# Is it safe to delete a .venv folder in a Python project?

- URL: https://moreroom.app/folders/project-python-venv
- Item: Python virtual environments
- Location: `…/.venv`
- Verdict: Review first — Might hold something you care about. Look inside before removing it.
- Comes back on its own: yes
- Typical size: 100 MB–10 GB per project
- Source: MoreRoom rules catalogue (2026-10-17), by Yando Pte. Ltd.

## What is it?

A `.venv` folder is a Python virtual environment: its own Python interpreter link and the packages installed for one project. Only `.venv` folders next to a project file such as `pyproject.toml`, `requirements.txt`, `setup.py`, `Pipfile`, `uv.lock` or `poetry.lock`, in projects untouched for 60 days, are considered. Environments managed by AI app installers are left out. Typically hundreds of MB, several GB with machine-learning libraries.

## What happens if you delete it?

You can recreate it with `uv sync`, `poetry install`, `pipenv install`, or `python3 -m venv .venv` followed by `pip install -r requirements.txt`. Reinstalling large packages takes time and bandwidth.

## How to remove it properly

Make sure nothing is running from the environment, then move the `.venv` folder to the Trash in Finder.

## Before you delete it

Packages installed by hand and never added to the requirements file, or versions no longer available, make an environment hard to rebuild exactly. Check with `pip freeze` first.