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Can I delete Xcode Archives on my Mac?

~/Library/Developer/Xcode/Archives

By Parsa Nasirimehr

Mostly yes, but not blindly. Each archive holds a build you shipped or exported plus its dSYM symbols, which turn crash reports into readable stack traces. Keep the archives of versions people still run; delete the rest.

How big it gets

On the Mac we measured, a working developer's Mac on macOS 27: 0.7 GB in dated folders back to June 2024. On Macs that ship often, archives reach tens of gigabytes.

What it is

What writes itProduct › Archive in Xcode, and Xcode Cloud downloads. Folders are named by date; each holds one or more .xcarchive bundles.
What's insideThe built app, its dSYM debug symbols and the archive's metadata. Organizer lists them under Archives.
Why keep someCrash reports for a version can only be symbolicated with that build's dSYMs. If you uploaded symbols to App Store Connect or a crash service, they're kept there too.
Comes back?No. A deleted archive is gone; rebuilding the same version doesn't reproduce identical symbols.

How to clear it

  1. Open Xcode › Window › Organizer › Archives.
  2. Delete archives of versions no one still runs (right-click › Delete Archive), or remove their dated folders in Finder.
  3. Before deleting a release's archive, check its dSYMs are uploaded wherever you read crashes.

What you lose: The ability to symbolicate crashes from those builds, unless the symbols are stored elsewhere.

With Scrubs: Scrubs's Quick Wins lists the Archives folder with a reminder to keep the ones whose crashes you may still need to read. Download Scrubs; scanning is free.

Related folders

DerivedDataWhat is DerivedData on a Mac, and can you delete it?iOS DeviceSupportWhat is iOS DeviceSupport on a Mac, and is it safe to delete?CoreSimulatorWhy is CoreSimulator taking up so much space 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.