How to cancel Kindle depends on what you're canceling
If you mean Kindle Unlimited — the subscription that gives you access to a rotating library of books — you cancel it through your Amazon account settings on any web browser or the Amazon app. If you mean the Kindle device itself, you don't cancel it; you deregister it from your Amazon account so it stops syncing your library and purchases. If you mean Prime Reading, which comes with Amazon Prime, you would cancel your Prime membership instead. Each route is different, and doing the wrong one leaves you stuck with what you didn't mean to keep.
The steps differ because these are three separate things: a subscription service, a piece of hardware, and a membership benefit. Knowing which one you want to end saves you from accidentally keeping the others running.
Key Takeaways
- Kindle Unlimited cancels through your Amazon account on a web browser, and you keep access through the end of your current billing period.
- You can cancel anytime — there is no penalty for canceling mid-month, though you lose access immediately if you cancel before your renewal date.
- Deregistering a Kindle device removes it from your account but does not erase books already downloaded to it.
- Prime Reading ends only when you cancel Amazon Prime itself, not through a separate cancellation step.
- The Kindle app on your phone or tablet can be deleted like any other app, but your Amazon account and purchases remain unless you also cancel Kindle Unlimited.
Canceling Kindle Unlimited through your Amazon account
Go to amazon.com and sign in. Click the account icon in the top right corner and select "Account" from the dropdown menu. Scroll down to "Memberships and subscriptions" and click "Manage your Kindle Unlimited membership." You will see a button labeled "Cancel membership" — click it.
Amazon will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discounted rate to stay. You can ignore this and proceed with the cancellation. Your membership will remain active through the end of your current billing cycle. After that date, you lose access to the Kindle Unlimited library, but any books you purchased separately (not borrowed through Unlimited) stay in your library. If you use the Amazon app on your phone instead of a web browser, the path is the same: tap the account icon, go to "Account," find "Memberships and subscriptions," and select "Manage your Kindle Unlimited membership."
What happens to your books after you cancel
Books you borrowed through Kindle Unlimited disappear from your library the moment your membership ends. You cannot read them anymore, even if you were in the middle of one. Books you bought outright — whether through Kindle or in physical form — remain in your library and on your devices.
If you want to keep reading a book you borrowed, you have until your cancellation date to purchase it at the regular Kindle price. Some publishers offer a discount if you've already borrowed the book, though this is not may provide. Check the book's product page before your membership ends to see if a discount applies.
Deregistering a Kindle device from your account
If you want to remove a Kindle e-reader or tablet from your Amazon account — for example, before selling it or giving it away — go to amazon.com and sign in. Click the account icon and select "Account." Scroll to "Devices and accessories" and click "Manage your devices."
Find the device you want to remove and click the three-dot menu next to its name. Select "Deregister" and confirm. The device will no longer sync with your Amazon account, and you will not be able to download new books to it from Amazon. Books already on the device remain readable unless you delete them manually. Before you deregister, consider whether you want to remove all content from the device as well. Most Kindle devices have a factory reset option in Settings that erases everything, which is safer if you are selling or donating the device.
Removing the Kindle app from your phone or tablet
The Kindle app is just software on your device. Deleting it does not cancel anything — it only removes the app from your phone or tablet. Your Kindle Unlimited membership, if you have one, stays active until you cancel it through your Amazon account. Your book library stays in your Amazon account.
To delete the app, press and hold the Kindle icon on your home screen (iPhone) or long-tap it (Android), then select "Remove App" or "Uninstall." You can reinstall it anytime by searching for "Kindle" in the App Store or Google Play. When you reinstall, your books will be there waiting for you.
Canceling Prime Reading
Prime Reading is not a separate subscription — it is a benefit that comes with Amazon Prime. You cannot cancel Prime Reading alone. If you want to stop using Prime Reading, you must cancel your Amazon Prime membership.
To cancel Prime, go to amazon.com, click the account icon, and select "Account." Scroll to "Memberships and subscriptions" and click "Manage your Prime membership." Click "End membership" and follow the prompts. You will lose access to Prime benefits immediately, including Prime Reading, Prime Video, and free shipping. If you only want to stop using Prime Reading but keep Prime for other benefits, there is no way to do that — the two are bundled together.
Canceling a Kindle device purchase or pre-order
If you ordered a Kindle device and have not received it yet, you can cancel the order through your Amazon account. Go to "Returns, orders, and accounts," find the order, and click "Cancel order." This works only if the device has not shipped. Once it ships, you will need to refuse delivery or return it after it arrives.
If the device has already arrived and you want to return it, you have 30 days from delivery to start a return through your Amazon account. Click the order, select "Return items," and choose your reason. Amazon will email you a prepaid shipping label. Once Amazon receives the returned device, your refund will be processed to your original payment method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my books if I cancel Kindle Unlimited?
You lose only the books you borrowed through Kindle Unlimited. Books you purchased stay in your library. Borrowed books disappear the moment your membership ends, even if you were reading them. If you want to keep a borrowed book, you must buy it before your cancellation date takes effect.
Can I cancel Kindle Unlimited mid-month without a penalty?
Yes. You can cancel anytime, and there is no fee or penalty. However, if you cancel before your renewal date, you lose access to the Kindle Unlimited library immediately — you do not get a refund for the unused portion of your month.
What's the difference between canceling Kindle Unlimited and deregistering a device?
Canceling Kindle Unlimited ends your subscription to the book library. Deregistering a device removes that specific e-reader or tablet from your Amazon account so it stops syncing. You can do either one without doing the other.
Will I lose my books if I delete the Kindle app?
No. Deleting the app only removes it from your phone or tablet. Your books stay in your Amazon account, and you can reinstall the app anytime to read them again. Your Kindle Unlimited membership, if active, continues running.
Can I get a refund if I cancel Kindle Unlimited?
Amazon does not refund unused portions of your subscription. If you cancel mid-month, you keep access only through your current renewal date. Some customer service representatives will issue a one-time courtesy refund if you contact them, but this is not may provide.