Developer IDEs

Can I delete Xcode from my Mac?

Yes, and you can download it again for free

Yes, you can delete the app, which is available for free using your Apple Account. However, moving the application to the Trash does not remove its associated data, which typically occupies 10 GB – 100 GB.

Last updated: October 31, 20262 min read

See how much space Xcode really takes before you decide

Xcode data usually takes 10 GB – 100 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.

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Free scan · No account · Nothing is deleted without your OK · Moves to the Trash first · macOS 14+

Application: Xcode
Typical data size: 10 GB – 100 GB
Category: Developer IDEs
File Location: ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData

What happens when you delete Xcode

Specific to Xcode

Your project files remain untouched because they live wherever you created them. Signing certificates and keys are kept in the login keychain rather than within the app folders. You will lose access to the interface, but data like simulator runtimes and archives stay on your Mac until you manually remove them.

Where your Xcode data lives

These folders hold your own Xcode data. Deleting the app leaves them in place; removing them is what actually deletes it.

~/Library/Developer/Xcode/Archives Your files · app archives with dSYM files from Product > Archive Back up first: your data~/Library/Developer/Xcode/UserData App data · key bindings, themes, provisioning profiles and Previews data Back up first: your data

Account and sync: Developer accounts added in Xcode Settings > Accounts are used for signing; certificates and keys stay in the login keychain, not in Xcode folders.
License: Xcode is free from the Mac App Store or Apple Developer site; publishing apps needs a paid Apple Developer Program membership tied to your Apple Account.
Your files: Your projects live wherever you created them; Archives hold the builds you uploaded or exported.

Risks of removing Xcode

Removing the app without backing up your archives means you cannot symbolicate future crash reports using dSYM files. Deleting the Command Line Tools in /Library/Developer may break other tools like Homebrew that share those files. Since some settings and device data are stored locally, they will not sync to the cloud.

Delete unused simulator runtimes in Settings > ComponentsRun xcrun simctl delete unavailable in the terminalExport needed signing certificates and private keys from Keychain AccessBack up archives and dSYM files for shipped apps

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How to delete Xcode completely

Quit Xcode, move it to the Trash, then remove what it left in ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData. The full step-by-step guide:

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Frequently asked questions

Will deleting Xcode delete my files?

No. Removing the app doesn't touch documents you saved in other folders. Only the app and, if you remove them, its own support files are deleted.

Can I reinstall Xcode later?

Yes. Open the App Store, search for Xcode and download it again; apps already tied to your Apple Account are free to re-download.

Does cleaning the build folder prepare the app for deletion?

No, that menu option only clears build products for the current project.

Will I lose my paid developer membership if I uninstall?

No, your membership is tied to your Apple Account, not the local installation.