Can I safely delete contents of Xcode Derived data

Question

I am running low on disk space and checked through a third party utility that among other things that ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData directory is taking about 22GB of disk space.

I searched stackoverflow and found this post

How can I safely delete in my ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData directory?

The accepted answer to this question suggests that I should not touch / remove folders from this directory. so what I did was

• Found an existing build project folder for an app that I have available on Appstore
• Deleted the folder from derived dir
• launched XCode 5
• Open that project
• Clean Build
• Tested and compiled it on a simulator
• ReArchived
• Everything worked. Nothing was broken.

Unless I missed something in that posts answer I want to make sure by asking experienced developers that if I delete all the folders from DerivedData it will not hurt me in building, testing and compiling those projects.

Answer 1

Just created a github repo with a small script, that creates a RAM disk. If you point your DerivedData folder to /Volumes/ramdisk, after ejecting disk all files will be gone.

It speeds up compiling, also eliminates this problem

xc-launch repo

Best launched using DTerm

Answer 2

The content of 'Derived Data' is generated during Build-time. You can delete it safely. Follow below steps for deleting 'Derived Data' :

1. Select Xcode -> Preferences..

2. This will open pop-up window. Select 'Locations' tab. In Locations sub-tab you can see 'Derived Data' Click on arrow icon next to path.

3. This will open-up folder containing 'Derived Data' Right click and Delete folder.

Answer 3

XCODE 10 UPDATE

Click to Xcode at the Status Bar Then Select Preferences

In the PopUp Window Choose Locations before the last Segment

You can reach Derived Data folder with small right icon

Answer 4

Yes, you can delete all files from DerivedData sub-folder (Not DerivedData Folder) directly.

That will not affect your project work. Contents of DerivedData folder is generated during the build time and you can delete them if you want. It's not an issue.

The contents of DerivedData will be recreated when you build your projects again.

Xcode8+ Update

From the Xcode8 that removed project option from the window tab so you can still use first way:

Xcode -> Preferences -> location -> click on small arrow button as i explain in my first answer.

Xcode7.3 Update For remove particular project's DeriveData you just need to follow the following steps:

Go to Window -> Project:

You can find the list of project and you can either go the DerivedData Folder or you can direct delete individual Project's DerivedData

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I am not working on Xcode5 but in 4.6.3 you can find DerivedData folder as found in the below image:

After clicking on Preferences..

You get this window

Answer 5

XCODE 7.2 UPDATE

(Also works for 7.1.1)

1. Click Window then Projects and then delete Derived Data.

Like this:

And then delete it here:

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Hope that helps!

Answer 6

XCode 8: To delete derived data for your current project:

Click Product menu

Hold Option key

Click Clean Build Folder