Is it safe to delete Xcode archives?
Copies of each build you archived in Xcode, with the dSYM files needed to read crash reports from that build.
Review first
It's your own data, or hard to recreate. Decide item by item.
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What it is
Xcode creates an archive each time you choose Product > Archive, and keeps it in a folder for that day. An archive holds the exact app you built and its dSYM files, which turn crash reports from that build into readable function names and line numbers. Apple recommends keeping the archive of every build you distribute, because without it you may not be able to diagnose crashes in that version.
If it's removed
The build disappears from the Organizer in Xcode, so you can't export or upload it again. Crash reports from that build may show addresses instead of function names, unless you uploaded its symbols to App Store Connect or kept its dSYM files elsewhere.
How it's removed
Moved to the Trash, where you can restore it.
The free analyzer finds it and explains it. Removing it is Pro, after a review sheet that lists every move and command. It's never checked for you: it waits for your choice.
Sources
- developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/building-your-app-to-include-debugging-information
- developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/acquiring-crash-reports-and-diagnostic-logs
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.