• Xcode
  • Developer

Two or three Xcodes side by side is common. Each one is 10 GB or more

Keeping a beta and a release, or old Xcodes for older projects, multiplies the biggest app on a developer Mac. How to find them all and remove safely.

4 min read

Keeping the current Xcode and the beta is normal. Keeping three old ones for projects you might revisit is also common. Each Xcode app is typically 10 GB or more installed, and each can bring its own simulator runtimes.

du -sh /Applications/Xcode*.app 2>/dev/null
mdfind "kMDItemCFBundleIdentifier == 'com.apple.dt.Xcode'"

The second command finds Xcode copies anywhere, including in Downloads or on the Desktop, where old .xip expansions tend to be left.

Which one is active

xcode-select -p

Removing old ones

  1. Check your projects build in the version you are keeping.
  2. Drag old Xcode apps to the Trash.
  3. Remove simulator runtimes you no longer need: xcrun simctl runtime list, then xcrun simctl runtime delete with the identifier.
  4. Delete any leftover .xip files.

Removing an Xcode does not remove DerivedData, archives or device support files. Those are in DerivedData cleanup and archives and device support.

How much one Xcode needs: how much space Xcode needs.

Common questions

How much space does each Xcode version take?

Typically 10 GB or more per installed version, plus any simulator runtimes it brought.

Is it safe to delete old Xcode versions?

Yes, once your projects build in the version you keep. Check which one xcode-select -p points to first.

Does deleting Xcode delete simulators and DerivedData?

No. Those live in ~/Library/Developer and system folders and must be cleaned separately.

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