28 February 2025 Leave a comment Xcode
If you’re an iOS developer, you may have encountered storage issues due to the size of the CoreSimulator devices folder. This directory can grow significantly, taking up valuable space on your Mac. In this guide, we’ll explore how to effectively manage this folder and free up disk space without disrupting your development workflow.
Understanding the CoreSimulator Devices Folder
The CoreSimulator devices folder, located at ~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices, stores data for the iOS simulators you use during app development. Over time, this folder can accumulate a considerable amount of data, especially if you frequently test apps on multiple simulator versions.
Steps to Free Up Space
-
Delete Unavailable Simulators: Run the command
xcrun simctl delete unavailablein your terminal. This command removes simulators that are no longer in use, freeing up space without affecting your current projects. -
Remove All Simulator Data: If you don’t need to preserve any simulator data, execute
xcrun simctl erase all. This will clear all simulated OS data and apps, which Xcode will regenerate as needed. -
Manual Cleanup: Navigate to
~/Library/Developer/Xcode/iOS DeviceSupportand~/Library/Developer/Xcode/Archivesto delete old simulators and archived apps. This manual approach can help you identify and remove large files you no longer need. -
Additional Cleanup: You can also clear the
~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Caches/dyld/directory to free additional memory.
Practical Considerations
Before deleting any files, consider whether you need to retain certain simulator states or data, such as SQLite databases or other app data. If these are important, ensure you back them up before proceeding with the cleanup.
Enhance Your Workflow with Repeato
While managing storage is crucial, optimizing your testing process is equally important. Repeato, a no-code test automation tool, assists developers in creating, running, and maintaining automated tests for iOS, Android, and web apps. Utilizing computer vision and AI, Repeato simplifies test recording and execution, offering a fast and efficient alternative to manual testing. Its text and JSON-based data storage ensures easy version control, making it a seamless addition to any development workflow.
For more information on how Repeato can enhance your testing strategy, explore our documentation or visit our blog for the latest updates and insights.
Like this article? there’s more where that came from!
- Resolving the “xcrun: error: invalid active developer path” Error on macOS
- Adding Existing Frameworks in Xcode 4: A Comprehensive Guide
- Disabling ARC for a Single File in Xcode: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Resolving the Xcode-Select Active Developer Directory Error
- Resolving the “Multiple Commands Produce” Error in Xcode 10