---
id: mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-free-space-from-final-cut-pro-libraries
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-free-space-from-final-cut-pro-libraries
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Photos, music and video"
question: "How do I free space used by Final Cut Pro libraries?"
alt_questions:
  - "final cut library too big"
  - "delete render files final cut"
  - "final cut generated files"
  - "fcp library storage"
  - "reduce final cut pro library size"
short_answer: "Choose File → Delete Generated Library Files to remove render, optimised and proxy media, which Final Cut can recreate. Finished libraries can be kept on an external drive and opened from there."
tags: ["final cut pro", "video", "render files"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-takes-up-space-in-video-editing", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-have-more-than-one-photos-library"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# How do I free space used by Final Cut Pro libraries?

Final Cut Pro libraries hold render files, optimised and proxy media alongside your projects. Select a library in the sidebar and choose **File → Delete Generated Library Files…** to remove render files and, optionally, optimised and proxy media; Final Cut recreates them when needed.

Final Cut Pro can open libraries stored on an external drive, so finished libraries can be moved there whole — quit Final Cut first, copy the library in Finder, open the copy to check it, then delete the original. For other big folders, see [moving folders](https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/).