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Which com.apple files/folders can be deleted

There seem many large com.apple files in the library; the accumulated size is quite large.


Which of these file folders can be deleted, or which file in the folder can be deleted?


OS is 12.2.1


Any ideas are welcome. Thank you.




MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.2

Posted on Mar 7, 2022 3:21 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 7, 2022 3:31 AM

None! Delete ONLY files and folders you or another used created or copied to the Mac.: documents, pictures, spreadsheets and etc.


Never delete any system type files or folders. You may get away with it in the short term, but it's never a good idea to do this.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 7, 2022 3:31 AM in response to Memoire

None! Delete ONLY files and folders you or another used created or copied to the Mac.: documents, pictures, spreadsheets and etc.


Never delete any system type files or folders. You may get away with it in the short term, but it's never a good idea to do this.

Mar 7, 2022 8:25 AM in response to Memoire

Memoire wrote:

There seem many large com.apple files in the library; the accumulated size is quite large.


?


Those MB files you present hardly add up to nothing(?)... I would look somewhere else if you need to free up storage,


KB, MB, GB -

A kilobyte (KB) is 1,024 bytes.

A megabyte (MB) is 1,024 kilobytes.

A gigabyte (GB) is 1,024 megabytes.


A terabyte (TB) is 1,024 gigabytes.




Mar 7, 2022 6:48 AM in response to Memoire

If Managing Space is the Sole Issue at hand suggestions below.


Otherwise,  Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.


They will be recreated as the system or applications require.


What is “Other” storage on a Mac, and how can I clean it out?


In Monterey the “Other “ category is named “ System Storage “.


Free up storage space on your Mac


OmniDiskSweeper Safe to use


GrandPerspective 


How to delete Time Machine snapshots on your Mac


See used and available storage space on your Mac


Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch


The final word from Apple on Managing the " Other " Category


Other: Contains files that don’t fall into the categories listed here. This category primarily includes files and data used by the system, such as log files, caches, VM files, and other runtime system resources. Also included are temporary files, fonts, app support files, and plug-ins. You can't manage the contents of this category. The contents are managed by macOS, and the category varies in size depending on the current state of your Mac.

Mar 7, 2022 5:08 AM in response to ku4hx

Thank you for the response ku4hx, much appreciated. I expected the response as that seems logical.


In the past I have cleared the entire cashe but had to reset many "things".


This time I wanted to do this more surgically and delete those elements that build up gradually taking up space.


To explain futrther, I just deleted a bunch on Chrome System folder cashes that were taking almost 7 GB and seems successful.






Mar 7, 2022 7:52 AM in response to PRP_53

I appreciate the reply P. Phillips, thank you for such a detailed reply and the time that must have taken.


I will work on this and let you know the outcome. There's a lot to digest.


I was wondering if iMovies, Music, Podcasts, Messages, Garage Band, Chess, News, and the like can be deleted - as I don't use these?

Mar 7, 2022 7:59 AM in response to Memoire

You are welcome and thank you too.


iMoves and Garage Band can be removed and afterwards if you change your mind can be re-downloned at a later time via Apple Apps Store >> User Account lower left of that screen.


Music, Podcasts, Messages, Chess, News, are all baked right into the Operating System of Monterey.


As such can not be removed or deletes at all.


They can be removed from the Dock but will still be present in Applications Folder

Which com.apple files/folders can be deleted

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