The short answer
Yes. Rebuilt or re-downloaded automatically when needed.
What is it?
The Gradle wrapper (gradlew) downloads the exact Gradle version each project asks for into ~/.gradle/wrapper/dists, one folder per version and distribution type. Each takes from about 150 MB to a few hundred megabytes, and versions used by old projects stay forever.
What happens if you delete it?
The wrapper downloads a missing version again the next time a project that uses it builds. Nothing else is lost.
How to remove it properly
Stop Gradle with ./gradlew --stop, then move the folders of versions you no longer use from ~/.gradle/wrapper/dists to the Trash, keeping the newest one.
Quit the app that uses it, then move it to the Trash. Empty the Trash when you’re sure.
- MoreRoom keeps the newest 1 and suggests the older ones.
How MoreRoom helps
MoreRoom recognises this item, shows its real size and when it was last used, and labels it “Safe to remove”. In the free version you can move it to the Trash in one click, with Undo; Pro collects every safe item at once.
Frequently asked questions
Can I delete old Gradle versions in ~/.gradle/wrapper/dists?
Yes. Rebuilt or re-downloaded automatically when needed. The wrapper downloads a missing version again the next time a project that uses it builds. Nothing else is lost.
Will Gradle distributions come back after I delete it?
Yes. The wrapper downloads a missing version again the next time a project that uses it builds. Nothing else is lost.
How do I remove Gradle distributions properly?
Stop Gradle with ./gradlew --stop, then move the folders of versions you no longer use from ~/.gradle/wrapper/dists to the Trash, keeping the newest one.