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Check what is using storage before deleting anything
On macOS Ventura 13 or later, open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage. On earlier macOS versions, use Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage. Review the categories and recommendations, and note the available space before you make changes. Apple’s storage guide describes these steps.
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System Data is a broad category for Apple and third-party files that do not fit a more specific category. It is not a single cache folder or a reliable instruction to delete a particular directory. Use the category as a clue to investigate, not as a cleanup target in itself.
Try macOS’s built-in cleanup first
Review the recommendations in Storage settings and remove files you recognize, such as unneeded downloads or large personal files. Moving an item to Trash does not free its space until you empty the Trash, so check its contents before emptying it.
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Apple says macOS clears caches and logs it considers safe when space is needed. As Apple Support puts it in “Optimise storage space on your Mac”: “When space is needed on your Mac, macOS also clears caches and logs that are safe to delete, including temporary database files, interrupted downloads, staged macOS and app updates, Safari website data and more.” That system-managed cleanup is a sensible first step; it does not mean every file called a cache or log is safe to remove manually.
Can I delete Xcode DerivedData?
Removing project build data can be a reasonable troubleshooting or space-saving step when you have identified the relevant Xcode data and can tolerate a rebuild. Apple’s Xcode 26 release notes name ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData in specific build-workaround steps. This is an example tied to those steps, not a blanket guarantee about every generated file in the folder.
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- Identify the intended cleanup. If you are addressing a particular project or build issue, confirm which project’s generated data you intend to remove rather than deleting the whole Developer directory.
- Remove only the identified DerivedData. Use the path above as the location Apple names; avoid treating everything under
~/Library/Developeras disposable. - Allow for a rebuild. Xcode may regenerate build data, and a later build can take longer while that data is recreated.
Is it safe to delete Mac caches?
Sometimes—but the name alone is not enough to tell. Apple’s guidance is that caches should hold data an app can function without or regenerate. The file-system guidance and Caches directory documentation make that distinction important: discardable cache data is not the same as files an app needs to operate.
Do not delete an unfamiliar folder just because it is inside a Library directory or contains the word “cache.” In particular, Application Support stores app support data and should not be treated as a disposable cache. If you cannot establish what a folder contains and whether its app can recreate it, leave it alone.
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Should you manually delete logs?
Avoid recursively deleting log folders. macOS removes logs it considers safe when it needs room, but that does not establish that every user or system log is safe to remove manually. If a specific app is producing unusually large logs, use that app’s documented controls or support guidance rather than deleting broad system folders.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose the cleanup that matches the problem
| Option | What it does | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| macOS Storage recommendations | Helps review storage categories and system-managed suggestions. | Low effort; the broad categories do not identify every file to remove. |
| Project-specific Xcode DerivedData cleanup | Can remove build data associated with a targeted Xcode cleanup. | Build data may need to be regenerated, and a subsequent build can take longer. |
| Move suitable files to external storage | Moves large files off the Mac’s internal storage. | Requires external storage and does not clean caches. |
An external drive is optional if large archives or other files are the actual storage problem. It is a way to relocate files, not a prerequisite for cache cleanup. Apple discusses moving files as a way to free space in its storage recommendations.
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