Swift Package Manager Cache (.build & .swiftpm Folders)

Bottom Line: It is 100% safe to delete .build and .swiftpm folders. Running swift package reset or deleting these directories will not harm your Swift source code.

What are .build and .swiftpm Folders?

Located inside Swift package projects (or under ~/Library/Caches/org.swift.swiftpm on macOS), these folders are created by Swift Package Manager (SPM) and Xcode.

SPM uses these directories to store fetched Git repositories, compiled module artifacts, and package dependency graph caches. When Xcode package resolution fails or throws package graph errors, corrupt .build files are usually the cause.

Can You Delete .build and .swiftpm?

✅ Yes, it is safe to delete.

• Zero code loss: Your .swift files and Package.swift manifest remain untouched.
• Troubleshooting fix: Resetting SPM cache fixes stuck package resolution or missing module errors in Xcode.

How to Safely Clean Up Swift PM Cache

Method 1: Using the Swift CLI

Navigate to your Swift project directory in Terminal and run:

swift package reset

To clean compiled build object files:

swift package clean

Method 2: Reset Package Caches in Xcode

1. Open Xcode.
2. Go to File > Packages > Reset Package Caches.
3. Re-resolve dependencies via File > Packages > Resolve Package Versions.

Related Guides

• Learn about deleting Xcode DerivedData.
• How to clean up CocoaPods cache.
• Check if you can clean git folders.