Removing finished audiobooks from your iPhone or iPad after you’ve enjoyed them is a great way to free up valuable storage space. The Audible app for iOS makes this process straightforward, allowing you to keep your device clutter-free. This comprehensive guide provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to remove finished books from your device’s storage within the Audible app, along with tips for managing your Audible library and optimizing your storage.
**Why Remove Finished Audiobooks?**
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s understand why removing finished audiobooks is beneficial:
* **Free Up Storage Space:** Audiobooks, especially lengthy ones, can consume a significant amount of storage space on your device. Removing them after you’ve listened frees up room for new books, apps, photos, and other important files.
* **Improve App Performance:** A cluttered Audible library with numerous downloaded books can sometimes slow down the app’s performance. Removing finished books can help keep the app running smoothly.
* **Organize Your Library:** Removing finished books helps you keep your Audible library organized, making it easier to find the books you’re currently listening to or plan to listen to in the future.
* **Reduce Data Usage:** While streaming audiobooks doesn’t directly impact local storage, if you’ve downloaded books and then re-download them frequently, removing the initial download prevents unnecessary data usage if you accidentally start downloading again.
**Understanding Audible Download Options**
Audible offers different download quality options. Choosing a lower quality download reduces the file size, which can be useful if you have limited storage space. Here’s a quick overview of the download quality options (the exact names and options might vary slightly depending on the app version):
* **Standard Quality:** Offers a good balance between audio quality and file size. Suitable for most listeners.
* **High Quality:** Provides the best possible audio quality but results in larger file sizes. Ideal for audiophiles who want the most immersive listening experience.
* **Enhanced Quality:** Offers even higher audio quality, specifically designed for newer titles that support the enhanced format.
You can adjust your default download quality in the Audible app’s settings. Keep in mind that changing the default setting only affects future downloads, not audiobooks you’ve already downloaded.
**Prerequisites**
Before you begin, make sure you have the following:
* **An iPhone or iPad:** This guide is specifically for the Audible app on iOS devices.
* **The Audible App Installed:** Download the Audible app from the App Store if you haven’t already.
* **An Audible Account:** You’ll need an active Audible account to access your library.
* **Downloaded Audiobooks:** You must have already downloaded the audiobooks you want to remove from your device.
**Step-by-Step Guide: Removing Finished Books from Your Device**
Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to remove finished audiobooks from your iPhone or iPad using the Audible app:
**Method 1: Removing Books Directly from Your Library**
This is the most common and straightforward method for removing finished audiobooks.
1. **Open the Audible App:** Locate the Audible app icon on your home screen (it’s usually a stylized ‘A’ in a circle) and tap it to open the app.
2. **Navigate to Your Library:** Once the app opens, you’ll typically land on the Home screen. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see a navigation bar with several icons. Tap the **Library** icon (it looks like a stack of books).
3. **Locate the Audiobook You Want to Remove:** Scroll through your library to find the audiobook you’ve finished and want to remove from your device. You can filter your library by various criteria (e.g., recently added, author, title) using the filter options at the top of the screen to help you locate the book more quickly.
4. **Tap the Three Dots (More Options):** Next to the audiobook title in your library, you’ll see three vertical dots (…). This is the ‘More Options’ menu. Tap on these dots.
5. **Select “Remove from Device”:** A menu will appear with various options related to the audiobook. Look for the option labeled **”Remove from Device”** (or similar wording). Tap on this option.
6. **Confirmation (Optional):** Depending on your app settings, you might be prompted to confirm that you want to remove the audiobook. If a confirmation message appears, tap **”Remove”** or **”OK”** to proceed. The audiobook will now be removed from your device’s storage. It will still remain in your Audible library in the cloud and can be re-downloaded at any time.
7. **Repeat for Other Books:** Repeat steps 3-6 for any other finished audiobooks you want to remove from your device.
**Method 2: Removing Books from the Audiobook’s Details Page**
This method is useful if you’re already viewing the details of an audiobook.
1. **Open the Audible App and Navigate to Your Library:** Follow steps 1 and 2 from Method 1 to open the Audible app and navigate to your library.
2. **Tap on the Audiobook:** In your library, tap on the title or cover art of the audiobook you want to remove. This will open the audiobook’s details page.
3. **Tap the Three Dots (More Options):** On the audiobook’s details page, look for the three vertical dots (…). They are usually located near the download progress bar or in the upper right corner of the screen. Tap on these dots.
4. **Select “Remove from Device”:** A menu will appear. Look for the option labeled **”Remove from Device”**. Tap on this option.
5. **Confirmation (Optional):** If prompted, confirm that you want to remove the audiobook by tapping **”Remove”** or **”OK”**.
**Method 3: Using the Download Manager (If Available)**
Some versions of the Audible app have a download manager where you can see all your downloaded audiobooks and manage them from one place.
