The short answer
No. Your data. Shrink it from its app; don’t delete the folder.
What is it?
Tart, the virtualisation tool by Cirrus Labs for Apple silicon, stores each local macOS or Linux VM in its own folder in ~/.tart/vms, with its disk, NVRAM and configuration. Each VM holds everything you installed or changed in it. macOS VMs are typically 20–100 GB.
macOS and Linux VMs created with Tart. Their disks hold your changes; offload instead of deleting.
What happens if you delete it?
No. A VM you cloned from a registry image can be cloned again, but the changes you made inside it are lost.
How to remove it properly
Run tart list to see local VMs and tart delete <name> to remove one you no longer use. This deletes permanently.
Better moved to an external drive than deleted.
Before you delete it
CI setups often reuse local VMs by name; check that no script depends on one before deleting it.
How MoreRoom helps
MoreRoom recognises this as your data and never suggests deleting it. It shows how much space it takes, so you can shrink it from its own app.
Frequently asked questions
Can I delete Tart virtual machines in ~/.tart/vms?
No. Your data. Shrink it from its app; don’t delete the folder. No. A VM you cloned from a registry image can be cloned again, but the changes you made inside it are lost.
Will Tart virtual machines come back after I delete it?
No. No. A VM you cloned from a registry image can be cloned again, but the changes you made inside it are lost.
How do I remove Tart virtual machines properly?
Run tart list to see local VMs and tart delete <name> to remove one you no longer use. This deletes permanently.