Is it safe to delete Simulator dyld shared cache?
Prebuilt copies of the system libraries each simulator runtime uses, so simulators start and open apps quickly.
Managed by macOS
macOS manages it. It's never moved to the Trash.
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What it is
CoreSimulator builds a dyld shared cache for each simulator runtime you install, and builds it again after macOS updates. It keeps one folder per macOS version and runtime, and each can take several gigabytes. The cache belongs to your installed simulator runtimes, so it's managed together with them.
If it's removed
Nothing is removed. When the cache is missing or out of date, CoreSimulator builds it again, which takes a few minutes and slows the first simulator launch.
What to do instead
CoreSimulator creates and updates this cache itself. To change which simulator runtimes are installed, choose Xcode > Settings and click Components.
The free analyzer finds it and explains it. The app never removes it.
Sources
- developer.apple.com/forums/thread/807025
- github.com/AvdLee/Xcode-Disk-Cleanup-Agent-Skill/blob/main/xcode-disk-cleanup/references/simulators.md
Last checked on 26 Sep 2026. Every entry is written and checked by hand; the app and the command-line tool use the same words.