Can I delete Containers?

I'm trying to create some space on my Mac.


Within my Users > My Name > Library, the following are large folders:


  • Containers
  • Application Support
  • Logs


Can any of them be deleted or should they be left alone?


Thank you

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.2), (Sep 2014)

Posted on Dec 28, 2016 8:38 AM

Reply
6 replies

Dec 29, 2016 4:22 AM in response to Jerry Dammers

These folders can indeed become very large. But they are needed.

  • The "Containers" folder is the sandbox used by the applications to exchange data. It will usually be cleared, when you restart the mac.
  • The "Logs" are a history of error logs and similar, and macOS is clearing them regularly automatically by running the daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.
  • The "Application Support" contains the media file, plug-ins, themes, and other items the applications will need routinely. There is nothing to purge, unless you uninstall an application. For example, my GarageBand version is keeping a whopping amount of 50 GB of sound files, learn to play lessons, and similar in this folder.

Usually the uninstallers for an application should remove the items from Application Support.

Dec 29, 2016 4:22 AM in response to Jerry Dammers

There are three relevant Library folders:

  • Your user library in your home folder: ~/Library
    Here the items and media will be installed by the applications, that are only used in your own user account.
  • The system wide application Library: /Library
    Here the applications will install items to be used by all users
  • The System Library: /System/Library
    This library folder is part of the system and contains support for system processes and utilities.


As to your list of deleted items: Clearing caches will usually not free storage permanently. The Mac will have to recreate the cached files. They are created to save items that might be needed again and to speed up the mac. The other items (launch demons, etc.) will also be recreated as soon as they are needed. Typically you will only want to delete them for trouble shooting, if one of these files got corrupted and is creating problems.

Dec 29, 2016 4:44 AM in response to Jerry Dammers

There are two main areas where you can safely look for space to save:


1. Apps you've downloaded that you no longer use. (including their Application Support folders in all Libraries)

2. Your own files. (including Downloads, videos, music)


Looking for stuff to delete elsewhere is likely to end in tears or not save much space. You might have backups of your iPhone or iPad on your Mac, which can take up a lot of space: these can be deleted in iTunes prefs.


Ultimately, stuff expands to fill the space available, and you have to think of a way of using larger storage, such as external drives or wireless network devices.

Dec 29, 2016 4:05 AM in response to John Galt

Thank you for your responses


I will leave those files alone then!


When I had a call with Apple Support and we needed to create space on my Mac we deleted some files within the Library:

* Cache

* Cookies

* Launch Agents

* Launch Demons

* Saved Application State

* Start Up Items


Others might have a view but they were deleted safely and my Mac was fine.


IIRC, there were two locations where these files were found:

1) System Library (for macOS system)

2) User Library (for user)


I've found the "User Library" but is the "System Library" something different?

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Can I delete Containers?

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