what is .recoll directory in my user directory?

I was looking through the large files on my macbook pro running Sequoia, and I came across a large file called "position.glass" which was 2.6Gb. This file was contained within a hidden directory called ".recoll ".


I have no idea what this file and directory are. Does anyone know what this directory is, and whether it is needed at all?


Thanks.

Parallels, macOS 12.7

Posted on Apr 18, 2025 5:25 PM

Reply
4 replies

Apr 19, 2025 12:12 PM in response to Robert Meushaw

Robert Meushaw wrote:

I did some further checking and found ( https://www.recoll.org/ ) indicating that Recoll is a search engine available for Mac OS.

It is not.


Oddly, the Recoll app doesn't appear in the list of apps available on my mac. I was able to locate a download site for it in order to try it out.

As I said, the cause is some 3rd party app using this open source software. It could be any app. The one app that it most definitely won't be is anything named "Recoll".


Just delete that folder and hope that you've also deleted the app that had originally created the folder in the first place.

Apr 18, 2025 5:52 PM in response to Robert Meushaw


did you open any of those documents for some insight...?


It seems you ought to get some clue there.




possibilities—


The .recoil directory on macOS is a hidden directory used by the Finder's Trash to

store temporary files and thumbnails of items that have been moved to

the Trash, according to Macgasm. It helps with restoring deleted files and previewing them in the Trash.



ref: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/recoil-game/id1236264162


"Recoil" can also refer to a magazine reader app

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/recoil-magazine/id496265566

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what is .recoll directory in my user directory?

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