Xcode Download Cache
Xcode keeps a download cache under com.apple.dt.Xcode for items it fetches from Apple and developer services, including simulator runtime packages, documentation and symbol downloads, package metadata, partial archive downloads, and temporary installer payloads. These files speed up repeated downloads and resumable installs, but stale manifests, interrupted .dmg or .xip fragments, and expired metadata can cause failed runtime installs, repeated download prompts, or downloads that never complete. Kudu clears only this cached download data so Xcode can fetch fresh copies, without touching projects, source code, signing assets, accounts, or preferences.
Why clean Xcode Download Cache?
- Interrupted simulator runtime or device support downloads leave partial payloads behind, causing installs to fail with verification errors or restart from the beginning every time
- Expired package metadata in the download cache makes Xcode show available components that no longer install correctly, so you see repeated prompts to download the same runtime or tool
- Corrupted cached documentation or symbol archives can trigger endless spinning in the Downloads window, with progress bars that stall near the end and never finalize
- Old cached manifests after an Xcode update can point to superseded runtime builds, leading to checksum mismatches and 'could not install component' messages
- Large leftover .dmg, .pkg, and temporary archive fragments accumulate after canceled or failed downloads, consuming many gigabytes of storage that Finder reports as System Data or Xcode cache usage
- Stale cached responses from Apple developer services can make simulator or platform downloads appear unavailable until the cache is cleared and Xcode requests fresh metadata
Cache paths Kudu targets
macOS
~/Library/Caches/com.apple.dt.Xcode |
Common questions about Xcode Download Cache
Download Kudu and reclaim your disk space.
Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. No account required, no feature gates, no telemetry without consent. All cleaning targets are open source and community-auditable.