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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mac Cleanup Wizard safe to use?
Yes, Mac Cleanup Wizard is designed with safety as a top priority. It includes multiple safety checks, confirmation dialogs, and moves files to trash by default instead of permanently deleting them. The app is also open source, so you can review the code yourself.
What types of files does it clean?
The app can clean developer files (Node.js modules, Python environments, Xcode data), cache files (browser caches, system caches), temp files, large media files, old downloads, and application support data. It's particularly effective for developers who accumulate lots of build artifacts.
Does it collect any personal data?
No, Mac Cleanup Wizard does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data. It works entirely offline and all operations are performed locally on your Mac. No analytics, tracking, or network connections are made.
What macOS versions are supported?
Mac Cleanup Wizard requires macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later. It supports both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, with separate downloads available for each architecture.
How much space can I expect to free up?
This varies greatly depending on your usage patterns, but users typically recover anywhere from 10GB to 100GB+ of space. Developer machines with lots of Node.js projects, Xcode builds, and Docker images tend to have the most potential for cleanup.
Can I recover files after cleaning?
By default, files are moved to the Trash, so you can recover them from there if needed. You can change this behavior in settings to permanently delete files if you prefer, but we recommend keeping the trash option enabled for safety.
Why does the app request Full Disk Access?
Full Disk Access is needed to scan system directories, caches, and protected folders that contain junk files. This permission allows the app to provide a comprehensive cleanup. The permission is only used for scanning and cleaning - no data is transmitted anywhere.
How often should I run the cleanup?
For most users, running the cleanup monthly is sufficient. Heavy developers might want to run it weekly or bi-weekly. The app includes a setting to automatically scan on startup if you prefer to check regularly.
Is there a command-line version?
Currently, Mac Cleanup Wizard is a GUI application only. However, since it's open source, contributors are welcome to create command-line tools or scripts based on the same cleaning logic.
Can I contribute to the project?
Absolutely! Mac Cleanup Wizard is open source and welcomes contributions. You can contribute code, report bugs, suggest features, or help with documentation on the
GitHub repository.
Troubleshooting
The app gets stuck on the loading screen
This can happen if the initial scan is taking a long time due to large directories or permission issues. The app now includes timeout mechanisms and will show results after 15 seconds even if scanning isn't complete. Try granting Full Disk Access in System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
I'm getting permission errors
Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Full Disk Access and make sure Mac Cleanup Wizard is checked. You may need to remove and re-add the app to the list after updates.
The app won't open (damaged/unidentified developer)
This is a common macOS security message for unsigned apps. Right-click the app and select "Open", then click "Open" in the dialog. Alternatively, you can go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and click "Open Anyway" after the first attempt to run the app.
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