iMac cleanup: can I delete these files?

Question

Using Omni Disk Sweeper, I have listed the very heavy files in my computer in order to, if possible, delete them and free up some space.

Of course, I am not going to risk tampering with my system folder, but there are some pretty big files about which I would like to know whether or not it is safe to delete them. Let me know if you know what these files are, and whether it's safe or not to delete them:

Private -> var -> vm -> sleepimage (6Gb) and swapfile0 (1Gb)

Private -> var -> folders (1Gb)

Private -> var -> db (1.4Gb)

Library -> Printers (1.6Gb): (I believe I can re-download the needed drivers if I ever purchase a printer from the System Preferences?)

Library -> Application Support -> iDVD (140mb) and iPhoto (591mb), not so large but I am not a user of these apps

Users -> Shared -> Adobe - 200Mb (is this even accessible by the main user's system?)

Users -> Shared -> Library -> Application Support (is this in use?)

Users -> Fabrice -> Music -> iTunes -> iTunes Media -> Mobile Applications - 25Gb - (I believe if an app was backed up from my iPhone there, it's either currently in my phone, or not supported anymore, or I can get it from the store again if I've already paid for it?)

Users -> Fabrice -> Library -> Mobile Documents (400 Mb)

Users -> Fabrice -> Library -> Caches (600 Mb)

Users -> Fabrice -> Library -> iTunes (900 Mb)

Users -> Fabrice -> Library -> Developer -> Shared (2 Gb)

Library -> Application Support: how can I find easily which applications are not installed on my system anymore?

In total, more than 50 Gb is used by very voluminous elements whose purpose I am unsure of. I wouldn't ask such a question if I hadn't been using Mac computers for the past 20 years and been able to explore and modify System files for many years; I believe modifying the System files can lead to problems... However some of these files look like they can be rebuilt by the system whenever needed, or are backups files/folders that one can easily part with without any consequences.

Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

Looking just at the big parts

• You shouldn't touch anything in /private, as these are files used by OSX.
• Removing unneeded drivers from /Library/Printers shouldn't pose a problem (I only have the Canon drivers for the model I'm actually using in there)
• .../iTunes/iTunes Media/Mobile Applications contains all the apps you've ever purchased. You can, if you want to, delete those which you are not using anymore (and reload them again if necessary), but anything installed in your phone will most probably get resynced on the next sync
• In .../Library/iTunes there might be some old iPhone updates left in iPhone Software Update which can be removed without problems
• .../Library/Developer/Shared contains the Xcode and Development documentation, which can be managed via Xcode directly (or you just remove it and use the web-based version)

I wouldn't bother with the smaller stuff (including iDVD and iPhoto).

Answer 2

I can just give information to a few of the locations you specify.

I wouldn't bother with the files under /var - even if you can delete them the system will recreate them.

There are a few apps in the appstore which can cleanup cache files maybe one of these can help with part of your question. I used ccleaner - but they all seem to have similar features. But actually I find OS X does a decent job removing cache files so I don't do it anymore.

The mobile applications in iTunes is a mess. I had its content removed once - but I kept getting applications disappearing from the iPhone. So I would only delete apps from within iTunes.

About uninstalling application data from library I was horribly disappointed by the apps that promised they would do this. IMO the only solution is they need to be discussed folder by folder and then removed - just too much work for me.

Mobile documents is where iCloud documents are stored. I wouldn't touch this.

Answer 3

Personally I would avoid deleting system files and have other software do this for you. I would recommend the following Tools:

• Onyx: It cleans cache files, etc. and runs maintenance scripts
• Monolingual: Delete unnecessary language files

Also have a look at the answers to this question.