---
id: mac-storage-basics.can-i-delete-pkg-installer-files
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-delete-pkg-installer-files
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "macOS updates and installers"
question: "Can I delete .pkg installer files after installing the app?"
alt_questions:
  - "delete pkg after install mac"
  - "what is a pkg file mac"
  - "installer package delete safe"
  - "pkg files in downloads"
  - "do i need the pkg file"
  - "remove installer packages mac"
short_answer: "Yes — once a .pkg has run, the software is installed and the package isn't needed. Delete it, or archive it on an external drive if you might reinstall offline."
tags: ["installer", "pkg", "downloads"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-delete-dmg-files-after-installing", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-clean-up-my-downloads-folder"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Can I delete .pkg installer files after installing the app?

Yes. A **.pkg** is an installer package: once it has run, the software is installed and the package itself isn't needed. Delete it from Downloads to get its space back.

Keep a copy only if you may need to reinstall without internet access, or the developer makes old versions hard to find — and in that case consider storing it on an external drive. Disk images (.dmg) work the same way: see [deleting .dmg files](https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-delete-dmg-files-after-installing).