Can't delete free books from iBooks

Question

Level 1

11 points

Can't delete free books from iBooks

I tried to download a bunch of free books from iTunes. The download just won't work. Finally I decided to just try and delete them from my bookshelf. Nothing I tried worked;

1) Selected the undownloaded books in question and pressed "delete". Nothing happened. They are in the "Books" folder, not "purchased"

2) Set "Show Purchased" in the iBooks settings to off.

3) Deleted the iBooks App from my iPad. Deleted the books in question from my PC. Even went into the folders and deleted them. If I've deleted the content from my ipad, and from my computer AND told iBooks NOT to sync from iCloud AND told iTunes NOT to sync any books at all, then how is it that iBooks is still showing me books I clearly do not want anymore on my device. No matter how many times I uninstall and reinstall iBooks, those holding images for the books in question still keep coming up.

It really doesn't say much about a book app when the simplest thing (deleting unwanted books) needs a visit to the support pages.

iBooks-OTHER, iOS 6.1.3

Posted on Apr 24, 2013 1:27 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Kilgore-Trout

Level 8

37,471 points

Apr 24, 2013 12:56 PM in response to A Dandachi

Books not actually on the iPad will not show up unless you have Show All Purchases set in teh setting app. Even then they will be indicated with a small cloud icon. These will always be in teh Purchsed collection, but can also show up in other collections if you choose to place them there (moving to another collection doesn't effect the Purchased collection).

To delete a book, tap Edit (upper right corner), tap each book to be deleted, Tap Delete (upper left).

If for some reason this doesn't appear to be working correctly, two things to look into:

Open the Settings app > iTunes&App Stores. Check to see if automatic downloads are tuned on for iBooks. If so, turn it off.
Try a reset: Simultaneously hold down the Home and On buttons until the device shuts down. Ignore the off slider if it appears. Once shut down is complete, if it doesn't restart on it own, turn the device back on using the On button. In some cases it also helps to double click the Home button and close all apps from the tray before doing the reset.

Since you have such heartburn over the need to visit this site, you may want to consider having a look at the user guide. It may prevent the need to do so: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/ipad_user_guide.pdf

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Answer 2

A Dandachi Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 24, 2013 4:54 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout

Turning "Show All Purchases" only hides the "Purchased" folder in iBooks, the books still appear in the Books folder no matter what I try.

Your suggestion that I turn off automatic downloads of books would have been a good one, if only the iPad for some reason didnt keep switching it back on. I flip it to off, it immediatley flips it back to on. Yet another issue to take up on the forums and with Apple.

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Answer 3

A Dandachi Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 24, 2013 5:16 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout

Resetting the iPad helped a great deal. I managed to turn off automatic download of books. All the books I didn't want dissapeared from iBooks, except for one. Now the bookshelf is much less of an eyesore, thank you.

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Answer 4

Apr 25, 2013 4:37 AM in response to A Dandachi

You're welcome.

If the issue returns or persistist, you may want to consider a restore.

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Answer 5

zoso4

Level 1

26 points

Jan 6, 2016 8:49 PM in response to A Dandachi

In iBooks, tap on "all books" at the top. That takes you to collections. Look at the bottom. You can toggle "Hide iCloud Books" on. I assume iCloud books are those we get free, like in the 12 Gifts of Christmas. I had 2 I couldn't delete. But they are a least hidden now.

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Answer 6

Jan 11, 2016 10:42 PM in response to A Dandachi

HI I have iPad app for iBooks. But when I go to my library there is no bookcase and I cannot delete books or documents I no longer want.

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Answer 7

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,144 points

Jan 12, 2016 7:46 AM in response to denysefromtimaru

What are you viewing in the iBooks app, you are on the My Books tab (i.e. the bookshelf where your downloaded/synced books can be opened) ? If you are then you should be able to delete downloaded/synced books/PDFs via the Select button top right of the bookshelf

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