Is iCloud Drive Safe to Delete?
No. ~/Library/Mobile Documents is iCloud Drive, including Desktop & Documents if you sync them.
Side effects: Deleting this can remove iCloud files from this Mac and from iCloud if they are not stored elsewhere.
What is ~/Library/Mobile Documents?
macOS stores iCloud Drive as Mobile Documents. It is your cloud files, not a cache. To free space, offload files in iCloud settings or delete individual files you no longer need — never the Mobile Documents folder.
Is it safe to delete?
Not recommended — Deleting~/Library/Mobile Documents could cause issues with your system or applications. Only proceed if you know exactly what you're doing.
What happens after deletion?
Deleting this can remove iCloud files from this Mac and from iCloud if they are not stored elsewhere. The folder will be recreated automatically by the application when needed. This process is typically seamless but may take some time depending on the amount of data that needs to be regenerated.
How to delete it
Use MacMop
MacMop finds this folder automatically and lets you delete it safely with one click.
Download MacMopTerminal
rm -rf ~/Library/Mobile DocumentsWarning: This command permanently deletes the folder. Double-check the path before running.
Finder
- Open Finder
- Press ⌘ + Shift + G (Go to Folder)
- Paste:
~/Library/Mobile Documents - Move the folder to Trash
MacMop scans all your hidden caches and tells you exactly what's safe to delete.
Download MacMop Free