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

Asked 2/9, 2011 at 4:7 Answered 10/2, 2015 at 13:59

I'd like to remove old (replaceable?) data and DerivedData contents seem a likely candidate. Since it's name DerivedData, I assume that it's info that, if missing, would be generated during a build phase and if present, is used during that same phase. It seems logical then that I could delete any old project data without fear and if I should ever build that old project, the first time through would take longer than normal sine it has to recreate all this derived data.

Am I mistaken here?

Hidie answered 2/9, 2011 at 4:7 Comment(4)

Be VERY AWARE that as Joshua explains, that bloody folder contains "dSYM data for later debugging. ... not delete if you want to be able to debug deployed versions of your application" – Statvolt 11/10, 2011 at 12:48

Perhaps I should use every SO markup trick in addition to emphasis to call that point out in my answer. :-D Block-quoted-star-slash-commented-code-bold-italic-bulleted-list, etc. – Muckrake 11/10, 2011 at 14:3

@JoeBlow actually, as Joshua explains, it's the Archives directory which contains "dSYM data for later debugging". The Archives directory is a sibling of the DerivedData directory, which means it's at the same level, below ~/Library/Developer/Xcode, as DerivedData, so "that bloody folder" (DerivedData) does NOT contain the dSYM data and it's contents can be safely deleted. – Selwyn 5/6, 2013 at 11:41

Whenever I release a new version, I copy the .xcarchive from Xcode into my git repo and keep it under version control - this is a good way of always being able to get old .dSYM's without depending on a particular machine's Xcode directories. – Foreordain 27/3, 2015 at 18:58

127

The Derived Data folder contains all the intermediate build information, debug- and release-built targets, as well as your project's index. It's helpful to delete the derived data when you have odd index problems (code completion not working right, constant re-indexing, or even just a slow project). Deleting the entire folder nukes this information for all projects Xcode 4 knows about.

The Archives folder (a sibling of Derived Data) contains the archived form of your targets. That is, a release build as well as dSYM data for later debugging. This you should not delete if you want to be able to debug deployed versions of your application.

You can nuke the derived data for a given project by opening the Organizer window and selecting the Projects tab. Select the desired project and click the Delete button next to the Derived Data path. This is more of a "surgical strike" for problem projects.

Muckrake answered 2/9, 2011 at 14:4 Comment(9)

Any idea if you can remove the DerivedData folder via the command line? – Turki 2/10, 2013 at 8:50

Sure. Go to the command line and type "man rm" - go nuts. :-) – Muckrake 2/10, 2013 at 17:40

Sigh. I know rm. I wanted to find a way to resolve the folder connected with the project, e.g. ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/MyProject-hghjhjhkjh/. The easiest way i found is to set the DerivedData folder relative to the project folder, via XCode preferences. – Turki 2/10, 2013 at 18:21

It depends on your project and/or workspace settings. Both levels have various options for using fixed, shared, relative, etc. paths. It's best to pose this as a separate question as it's far too much for comments and a bit much to tack on to this answer. – Muckrake 22/11, 2014 at 15:50

@JoshuaNozzi: So If i delete the derived data folder, does it effect to my app??? When my app is in simulator but not running from code and if i delete and then run again from code, then will it cause any issue? – Earflap 30/7, 2015 at 6:17

Just a quick note: In XCode 6.x, projects are in their own window (not the Organizer). – Almira 12/9, 2015 at 3:25

@Earflap I'm not sure - create a test project and see. – Muckrake 15/9, 2015 at 19:10

I like your military jargon XD – Nedry 25/8, 2016 at 10:43

FWIW a lot of new distribution tools (AppCenter, HockeyApp, Crashlytics, etc) ask you to hand over the dSYM files so you don't have to store them yourself. – Torhert 23/4, 2020 at 14:26

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

Select Xcode -> Preferences..

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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

Step 3

Begum answered 10/2, 2015 at 13:59 Comment(2)

So when my app is in simulator but not running from code and if i delete and then run again from code, then will it cause any issue? – Earflap 30/7, 2015 at 6:19

@Earflap : No that will not create any issue. – Begum 30/7, 2015 at 12:52

Yes those data are generated during the build time and you can delete them if you want, its not a issue.

It will be recreated when you build again.

Laden answered 2/9, 2011 at 4:16 Comment(0)

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