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"Apple could not verify Mac Cleanup Wizard is free of malware"
This is the most common issue. It happens because Mac Cleanup Wizard is not code-signed with an Apple certificate (which costs $99/year).
Quick Fix (Terminal Method)
- Open Terminal (⌘+Space, type "Terminal")
- Copy and paste this command:
xattr -cr ~/Downloads/Mac\ Cleanup\ Wizard*.dmg
- Press Enter
- Open the DMG file normally
- Right-click the app and select "Open"
System Preferences Method
- Try to open the app (it will be blocked)
- Go to System Preferences → Security & Privacy
- Look for a message about Mac Cleanup Wizard
- Click "Open Anyway"
- Confirm by clicking "Open"
Auto-Fix Script
Download and run our automated fix script:
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/SH20RAJ/mac-cleanup-wizard/main/fix-gatekeeper.sh | bash
"Mac Cleanup Wizard is damaged and can't be opened"
This is another form of the Gatekeeper protection. Same solutions as above apply.
Important: Always right-click and select "Open" instead of double-clicking the app for the first launch.
Permission Denied / Access Issues
Mac Cleanup Wizard needs Full Disk Access to scan your entire system.
Grant Full Disk Access
- Open System Preferences → Security & Privacy
- Click the "Privacy" tab
- Select "Full Disk Access" from the left sidebar
- Click the lock icon and enter your password
- Click the "+" button and add Mac Cleanup Wizard
- Restart the app
App Stuck on Loading Screen / Slow Scanning
Large file systems or permission issues can cause slow scans.
Solutions
- Wait up to 2-3 minutes for the initial scan
- Ensure Full Disk Access is granted (see above)
- Close other apps to free up system resources
- Try restarting the app
- Check Activity Monitor for high CPU usage
Download or Installation Problems
Try Different Download Format
If DMG doesn't work, try the ZIP version:
Why Does This Happen?
Mac Cleanup Wizard is completely safe! Here's why you see these warnings:
- Apple requires developers to pay $99/year for code signing
- As a free, open-source project, we don't have this certificate
- You can review our complete source code on GitHub
- Thousands of users have safely used the app