---
id: mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-clean-up-node-modules-folders
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-clean-up-node-modules-folders
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Developer tools"
question: "How do I find and remove old node_modules folders?"
alt_questions:
  - "node_modules taking space mac"
  - "delete all node_modules"
  - "find node_modules folders"
  - "clean javascript projects disk space"
  - "node modules size"
short_answer: "Use find . -name node_modules -type d -prune (with du -sh to size them) and delete ones in inactive projects; npm install recreates them from the lock file."
tags: ["node modules", "javascript", "developer"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-clean-npm-yarn-and-pip-caches"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# How do I find and remove old node_modules folders?

Every JavaScript project keeps its own **node_modules**, and old projects quietly hold gigabytes. To find them from a parent folder such as your projects directory, run `find . -name node_modules -type d -prune` in Terminal, and add `-exec du -sh {} +` to see sizes.

It's safe to delete node_modules in projects you're not working on; `npm install` (or your package manager's install) recreates it from the lock file when you return. Don't delete it in a project with no lock file if you need exactly the same versions back.