1. **Open the Audible App:** Open the Audible app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. **Access the Menu:** Tap the menu icon (usually three horizontal lines or your profile icon) in the upper left corner of the screen.
3. **Look for “Downloads” or “Download Manager”:** In the menu, look for an option labeled **”Downloads”** or **”Download Manager”**. If you don’t see a dedicated download manager, this method may not be available in your version of the app.
4. **Select the Audiobook:** In the download manager, you’ll see a list of all the audiobooks currently downloaded to your device. Locate the audiobook you want to remove.
5. **Tap the Three Dots (More Options) or a Delete Icon:** Next to the audiobook, you may see three vertical dots (…), a trash can icon, or a similar icon indicating options for managing the download. Tap on this icon.
6. **Select “Remove from Device”:** A menu may appear. If so, select **”Remove from Device”**. If you tapped a delete icon, you may be prompted to confirm the removal.
7. **Confirmation (Optional):** Confirm the removal if prompted.
**Troubleshooting: What to Do If You Can’t Remove a Book**
Sometimes, you might encounter issues when trying to remove an audiobook. Here are some common troubleshooting steps:
* **Check Your Internet Connection:** Although removing a book from your device doesn’t require a constant internet connection, a stable connection can help ensure the app functions correctly.
* **Restart the Audible App:** Close the Audible app completely and then reopen it. This can often resolve minor glitches. To close the app, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-click the Home button on older iPhones) to access the app switcher, then swipe the Audible app upwards to close it.
* **Restart Your Device:** Restarting your iPhone or iPad can resolve a variety of software issues.
* **Update the Audible App:** Make sure you’re using the latest version of the Audible app. Outdated versions can sometimes have bugs that prevent certain features from working correctly. Check the App Store for updates.
* **Sign Out and Sign Back In:** Sign out of your Audible account within the app and then sign back in. This can refresh your account information and resolve syncing issues. To sign out, go to the app’s menu (usually the three horizontal lines or your profile icon), then look for a “Sign Out” or “Log Out” option.
* **Clear the App’s Cache (If Available):** Some apps allow you to clear their cache, which can help resolve performance issues. Check the Audible app’s settings to see if there’s an option to clear the cache. Note: clearing the cache might remove some temporary data, but it won’t delete your downloaded audiobooks.
* **Check for Corrupted Files:** Although rare, a corrupted audiobook file can sometimes cause issues. Try deleting the book again. If it still doesn’t work, contact Audible customer support.
* **Contact Audible Customer Support:** If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps above and you’re still unable to remove the audiobook, contact Audible customer support for assistance. They can help diagnose the problem and provide a solution.
**Managing Your Audible Library: Tips and Best Practices**
Here are some additional tips and best practices for managing your Audible library effectively:
* **Use Collections:** Audible allows you to create collections to organize your audiobooks. You can create collections based on genre, author, series, or any other criteria that makes sense to you. This makes it easier to find the books you’re looking for.
* **Archive Unwanted Books:** If you want to remove a book from your Audible library entirely (not just from your device), you can archive it. Archiving a book removes it from your main library view but keeps it in your account, allowing you to unarchive it later if you want to listen to it again. To archive a book, go to the Audible website (not the app) and find the book in your library. There should be an option to archive it.
* **Wish List:** Use the Wish List feature to keep track of audiobooks you’re interested in buying in the future. This is a great way to remember books you’ve heard about or seen recommended.
* **Return Books (If Eligible):** Audible’s return policy allows you to return some books within a certain timeframe (usually 365 days for Audible Premium Plus members) if you’re not satisfied with them. Check Audible’s return policy for the latest details and eligibility requirements.
* **Adjust Download Quality:** As mentioned earlier, adjust your default download quality in the Audible app’s settings to balance audio quality with storage space.
* **Periodically Review Your Library:** Make it a habit to periodically review your Audible library and remove any finished books or archive books you no longer want to keep in your main view. This helps keep your library organized and your device’s storage space free.
* **Cloud Storage vs. Local Storage:** Remember that Audible audiobooks are stored in the cloud. Removing a book from your device only removes the downloaded file from your local storage. The book remains in your Audible library and can be re-downloaded at any time, as long as you have an active Audible account.
* **Audible Plus Catalog:** If you are an Audible Plus member, you have access to a large catalog of audiobooks that you can listen to for free as part of your membership. Be mindful of the titles you add from the Plus catalog, as they will no longer be available to you if you cancel your membership.
**Conclusion**
Removing finished audiobooks from your iPhone or iPad’s Audible app is a simple yet effective way to manage your storage space, keep your library organized, and optimize app performance. By following the step-by-step instructions and tips outlined in this guide, you can easily remove unwanted books and enjoy a clutter-free listening experience. Remember to regularly review your library and make use of Audible’s organizational features to keep your collection in top shape. Happy listening!