{"id":"mac-storage-basics.can-i-remove-languages-from-mac-apps-to-save-space","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-remove-languages-from-mac-apps-to-save-space","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"apps-macos","title":"Apps and macOS itself"},"question":"Can I remove unused languages from Mac apps to save space?","alt_questions":["delete language files mac apps","remove localizations mac","lproj files delete","strip languages from apps","save space removing languages mac"],"short_answer":"Not any more — removing files inside signed apps can break their code signature and stop them opening, and updates restore them anyway. The space saved is small.","answer_markdown":"It's not a good idea any more. Modern Mac apps are code-signed, and deleting files inside them — such as language folders — can break the signature, so the app may refuse to open or be flagged as damaged. App updates would also put the files back.\n\nThe space involved is small compared with caches, media and old backups, so focus there instead.","answer_html":"

It's not a good idea any more. Modern Mac apps are code-signed, and deleting files inside them — such as language folders — can break the signature, so the app may refuse to open or be flagged as damaged. App updates would also put the files back.

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The space involved is small compared with caches, media and old backups, so focus there instead.

","answer_text":"It's not a good idea any more. Modern Mac apps are code-signed, and deleting files inside them — such as language folders — can break the signature, so the app may refuse to open or be flagged as damaged. App updates would also put the files back.\n\nThe space involved is small compared with caches, media and old backups, so focus there instead.","tags":["apps","languages","code signing"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.what-big-files-can-i-safely-delete","question":"What large files are usually safe to delete on a Mac?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-big-files-can-i-safely-delete"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Can I remove unused languages from Mac apps to save space? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Not any more — removing files inside signed apps can break their code signature and stop them opening, and updates restore them anyway. The space saved is small.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"Can I remove unused languages from Mac apps to save space?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-remove-languages-from-mac-apps-to-save-space"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-remove-languages-from-mac-apps-to-save-space","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I remove unused languages from Mac apps to save space?","alternateName":["delete language files mac apps","remove localizations mac","lproj files delete","strip languages from apps","save space removing languages mac"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It's not a good idea any more. Modern Mac apps are code-signed, and deleting files inside them — such as language folders — can break the signature, so the app may refuse to open or be flagged as damaged. App updates would also put the files back.\n\nThe space involved is small compared with caches, media and old backups, so focus there instead.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-remove-languages-from-mac-apps-to-save-space"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Apps and macOS itself

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Can I remove unused languages from Mac apps to save space?

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Short answer: Not any more — removing files inside signed apps can break their code signature and stop them opening, and updates restore them anyway. The space saved is small.

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It's not a good idea any more. Modern Mac apps are code-signed, and deleting files inside them — such as language folders — can break the signature, so the app may refuse to open or be flagged as damaged. App updates would also put the files back.

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The space involved is small compared with caches, media and old backups, so focus there instead.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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