Is it safe to delete Swap files and sleep image?
Disk space macOS uses as extra memory when RAM runs low, and a copy of memory it can save before a long sleep.
Managed by macOS
macOS manages it. It's never moved to the Trash.
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What it is
When apps need more memory than your Mac has, macOS moves some of it to swap files on the startup disk, which Activity Monitor shows as Swap Used. macOS can also save the contents of memory to a sleep image, so your work is safe while your Mac sleeps for a long time. macOS creates, grows and removes these files itself, and restarting clears the swap files.
If it's removed
Removing these files while macOS is using them can make your Mac stop responding or restart unexpectedly.
What to do instead
Leave these to macOS. Restarting your Mac clears the swap files, and quitting apps that use a lot of memory keeps them small.
The free analyzer finds it and explains it. The app never removes it.
Sources
- support.apple.com/guide/activity-monitor/view-memory-usage-actmntr1004/mac
- discussions.apple.com/thread/255286936
- keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/pmset.1.html
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.