The short answer
Usually, after a check. Might hold something you care about. Look inside before removing it.
What is it?
The Android Native Development Kit, used to build C and C++ code into Android apps, is installed side by side by version under ~/Library/Android/sdk/ndk. Each version typically takes 1 to 3 GB, and Android Studio or the Gradle plugin adds new ones as projects ask for them without removing old ones.
Older NDK versions (1-3 GB each). The newest is kept; a project that pins an older one downloads it again.
What happens if you delete it?
If a project pins a version you removed (with ndkVersion in its build file), the Android Gradle plugin downloads it again on the next build, or you can reinstall it from the SDK Manager.
How to remove it properly
In Android Studio, open Settings › Languages & Frameworks › Android SDK › SDK Tools, tick Show Package Details and untick old NDK versions; or run sdkmanager --uninstall "ndk;<version>" in Terminal (permanent).
Use the tool’s official command: sdkmanager --uninstall "<package>"
- MoreRoom keeps the newest 1 and suggests the older ones.
How MoreRoom helps
MoreRoom recognises this item and labels it “Review first”: it shows what’s inside, its size and last use, so you can decide. Nothing is removed without your say, and everything goes to the Trash first, with Undo.
When the tool is installed, MoreRoom runs its official command for you (sdkmanager --uninstall "<package>") instead of deleting files — and tells you that this step can’t be undone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I delete old Android NDK versions?
Usually, after a check. Might hold something you care about. Look inside before removing it. If a project pins a version you removed (with ndkVersion in its build file), the Android Gradle plugin downloads it again on the next build, or you can reinstall it from the SDK Manager.
Will Android NDK versions come back after I delete it?
Yes. If a project pins a version you removed (with ndkVersion in its build file), the Android Gradle plugin downloads it again on the next build, or you can reinstall it from the SDK Manager.
How do I remove Android NDK versions properly?
In Android Studio, open Settings › Languages & Frameworks › Android SDK › SDK Tools, tick Show Package Details and untick old NDK versions; or run sdkmanager --uninstall "ndk;<version>" in Terminal (permanent).