Can I safely delete contents of Xcode Derived data folder?

Yes, you can delete all files from DerivedData sub-folder (Not DerivedData Folder) directly.

That will not affect your project work. Contents of DerivedData folder is generated during the build time and you can delete them if you want. It's not an issue.

The contents of DerivedData will be recreated when you build your projects again.

Xcode8+ Update

From the Xcode8 that removed project option from the window tab so you can still use first way:

Xcode -> Preferences -> location -> click on small arrow button as i explain in my first answer.

Xcode7.3 Update For remove particular project's DeriveData you just need to follow the following steps:

Go to Window -> Project:

https://i.stack.imgur.com/nrUTo.png

You can find the list of project and you can either go the DerivedData Folder or you can direct delete individual Project's DerivedData

https://i.stack.imgur.com/ICgNp.png

I am not working on Xcode5 but in 4.6.3 you can find DerivedData folder as found in the below image:

https://i.stack.imgur.com/TmJ9F.png

After clicking on Preferences..

https://i.stack.imgur.com/N4USo.png

You get this window

https://i.stack.imgur.com/ZbdlR.png

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I purge derivedData often enough that I have an alias for it. It can fix build problems. I have the following in /Users/Myusername/.bash_profile

alias purgeallbuilds='rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/*'

Then in terminal, I type purgeallbuilds, and all subfolders of DerivedData are deleted.

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XCODE 12 UPDATE

On the tab:

Click Xcode Preferences Locations -> Derived Data

You can access all derived data and clear by deleting them.

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XCODE 7.2 UPDATE

(Also works for 7.1.1)

Click Window then Projects and then delete Derived Data.

Like this:

https://i.stack.imgur.com/f6EJk.png

And then delete it here:

https://i.stack.imgur.com/ZbUBK.png

Hope that helps!

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 $ du -h -d=1 ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/*

shows at least two folders are huge:

 1.5G   /Users/horace/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData
 9.4G   /Users/horace/Library/Developer/Xcode/iOS DeviceSupport

Feel free to remove stuff in the folders:

 rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/*

and some in:

 open ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/iOS\ DeviceSupport/

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Just created a github repo with a small script, that creates a RAM disk. If you point your DerivedData folder to /Volumes/ramdisk, after ejecting disk all files will be gone.

It speeds up compiling, also eliminates this problem

xc-launch repo

Best launched using DTerm

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XCode 8: To delete derived data for your current project:

Click Product menu

Hold Option key

Click Clean Build Folder

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XCODE 10 UPDATE

Click to Xcode at the Status Bar Then Select Preferences

In the PopUp Window Choose Locations before the last Segment

You can reach Derived Data folder with small right icon

https://i.stack.imgur.com/bDP1Y.png

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~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData

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yes, safe to delete, my script searches and nukes every instance it finds, easily modified to a local directory

#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -o errexit
set -o nounset
set -o pipefail
IFS=$'\n\t'

for drive in Swap Media OSX_10.11.6/$HOME
do
   pushd /Volumes/${drive}  &> /dev/null
   gfind . -depth -name 'DerivedData'|xargs -I '{}' /bin/rm -fR '{}'
   popd &> /dev/null
done

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I would say it's safe--I often delete the contents of the folder for many kind of iOS projects, this way. And, I haven't had any issues with builds or submitting to the App Store. The procedure deletes derived data and cleans a project's cached assets, for both Xcode 5 and 6.

Sometimes, simply calling rm -rf on the Derived Data directory leaves a lingering file or two, but my script loops until all files are deleted.

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The content of 'Derived Data' is generated during Build-time. You can delete it safely. Follow below steps for deleting 'Derived Data' :

Select Xcode -> Preferences..

https://i.stack.imgur.com/YlPIf.png

This will open pop-up window. Select 'Locations' tab. In Locations sub-tab you can see 'Derived Data' Click on arrow icon next to path.

https://i.stack.imgur.com/qdvZQ.png

This will open-up folder containing 'Derived Data' Right click and Delete folder.

https://i.stack.imgur.com/C0NUC.png

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