Written by
Sherry Song
Summary: You may have seen the folder called Metadata on your Mac. What exactly is it? How can we use it? Is it safe to delete Metadata on Mac? Here, follow iBoysoft and get a brief introduction to Metadata.
If you've ever explored your Mac's file system or connected an external hard drive, you might have come across a mysterious folder named Metadata or files that seem to serve an obvious purpose.
What is the Metadata folder used for? I have a Metadata folder within ~/Library/Caches, I want to know what it can do for Mac itself? -discussion.apple.com
There are too many photos and videos in the Metadata folder on my Mac, but I can't view them in Finder. Can can I realize this, or is it safe to delete this folder? -reddit.com
While the Mac Metadata folder appears confusing at first glance, it actually plays a vital role in how macOS manages and organizes information. Here, we will dive into what the Metadata folder is, why it's there, and whether or not you should be concerned about it.
What is Mac Metadata folder? What is it used for
In computing terms, metadata means "data about data". On a Mac, the Metadata folder is a hidden or system-generated folder that stores additional information about files. This includes data like:
- Spotlight search indexing details
- File creation and modification dates
- Finder tags and labels
- File preview thumbnails
So about the use? The purpose of the Metadata folder is to make the Mac more efficient. It helps macOS quickly find files using Spotlight, organizing them with smart folders, and remembers custom settings like icon positions or tags.
In other words, although you might not interact with it directly, your system relies on Metadata to deliver a smooth user experience.
Is it safe to delete the Metadata folder on Mac
Generally speaking, deleting Metadata folders on Mac is not recommended unless you have a specific reason. Here's a breakdown:
- ✅ Safe to delete on external drives, especially if you're sharing with a Windows system or want to remove unnecessary clutter.
- ⚠️Not safe to delete system-level metadata folders within macOS, as this can affect Spotlight, Finder functionality, or other macOS services.
- ♻️Even if you delete metadata folders, macOS may recreate them automatically when needed.
If you're managing external media or sharing files across platforms, it's okay to clean up metadata folders occasionally. Just be cautious when doing so on your internal drive. Please share our post.
How to view, edit, or hide Metadata folder on Mac
You can view and manage Metadata folders with a few simple steps; some of them may use Terminal commands, so be careful.
Edit or remove Metadata folders
- Finder > Applications > Utilities > Finder.
- Type the following commands and press the Enter key.
xattr -l filename
xattr -d com.apple.metadata filename
Hide Metadata folders
- Press Command + Shift + . keys in Finder to hide them.
- You can also prevent macOS from creating Spotlight metadata on external drives with the Terminal command: sudo mdutil -i off /Volumes/DriveName.
Have you got all of these? You can share the ways.
Conclusion
The metadata folder on Mac is a behind-the-scenes tool that helps macOS organize, search, and manage files more efficiently. While you may encounter it occasionally—especially on external drives or shared folders—it's usually best to leave it alone unless you know what you're doing.
If you feel the Metadata folder files take up too much space, please read how to deal with Metadata are much or Spotlight knowledge events take up too much space on Mac.
