# Is it safe to delete a venv folder in a Python project?

- URL: https://moreroom.app/folders/project-python-venv-plain
- Item: Python virtual environments (venv)
- Location: `…/venv`
- Verdict: Review first — Might hold something you care about. Look inside before removing it.
- Comes back on its own: yes
- Typical size: 100 MB–10 GB per project
- Source: MoreRoom rules catalogue (2026-10-17), by Yando Pte. Ltd.

## What is it?

A folder named `venv` next to a project file such as `pyproject.toml`, `requirements.txt`, `setup.py`, `Pipfile`, `uv.lock` or `poetry.lock` is usually a Python virtual environment created with `python3 -m venv venv`. It contains the packages installed for that project. Only projects untouched for 60 days are considered, and environments created by AI app installers are left out.

## What happens if you delete it?

Recreate it with `python3 -m venv venv` and `pip install -r requirements.txt`, or with your project’s tool (`uv sync`, `poetry install`). Large libraries take time to reinstall.

## How to remove it properly

Make sure nothing is running from it, then move the `venv` folder to the Trash in Finder.

## Before you delete it

If packages were installed by hand without updating the requirements, save the list with `pip freeze > requirements.txt` before deleting.