# Can I delete old Xcode versions from Applications?

- URL: https://moreroom.app/folders/xcode-apps
- Item: Other Xcode versions
- Location: `/Applications` (items inside)
- Verdict: Review first — Might hold something you care about. Look inside before removing it.
- Comes back on its own: yes
- Typical size: 10–40 GB each
- Source: MoreRoom rules catalogue (2026-10-17), by Yando Pte. Ltd.

## What is it?

Copies of Xcode installed side by side in the Applications folder, such as betas or older releases kept for compatibility (Xcode-beta.app, Xcode_16.4.app and so on). Each copy is a full Xcode, typically 10 GB or more, while simulator runtimes are stored separately.

## What happens if you delete it?

A removed version does not come back on its own, but every released and beta Xcode can be downloaded again from developer.apple.com/download with your Apple Account. Your projects, settings, DerivedData and simulators are stored outside the app and are not affected.

## How to remove it properly

Run `xcode-select -p` in Terminal to see which Xcode the command-line tools use, and make sure you keep that one. Quit the copy you want to remove, then drag it from Applications to the Trash; macOS may ask for an administrator password.

## Before you delete it

If you remove the copy that `xcode-select` points to, switch to the remaining one with `sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode.app` so `xcrun`, `git` and other tools keep working.