What is CoreSimulator/Caches on Mac? Is it safe to delete?
Yes, CoreSimulator/Caches is safe to delete. It contains generated cache files for simulator runtimes, not your simulators or their data, and it is rebuilt when a simulator next boots.
Where it is
~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/CachesWhat it is
When a simulator runs, the system prepares optimised copies of the runtime's system libraries so that apps launch quickly. Those generated files are kept in CoreSimulator/Caches, grouped by runtime.
It grows as you install more runtimes and Xcode versions. Caches for runtimes you have since removed can remain on disk.
This folder is separate from CoreSimulator/Devices, which holds the simulators themselves and the apps inside them.
How big it gets
Often a few GB per simulator runtime you have used.
How to clear it by hand
- Quit Xcode and the Simulator app so no simulator is running.
- In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder and enter ~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Caches.
- Move the contents to the Trash, or run the command below, which deletes the whole Caches folder.
- Empty the Trash if you used Finder.
rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/CachesWhat happens afterwards
The first boot of each simulator takes longer while the cache is generated again. Your simulators, their apps and their data are unaffected.
How Diskzy handles it
Diskzy lists CoreSimulator Caches in the Clean up tab and ticks it. CoreSimulator Devices, next to it, is left unticked.
Related guides
- CoreSimulator Devices~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices
- DerivedData~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData
- iOS DeviceSupport~/Library/Developer/Xcode/iOS DeviceSupport
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