Can I delete .asl files

[bmeacham]

I'm looking to free up disk space. Can I safely delete .asl files in, for instance, /private/var/log/DiagnosticMessages?

 

[!!!]

You can generally delete log files, but they will come back. The system will delete them based on size, so they will eventually take up just as much space.

 

[bmeacham]

You can generally delete log files, but they will come back. The system will delete them based on size, so they will eventually take up just as much space.

OK thanks

 

[benwiggy]

I'd recommend using something like OmniDiskSweeper or DaisyDisk, which show you your drive sorted by size, so you can see what's taking up the space; and then make an informed decision about whether it's necessary.

Things like caches will just get refilled (and they generally serve a purpose); but things like iPhone backups, Garageband/Logic samples -- and of course your own files -- are the main contenders.

 

[maflynn]

Just in case it wasn't clear to people. Files with an extension of .asl are Apple System Log files, and as mentioned above that they can be removed. With that said, if you're that constrained with disk space, then deleting these will only be a temporary fix - they do come back

As mentioned by @benwiggy Get yourself OmniDiskSweeper, see what's consuming your space, and figure out how to proceed, i.e., get an external drive to offload the data or determine if its safe to remove.

One rule of thumb, is to not delete anything you're not familiar with, and definitely avoid the root directories, just focus on your home folder to be safe.