> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/prefix-dev/pixi/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# pixi clean

Clean parts of your system touched by pixi.

## Usage

```bash theme={null}
pixi clean [OPTIONS] [COMMAND]
```

## Description

The `pixi clean` command removes cached data and environments. It can clean:

* Workspace environments (`.pixi` folder)
* System-wide cache (conda packages, PyPI wheels, repodata, etc.)
* Build-related caches

## Subcommands

### `pixi clean cache`

Clean the global cache directory.

```bash theme={null}
pixi clean cache [OPTIONS]
```

## Options

### Workspace Options

<ParamField path="--environment" type="string">
  The specific environment directory to remove.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean --environment prod
  pixi clean --environment test
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--activation-cache" type="boolean">
  Only remove the activation cache.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean --activation-cache
  pixi clean --environment prod --activation-cache
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--build" type="boolean">
  Only remove the pixi-build cache.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean --build
  ```
</ParamField>

### Cache Options

<ParamField path="--pypi" type="boolean">
  Clean only the PyPI related cache.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean cache --pypi
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--conda" type="boolean">
  Clean only the conda related cache.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean cache --conda
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--repodata" type="boolean">
  Clean only the repodata cache.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean cache --repodata
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--mapping" type="boolean">
  Clean only the conda-pypi mapping cache.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean cache --mapping
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--exec" type="boolean">
  Clean only the exec cache (cached command executions).

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean cache --exec
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--build-backends" type="boolean">
  Clean only the build backends environments cache.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean cache --build-backends
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--build" type="boolean">
  Clean only the build-related cache (git, work directories, built packages).

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean cache --build
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--yes" type="boolean">
  Answer yes to all prompts. Useful for automation.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean cache --yes
  pixi clean cache -y
  ```
</ParamField>

## Examples

### Clean workspace environments

Remove all environments in the current workspace:

```bash theme={null}
pixi clean
```

This removes:

* Environment directories (`.pixi/envs/`)
* Solve group environments
* Task cache
* Activation cache
* Workspace build cache

### Clean specific environment

Remove only one environment:

```bash theme={null}
pixi clean --environment test
```

### Clean activation cache only

Remove just the activation cache without removing environments:

```bash theme={null}
pixi clean --activation-cache
```

### Clean all cache

Remove all cached data (interactive prompt):

```bash theme={null}
pixi clean cache
```

### Clean specific cache types

Remove only PyPI cache:

```bash theme={null}
pixi clean cache --pypi
```

Remove conda package cache:

```bash theme={null}
pixi clean cache --conda
```

Remove repodata cache to force refresh:

```bash theme={null}
pixi clean cache --repodata
```

### Clean multiple cache types

Combine flags to clean specific caches:

```bash theme={null}
pixi clean cache --pypi --conda
pixi clean cache --repodata --mapping
```

### Clean build caches

Remove build-related caches:

```bash theme={null}
# Clean build backends
pixi clean cache --build-backends

# Clean all build cache
pixi clean cache --build

# Clean workspace build cache
pixi clean --build
```

### Non-interactive cleaning

Clean without confirmation prompts:

```bash theme={null}
pixi clean cache --yes
pixi clean cache -y
```

## Cache Locations

By default, pixi caches data in:

* **Linux**: `~/.cache/rattler/`
* **macOS**: `~/Library/Caches/rattler/`
* **Windows**: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\rattler\Cache`

Cache structure:

```
~/.cache/rattler/
├── cache/                  # Conda package cache (--conda)
├── pkgs/                   # PyPI wheels cache (--pypi)
├── repodata/               # Channel repodata (--repodata)
├── pypi-mapping/           # Conda-PyPI name mapping (--mapping)
├── envs/                   # Exec cache (--exec)
├── build-tool-envs/        # Build backends (--build-backends)
├── git/                    # Git repos for builds (--build)
├── build-work/             # Build work directories (--build)
└── built-packages/         # Built packages (--build)
```

## When to Clean

<Accordion title="Disk space issues">
  The cache can grow large over time. Use `pixi info --extended` to check cache size, then clean unused caches.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Corrupt cache">
  If you encounter strange package resolution or download errors, cleaning the repodata cache can help:

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean cache --repodata
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Fresh environment">
  To recreate environments from scratch:

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean
  pixi install
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Build issues">
  If builds are failing or producing unexpected results:

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean cache --build
  pixi clean --build
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Package resolution changes">
  After changing channels or updating package sources:

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi clean cache --repodata --mapping
  ```
</Accordion>

## Safety

<Warning>
  Cleaning the cache will cause packages to be re-downloaded on next install. This is safe but may take time depending on your internet connection.
</Warning>

<Info>
  Cleaning workspace environments does not affect the lock file. Running `pixi install` will recreate the environments from the lock file.
</Info>

## Related Commands

* [`pixi info`](/commands/info) - View cache sizes with `--extended`
* [`pixi install`](/commands/install) - Recreate environments after cleaning