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How much space do Android emulators take on a Mac?

~/.android/avd

By Parsa Nasirimehr

Each Android Virtual Device (AVD) keeps its own disk image, user data and Quick Boot snapshots in ~/.android/avd, usually 2 to 10 GB apiece. Delete the ones you don't use from Android Studio's Device Manager.

How big it gets

On the Mac we measured, a working developer's Mac on macOS 27: 27.1 GB in 5 emulators: 10.6, 6.3, 5.0, 3.2 and 2.2 GB.

What it is

What writes itAndroid Studio's Device Manager, or avdmanager, each time you create an emulator; the emulator itself as it runs.
What's insideOne <name>.avd folder and one <name>.ini per emulator. The folder holds the user data image, the SD card image and Quick Boot snapshots.
Why it growsInstalled apps and their data, and Quick Boot snapshots saved on every exit.
Comes back?No. A deleted emulator has to be created again. The system image it uses stays in the Android SDK.

How to clear it

  1. Android Studio › Device Manager › ⋮ next to an emulator › Delete, or avdmanager delete avd -n <name>.
  2. To shrink one you keep, use Wipe Data in the same menu, or turn off Quick Boot snapshots in its settings.
  3. Unused system images live in ~/Library/Android/sdk/system-images; remove them in Settings › Android SDK.

What you lose: The emulator's installed apps, data and snapshots.

With Scrubs: Scrubs shows ~/.android as a Developer folder on the map, with each emulator's folder and size in the outline. Download Scrubs; scanning is free.

Related folders

.gradleWhy is the .gradle folder so big on my Mac?CoreSimulatorWhy is CoreSimulator taking up so much space on my Mac?Docker.rawWhy is Docker.raw so big on my Mac?

Sizes measured with du on 1 November 2026. Paths and commands apply to macOS 15 and later. See also how to free up disk space on a Mac.

About the author: Parsa Nasirimehr is a mobile app developer who builds Scrubs, a disk map for the Mac. Spotted something wrong? Write to support@getscrubs.app.