting when the back button does not work

If swiping from the left does not exit the book, make sure you are swiping from the very edge of the screen, not from the middle. On some apps, swiping from the middle of the page turns the page instead of exiting.

If the menu button does not appear when you tap the screen, try tapping in the middle of the page rather than at the edges. Once the toolbar appears, the menu icon should be visible at the top. If you are still stuck, try closing the Kindle app entirely and reopening it, which often fixes temporary glitches.

Navigating between books in your library

Once you exit a book and return to your library, you can browse your other books by scrolling up and down. Your library shows all the books you own or have borrowed, organized by how recently you read them. Books you are currently reading appear at the top.

You can also search for a specific book by title or author using the search function in your library. Tap the search icon (usually a magnifying glass) and type the book title or author name to find it quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does exiting a book delete my bookmarks or notes?

No. Any bookmarks, highlights, or notes you made stay saved in that book. When you open the book again, all your marks are still there. You can view all your notes and highlights by tapping the menu and selecting "Notes" or "My Clippings."

Can I exit a book and then open a different one without losing my place?

Yes. Kindle saves your location in every book separately. You can exit one book, open five other books, and when you return to the first book, it still opens to the exact page where you left off.

What if I borrowed a book from my library and exit it?

Exiting does not affect borrowed books. Your reading progress is saved, and the book stays in your library until the loan period ends. When the loan expires, the book is automatically removed from your device and library.

Why does my book sometimes open to a different page than where I stopped?

This usually happens if you have the same book on multiple devices and have not synced them recently. Kindle syncs reading progress automatically, but if you read on one device and when ready switch to another without waiting a few seconds, the second device may not have the latest location yet. Wait a moment and refresh your library.

Can I exit a book without saving my progress?

No. Kindle automatically saves your location every time you exit, and there is no way to turn this off. This is actually helpful because it means you never lose your place, even if you accidentally close the app.