Is it Safe to Delete Render Files in FCP?

There’s one way to delete Final Cut Pro render files that is NOT safe! Are you doing it? I’ll show you the wrong way to delete render files and then the SAFE way and at the end I’ll show you how to stop Final Cut Pro from getting too big in 1 click. Render or not, let’s begin!

00:00 - Intro
00:14 - What happens when you delete render files?
01:05 - Delete render files and have a midlife crisis
02:08 - How to delete render files safely
03:47 - Deleting optimized and proxy media
04:33 - Stop Final Cut from creating render files
05:40 - Outro

Happy editing! Let me know if you need any help or have any questions.

[MusicwithMeg]

Wow, doing this has freed up 150GB of space on my Hard Drive! I was nervous to try it as I've done the "wrong method" before and lost all my work. Thank you so much!

[atheistchristianbookclub]

Lifesaver. I had a 1.99 TB project! I got a warning today that my entire HD was almost full. I had no idea about these render files! Thank you! But I'll tell you what, I was a little nervous about deleting the render files, but it worked! Thank you!

[SharaleesBoxOfChocolates]

Thank you so much for this video!! I was almost done editing a super long video that had taken hours and suddenly, my external disk drive was so full it wouldn't even let me export the video to the hard drive. I was worried about deleting the wrong render files and erasing all of that hard work. But your video saved the day! Rendered files were deleted and video properly exported. Yay!🎉😅

[nikindra]

This video saved my life! I couldn't figure out why my library was still an insane amount of GB when I kept deleting large videos from the library that I wasn't using. I figured there must be some backup file Final Cut Pro was keeping. I went through the steps and deleted just the unused render files and that fixed the problem instantly! Thank you!!!!

[CEEJ-MAN]

Yet another video that has saved me from a spiraling darkness of emotion regarding my project. Thanks and keep them coming!

[danielcohen]

Thank you for explaining this so simply and clearly.

As a struggling photographer/videographer, the one thing I constantly neglect is disk space. I have become accustomed to clearing generated Render files, but your video very clearly and simply explained how to prevent this in the future.

FWIW I do very small productions so having to render projects during a final export is not a big issue at all.

[graemelaw]

Hi from a snowy France. Just got to 768Go with my project. FCP and the Mac just cut out... Full up. I made a complete backup of the machine with "Carbon Copy Cloner" ( I recommend that to all Mac users, even those on Sonoma 14.3), that and a good external drive like Sabrent Rocket, for example, save all crash worries. Next I went through piles off YouTube videos before finding yours. Brilliant.... Clear explanation of the doos and don't with a uncluttered presentation of why.
Yes, you've got a BIG THUMBS UP, a new follower +++ Many, many thanks.😊😊😊

[MesarosRonel]

I have 240 GB in cache and I was looking for a long time how to delete the already used files but couldn't find them. You saved me. Thank you!

[IndyVisuals]

I was editing last night and got the I don’t have enough space on a 1tb SSD. I usually delete unused render files but afraid to delete all and miss files. I’m glad to know it’s safe to delete all render files

[CamSaidSo]

I come back every time I need to do this just to make sure. Great video.

[itsyoga]

As I use FCPX more and more, I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised by the features offered.. that said, I really really appreciate this video. Thank you very much!

[IvyMilarz]

Omg after a month of trying to figure it out, this is the only video that has helped me 😭 thank you so much

[schadlarry]

I've noticed optical flow for slower playback takes a huge amount of space. I'm pretty sure it's safe to delete those files after you have saved your rendered out project.

[deerock]

Thank you, i was a little bit nervous to do that, but it worked and it didn't change my Timeline whatsoever. 👍👍

[evadaptable]

Thank you ! Your auto saved my biggest editing project so far !

[markstephenpelfrey]

Thanks for this video! Very helpful.
Another issue I've run into with Final Cut is: when I use the "Save Current Frame" feature, the exported screenshot file is overexposed.
Have you heard of something like that before? Thanks!

[thijsm]

Thanks for the clear video! Went from 1.35 TB to 4.6GB :)

[eightmetalstrings]

Thank you! This freed up 150gigs for me. I was going nuts trying to figure it out.

[Jesper]

Freakin' amazing video! You just saved my server, good man. Hat's off to ya'!

[BlueDroneBlues]

Question: On your delete Render files. When and why would you use Delta Optimized Media and Delete Proxy Media and when would you not use those 2 other options? Thank you so much for the video!