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Can I remove the Install Xcode.app?

I recently bought Xcode 4 via the App Store and installed it by running the Install Xcode.app that App Store placed in /Applications (it would have been nice if App Store indicated that's what I needed to do BTW). Anyway, I notice that the Install Xcode.app is using about 4.58 GB of disk space and /Developer which is where Xcode 4 was installed is using 10 GB of space. Can I remove Install Xcode.app without confusing App Store in regards to it remembering that I've already bought and successfully installed Xcode 4?

MacBookPro6,2 2.66 GHz i7, Mac OS X (10.6.6), 8 GB RAM, SMC 1.58f15

Posted on Mar 17, 2011 3:07 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 17, 2011 5:30 PM

William Fiveash wrote:
I recently bought Xcode 4 via the App Store and installed it by running the Install Xcode.app that App Store placed in /Applications (it would have been nice if App Store indicated that's what I needed to do BTW).


The Mac App Store is designed for 3rd party apps that are supposed to magically install themselves and can only write to the Applications folder. Apple doesn't have to abide by those rules but the architecture of the App Store application probably prevents Xcode from installing into all of the system directories that it wants to.

Anyway, I notice that the Install Xcode.app is using about 4.58 GB of disk space and /Developer which is where Xcode 4 was installed is using 10 GB of space. Can I remove Install Xcode.app without confusing App Store in regards to it remembering that I've already bought and successfully installed Xcode 4?


You should save a copy somewhere safe in case you ever need to reinstall. You don't want to download that thing again if you don't have to.

Once you move it out of applications, it may show up in the App Store with a price, but your purchase is still recorded. I am not sure if you will get automatic update notifications for Xcode anymore or not. But you will always be able to download a new copy from your Purchases tab without paying again.
6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 17, 2011 5:30 PM in response to William Fiveash

William Fiveash wrote:
I recently bought Xcode 4 via the App Store and installed it by running the Install Xcode.app that App Store placed in /Applications (it would have been nice if App Store indicated that's what I needed to do BTW).


The Mac App Store is designed for 3rd party apps that are supposed to magically install themselves and can only write to the Applications folder. Apple doesn't have to abide by those rules but the architecture of the App Store application probably prevents Xcode from installing into all of the system directories that it wants to.

Anyway, I notice that the Install Xcode.app is using about 4.58 GB of disk space and /Developer which is where Xcode 4 was installed is using 10 GB of space. Can I remove Install Xcode.app without confusing App Store in regards to it remembering that I've already bought and successfully installed Xcode 4?


You should save a copy somewhere safe in case you ever need to reinstall. You don't want to download that thing again if you don't have to.

Once you move it out of applications, it may show up in the App Store with a price, but your purchase is still recorded. I am not sure if you will get automatic update notifications for Xcode anymore or not. But you will always be able to download a new copy from your Purchases tab without paying again.

Mar 26, 2011 11:37 PM in response to etresoft

+Once you move it out of applications, it may show up in the App Store with a price, but your purchase is still recorded. I am not sure if you will get automatic update notifications for Xcode anymore or not. But you will always be able to download a new copy from your Purchases tab without paying again.+

Message was edited by: Usable_Thought

Jul 23, 2011 9:43 PM in response to William Fiveash

It's a very poor setup to require the user to hold on to a 3+ GB installer file just so the app store can determine whether or not you need to update. Yes, hard drive space is cheap these days. But that doesn't mean space isn't at a premium for some. Especially those working from laptops.


Would be nice to see this remedied in the future so we can remove the installer app and still have the app store determine whether or not we need to update Xcode.

Can I remove the Install Xcode.app?

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