How to move XCode to external SSD

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Asifab19 Author

Level 1

4 points

How to move XCode to external SSD

I just updated to Sonoma 14.7.

I am looking to be able to move a freshly installed Xcode to my 1t external ssd.

I couldn't figure out how to change where xcode downloads too or how to move it afterwards.

Could anyone please help me with this?

Also if there is any reason that running xcode via an external ssd and not on the internal ssd please let me know that as well.

I just have a very small internal ssd, so trying to keep as much of my coding work as possible off the internal ssd to help make sure I have room for updates etc later on down the line.

Thanks!

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 14.7

Posted on Oct 19, 2024 11:29 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

HWTech

Level 9

60,800 points

Oct 20, 2024 12:43 PM in response to Asifab19

If you don't have enough Free storage space on the internal drive for the XCode app, then you have major storage issues. Assuming you have moved all your data that consume large amounts of storage (Downloads, Photos, Music, Videos) to external storage, then you have just two options left:

Install macOS to a much larger external USB3 SSD and boot the computer from the external SSD
Purchase a new computer with sufficient internal storage for all your needs

FYI, only the Free storage space value is relevant. Ignore the "Available" storage value since it is very misleading. the easiest place to see the actual amount of Free storage space is within the Disk Utility app (click on the "Data" volume). You need at least 20GB+ of Free storage space all the time, but some workloads require even more Free storage space. Even that 20GB can disappear very quickly even with a light workload.

Some apps can be run from other locations outside of the Applications folder. Some many appear to work, but may have some aspects that don't work when run from other locations such as their auto-update mechanisms. Do you really want to risk that when compiling your projects?

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Answer 2

Oct 20, 2024 3:34 AM in response to Asifab19

XCode installs into the Applications folder.

You could in principle just copy it to your external SSD and delete the original.

I don't know if there is something requiring it to be running from the Applications folder.

In any case, it does not hurt to try.

HOWEVER: if you are very low on space in your internal drive, this is a cause for concern.

Low space greatly affects performance and can lead to data loss. It is usually recommended to keep always at least 15% free on your system drive, preferably more.

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