The short answer
No. Your data. Shrink it from its app; don’t delete the folder.
What is it?
When memory runs short, macOS writes inactive memory to swap files. On macOS 11 Big Sur and later they live on the hidden VM volume (/System/Volumes/VM); the older location /private/var/vm may still hold the sleepimage, which keeps the contents of memory for safe sleep on Intel Macs. Swap is often zero or a few GB, more under heavy load or when an app uses far more memory than it should.
Memory macOS writes to disk. It shrinks after a restart and cannot be deleted.
What happens if you delete it?
macOS creates swap files as needed and removes them as memory frees up; a restart clears them.
How to remove it properly
Never delete these files by hand: the system uses them while running, and removing them can crash apps or the Mac. To reduce swap, quit memory-hungry apps and browser tabs, then restart. If swap keeps growing, check the Memory tab of Activity Monitor for an app using far more memory than expected.
Don’t remove it by hand; macOS manages it.
How MoreRoom helps
MoreRoom recognises this as your data and never suggests deleting it. It shows how much space it takes, so you can shrink it from its own app.
Frequently asked questions
Can I delete macOS swap files and the sleepimage?
No. Your data. Shrink it from its app; don’t delete the folder. macOS creates swap files as needed and removes them as memory frees up; a restart clears them.
Will Swap and sleep image come back after I delete it?
Yes. macOS creates swap files as needed and removes them as memory frees up; a restart clears them.
How do I remove Swap and sleep image properly?
Never delete these files by hand: the system uses them while running, and removing them can crash apps or the Mac. To reduce swap, quit memory-hungry apps and browser tabs, then restart. If swap keeps growing, check the Memory tab of Activity Monitor for an app using far more memory than expected.