Is it safe to delete Books library?
Books and PDFs downloaded to the Books app on this Mac, including files you added yourself.
Review first
It's your own data, or hard to recreate. Decide item by item.
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What it is
The Books app stores the books you download from the Book Store, and the EPUB and PDF files you add yourself, in this folder under coded names. Purchases stay in iCloud and can be downloaded again. Files you added yourself may exist only here unless Books also keeps them in iCloud. Removing files here directly leaves books in your library that the app can't open.
If it's removed
Books whose downloads you remove need to be downloaded again before you can read them. Books and PDFs you added and then delete are gone unless you have another copy.
What to do instead
In Books, click a collection below Library in the sidebar, click the More button on a book, click Remove, then choose Remove Download. Purchased books stay in your library and can be downloaded again.
The free analyzer finds it and explains it, with these steps. The app doesn't remove it for you.
Sources
- support.apple.com/guide/books/delete-books-or-audiobooks-ibks67184a3a/mac
- discussions.apple.com/thread/254671573
Last checked on 26 Sep 2026. Every entry is written and checked by hand; the app and the command-line tool use the same words.