# Is it safe to delete Android emulators in ~/.android/avd?

- URL: https://moreroom.app/folders/android-avd
- Item: Android emulators
- Location: `~/.android/avd` (items inside)
- Verdict: Review first — Might hold something you care about. Look inside before removing it.
- Comes back on its own: yes
- Typical size: 3–15 GB each
- Official command: `avdmanager delete avd -n <name>`
- Source: MoreRoom rules catalogue (2026-10-17), by Yando Pte. Ltd.

## What is it?

Each `.avd` folder is one Android Virtual Device created in Android Studio’s Device Manager: its writable disk image with installed apps and user data, its SD card image and saved snapshots for quick boot. A matching `.ini` file sits next to each folder. Emulators typically take 3 to 15 GB each, mostly from user data and snapshots.

## What happens if you delete it?

You can create a new emulator from the same system image in a minute, but it starts empty: apps installed on the old one, their data, accounts and snapshots are gone.

## How to remove it properly

In Android Studio, open the Device Manager, open a device’s menu and choose Delete; or run `avdmanager delete avd -n <name>` in Terminal (`avdmanager list avd` shows the names). Both delete permanently and also remove the matching `.ini` file, so prefer them to dragging the folder to the Trash.

## Before you delete it

If you only want space back but plan to keep using an emulator, use Wipe Data in the Device Manager instead, which empties it without deleting the device.