---
id: mac-storage-basics.is-it-safe-to-delete-deriveddata
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/is-it-safe-to-delete-deriveddata
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Developer tools"
question: "Is it safe to delete Xcode's DerivedData folder?"
alt_questions:
  - "delete deriveddata safe"
  - "what is deriveddata"
  - "clear derived data xcode"
  - "deriveddata huge"
  - "remove xcode build cache"
short_answer: "Yes — it's rebuildable build output and indexes. Quit Xcode and delete its contents; the next build takes longer while Xcode recreates it."
tags: ["xcode", "deriveddata", "developer"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-free-up-space-used-by-xcode"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Is it safe to delete Xcode's DerivedData folder?

Yes. DerivedData holds intermediate build products, indexes and logs that Xcode regenerates. Quit Xcode, then delete the contents of `~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData` (or use the path shown in Xcode's **Settings → Locations**).

The only cost is time: the next build of each project is a full build and indexing starts again. Your source code and project settings aren't stored there.