What is the DuetExpertCenter folder on a Mac, and why is it 280 MB?
~/Library/DuetExpertCenter holds macOS's app and action predictions. On our Mac it was 280 MB, 90% of it in one folder. What it is, and what deleting it does.
What is DuetExpertCenter?
It is where macOS keeps the data behind its predictions: the apps it suggests in Spotlight, the shortcuts and actions Siri Suggestions offers, and the widgets it thinks you want. Its process is duetexpertd, which ran as your user on our Mac. Apple does not document the folder; the names inside it, and that process, are what identify it.
What is inside it?
| Item | Size here | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
streams | 251 MB | 90% of the folder: the history predictions are learned from |
ModeCaches | 7.1 MB | Cached predictions |
_ATXLoggerStore.db and _ATXDataStore.db, with -wal files | 16 MB | Databases of app and action events |
AssistantActionDescriptionDatabase, AssistantActionExecutionDatabase | 1.6 MB | Actions apps offer to Siri |
metrics, feedback, caches, Bookmarks | 3.2 MB | Smaller support data |
247 files in all. The ATX prefix is the name Apple's app prediction framework uses internally.
Why does du say the folder is empty?
macOS protects it. Without Full Disk Access, Terminal's du and ls either fail with "Operation not permitted" or report nothing, and our first measurement from Terminal showed no size at all. Free Mac, with Full Disk Access, measured 280 MB. More on that in why du shows nothing in Library folders.
Is it safe to delete DuetExpertCenter?
It is not needed for your Mac to work, but deleting it is rarely worth it. Suggestions reset and start learning again, and the folder grows back as you use the Mac. macOS also holds these files open, so delete it only from a fresh login with apps closed, and expect little gain beyond the size you see. If prediction data bothers you, turn off Siri Suggestions in System Settings, Siri, instead.
Find what is left in one look
Free Mac measures protected Library folders like this one, which Terminal cannot read, and shows them to scale. Related folders: Biome and IntelligencePlatform.
Related: Daemon Containers and ~/Library/Python.
Common questions
What is DuetExpertCenter on a Mac?
The folder where macOS keeps the data behind app and action predictions, such as Siri Suggestions in Spotlight. Its process is duetexpertd.
Can I delete the DuetExpertCenter folder?
It is not required for the Mac to work, but suggestions reset and the folder grows back. Turning off Siri Suggestions is the cleaner option.
Why can't Terminal see inside DuetExpertCenter?
macOS protects it. Terminal needs Full Disk Access in Privacy & Security to read or size it.