---
id: mac-storage-basics.what-is-the-developer-category-in-storage-settings
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-is-the-developer-category-in-storage-settings
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "System Data and the storage categories"
question: "What is the Developer category in macOS Storage settings?"
alt_questions:
  - "developer storage mac"
  - "developer category storage settings"
  - "xcode developer storage"
  - "delete developer storage mac"
  - "what is developer in mac storage"
short_answer: "It's data left by Xcode and its tools — build products, caches and indexes — which are rebuilt on the next build and can usually be deleted."
tags: ["developer", "xcode", "storage settings"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-free-up-space-used-by-xcode", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-is-system-data-on-a-mac"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What is the Developer category in macOS Storage settings?

**Developer** appears when Xcode or its command-line tools have left data on your Mac — build products, caches, project indexes and similar. Its info button lets you delete some of it straight away; these files are rebuilt the next time you build.

Not everything developer-related lands in this category: simulators, device support files and container images are often counted under System Data instead. See [freeing Xcode space](https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-free-up-space-used-by-xcode).