Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about CleanMyMacOS.
Getting Started
What is CleanMyMacOS?
CleanMyMacOS is a privacy-first macOS maintenance utility that helps you reclaim disk space, uninstall apps cleanly, manage developer caches, tweak macOS settings, and perform system maintenance. It's fully sandboxed and available on the Mac App Store.
What macOS versions are supported?
CleanMyMacOS requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later. It runs natively on both Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) and Intel Macs.
How do I install CleanMyMacOS?
Download CleanMyMacOS for free from the Mac App Store. Open the App Store, search for "CleanMyMacOS", and click "Get". The app will install like any other Mac app.
Why does the app need folder permissions?
CleanMyMacOS is sandboxed — it can only access folders you explicitly allow. When you grant access via the macOS file picker, the app receives a secure bookmark to remember your choice. This is a security feature, not a limitation.
Safety & Privacy
Is it safe to use CleanMyMacOS?
Yes. The app is sandboxed, App Store approved, and uses a multi-layered SafetyPolicyEngine. Critical files (Keychains, Mail, Photos, iCloud, SSH keys) are permanently blocked from deletion. Everything moves to Trash by default — you can always undo.
Does CleanMyMacOS collect any data?
No. Zero telemetry, zero analytics, zero crash reporting. Nothing leaves your Mac. The app has no user accounts, no tracking, and no advertising. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Can I undo a cleanup?
Yes. All files are moved to the macOS Trash by default. Open Trash in Finder to recover any files you want back. Permanent deletion only happens when you manually empty the Trash.
What files does CleanMyMacOS never touch?
The SafetyPolicyEngine permanently blocks: Keychains and passwords, Mail and Messages data, Photos and Music libraries, iCloud and cloud storage, SSH keys and GPG keys, shell configuration files (.zshrc, .bashrc), app sandbox containers, and system preferences.
What do the risk levels mean?
Safe (green): caches, logs, and temporary files that regenerate automatically. Review Recommended (orange): files like old downloads or app leftovers that you should verify before removing. Advanced (red): system-related operations that require more care. Not Recommended (gray): items the app advises against removing.
Features
What does Smart Scan do?
Smart Scan examines 11 cleanup categories: user caches, logs, downloads, Trash, browser caches, Xcode data, Homebrew, developer caches, app leftovers, large files, and duplicates. Results are grouped by risk level. Files modified in the last 24 hours are automatically skipped.
How does the App Uninstaller work?
It discovers installed apps and scans 11 locations for leftover files (Application Support, Caches, Preferences, Logs, LaunchAgents, etc.). Each leftover gets a confidence score: Exact (bundle ID match), High (name match), Medium (partial match), or Low (fuzzy — needs review). 23 system apps are protected.
What developer caches does the app clean?
38+ package manager caches across all major ecosystems: npm, Yarn, pnpm, Bun, pip, uv, Poetry, Cargo, Go, Gradle, Maven, CocoaPods, Composer, gem, Docker, kubectl, AWS CLI, Hugging Face, PyTorch, and more. Plus Xcode DerivedData, Archives, Simulators, and DeviceSupport.
How does the Duplicate Finder work?
It uses progressive hashing: first grouping files by size (unique sizes are skipped), then a quick hash of the first and last 4 KB, and finally a full SHA-256 hash for confirmed candidates. This is accurate and fast, even with 200K+ files.
Can I revert macOS tweaks?
Yes. Every tweak has a revert button that restores the macOS default value. Some tweaks require restarting Finder or the Dock, which the app handles or guides you through.
Why are maintenance tasks 'guided' instead of automatic?
Because the app is sandboxed, it can't run Terminal commands directly. Instead, it shows you the exact command to copy and run in Terminal. This keeps you in full control — you see what runs, and you authenticate with macOS directly.
Pricing & Subscriptions
Is CleanMyMacOS free?
Yes, the Free tier includes Dashboard, Smart Scan, cleanup up to 500 MB per month, and basic tweaks. Pro features (unlimited cleanup, developer tools, duplicates, large files, maintenance, and more) require a subscription or lifetime purchase.
What's included in Pro?
Pro unlocks: unlimited cleanup, App Uninstaller, Large File Scanner, Duplicate Finder, Developer Tools, Storage Map, Maintenance Tasks, all macOS Tweaks, Privacy Tools, Startup Items, and scheduled cleanup reminders.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Go to System Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions on your Mac. Find CleanMyMacOS and click "Cancel Subscription." Your Pro features stay active until the end of the current billing period.
How do I request a refund?
Refunds are handled by Apple. Visit reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, find the CleanMyMacOS purchase, and submit a refund request.
Does the Lifetime plan include future updates?
Yes. The Lifetime plan is a one-time purchase that unlocks all current and future Pro features permanently.
Troubleshooting
The app shows 'Full Disk Access Required'. What do I do?
For the most complete scan, grant Full Disk Access: System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access > add CleanMyMacOS. Without it, some protected locations (Trash, certain Library folders) may not be scannable.
Why does the app find less space than expected?
The app only scans folders you've granted access to. Make sure you've granted access to ~/Library, ~/Downloads, and /Applications in the Permissions section. Also, the app skips files modified in the last 24 hours for safety.
A cleanup didn't free as much space as shown. Why?
Files are moved to Trash, not permanently deleted. Empty your Trash (Finder > Empty Trash) to reclaim the disk space. Also, macOS may take a moment to update the reported free space after cleanup.
The app won't open or crashes on launch.
Try these steps: 1) Make sure you're running macOS 14 or later. 2) Restart your Mac. 3) Delete and reinstall the app from the Mac App Store. If the issue persists, email us at support@spectrumlabs.dev with your macOS version.
Still have questions?
We're here to help.
Email SupportOr visit the Support page for more options.