Xcode Junk Derived Data
~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData stores Xcode build products, indexes, and other generated project data used to speed up compiling and debugging.
What is Xcode Junk Derived Data?
~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData is a developer-data folder created and used by Xcode during app development on macOS. It holds generated build artifacts, intermediate files, indexing data, and other derived project content that Xcode recreates from your source code and project settings. Developers commonly encounter it when troubleshooting build errors, reclaiming disk space, or resetting stale project state after toolchain changes. Removing its contents can force Xcode to rebuild projects and regenerate indexes, which often takes time but can also fix corrupted or outdated build data. This folder is part of normal Xcode workflows and is separate from your original project files, source code, and manually created assets.
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Safety overview
Status: Mostly safe
This folder is normal Xcode data, not a system component. Its contents are generated during builds and can usually be recreated by Xcode, but deleting them removes cached build products and indexes for your projects. After cleanup, the next build may be slower, code indexing may need time to recover, and some project-specific debugging or simulator-related generated state may be rebuilt.
Recommendation: Keep it if you actively use Xcode and want faster builds, indexing, and smoother project switching. If you need to free disk space or fix stubborn build issues, you can remove old contents and let Xcode regenerate them the next time you open or build a project. Avoid deleting it while Xcode is running, and expect longer rebuild times afterward.
File path
~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData
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