To uninstall Xcode, quit the app and drag it to the Trash. However, this action alone does not remove all associated data, which typically ranges from 10 GB – 100 GB.
Last updated: 4 min read
Remove Xcode and everything it leaves behind
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.
Move Xcode from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Remove the folders Xcode left behind, listed in the table below.
Empty the Trash to free up the space.
Everything Xcode keeps on your Mac
19 locations. Tick each one as you remove it; back up anything marked as your data first.
Locations checked on a Mac with Xcode installed.
What Xcode leaves behind
Specific to Xcode
Dragging the app to the Trash leaves behind helper tools, simulators, and cached data. Folders containing build products, device symbols, and runtime caches remain because they are designed to be rebuilt automatically. User-generated content like archives, custom themes, and provisioning profiles also persist. These items stay until you manually remove them from the Library.
Background items
Simulator runtimes are managed in Xcode Settings > Components and stored outside the app under /Library/Developer/CoreSimulator; the Command Line Tools in /Library/Developer are also used by Homebrew and other tools.
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.
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.
Preparing for Xcode removal
Certain components should be handled while the app is still active. You can manage simulator runtimes through the internal settings menu before deletion. Be aware that Command Line Tools are shared with other utilities like Homebrew and should be kept if those tools are still in use. Certificates and keys remain in the login keychain regardless of the app's presence.
After the free trial, Pro costs $39.99 per year in your country's App Store; cancel any time.
Frequently asked questions
Not all of them. Folders marked “Back up first: your data” hold your own Xcode data: back them up before removing them. Items marked “Only if no other app uses it” are also used by other apps from the same company; keep them while any of those apps is installed. Folders marked “Yes, rebuilt automatically” are rebuilt automatically; removing them only makes the next start slower. Folders marked “Yes, settings reset” hold settings, which return to their defaults. Items marked “Yes, once the app is gone” only matter while Xcode is installed, so remove them after the app.
Does cleaning the build folder remove everything before I uninstall Xcode?
No, Product > Clean Build Folder only affects the current project's build products.
Will I lose my developer account access after removing the app?
No, memberships are tied to your Apple Account and not the local installation.
