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macOS Cleanup Utility

Reclaim Mac storage with review-first cleanup

Run a 29-category scan across developer toolchains, system directories, and high-risk data zones, then review by path and size before cleanup. Quick Actions now include one-click OpenClaw complete uninstall.

Capability baselineMarch 2026Supported languages20PricingFree forever
DownloadView sample report

5 min

Average first full scan

29

Scan categories

4

Export report formats

  • 29-category scan coverage
  • Expanded toolchain detection
  • Permission-aware scan states
macOS cleanup dashboard
Free Mac Space dashboard preview
Review-first cleanup dashboard with protected path indicators.

Total

1 TB

Used

786 GB

Free

238 GB

Cleanable

124 GB

Used ratio

78%

Suggested first cleanup

Use Quick Actions for App Caches, Temporary Files, Logs, and Xcode first, or run one-click OpenClaw complete uninstall.

App CachesTemporary FilesSystem LogsXcodeOpenClaw Uninstall

Category scan status

8 categories

124 GB

  • Xcode

    DerivedData, Archives, iOS DeviceSupport

    96 GBSafe cache

  • npm / pnpm / Yarn / Bun

    Node package caches, stores, and install artifacts

    28 GBSafe cache

  • Docker

    Container layers and virtual disk images

    138 GBReview first

  • pip / Conda / uv

    Python cache, site-packages, and virtual environment payloads

    61 GBReview first

Real scan case

From scan to cleanup on a production developer Mac

Device
MacBook Pro (M3, 1TB)
Usage
Daily work + creative projects
Recoverable space
124 GB cleanable -> 31 GB selected in first pass
First scan time
4m 52s
Action path
Quick Actions + review gate + Trash-first cleanup

OpenClaw uninstall

One-click OpenClaw complete uninstall with preview-first guardrails

The desktop app source now exposes focused OpenClaw cleanup entry points alongside broader app-residue tools. This homepage now surfaces that workflow clearly: detect leftovers, preview exact targets, then move matched items to Trash first.

Why the flow stays safe

Only approved roots and OpenClaw-marked paths are eligible.
Every run shows a preview list before cleanup starts.
Trash-first cleanup plus local audit records make rollback easier.

The same desktop codebase also supports broader app-residue cleanup, so OpenClaw is presented here as a concrete one-click example of that review-first model.

Open OpenClaw solutionRead OpenClaw guide

Typical detected paths

  • /Applications/OpenClaw.app
  • ~/Library/Application Support/OpenClaw
  • ~/Library/Caches/OpenClaw
  • ~/Library/Preferences/org.openclaw.plist
  • ~/.config/openclaw
  • /usr/local/bin/openclaw

How the uninstall flow works

  1. 01

    Open Quick Actions and choose OpenClaw Complete Uninstall.

  2. 02

    Review the detected path preview before confirming.

  3. 03

    Run cleanup and move matched OpenClaw items to Trash first.

  4. 04

    Check the cleanup summary and local audit trail to verify the result.

Features

Built for modern developer and creator Macs

Homepage messaging is aligned with the latest desktop scan model and cleanup safety behavior.

29-category scan coverage

Cover developer toolchains, system cleanup sources, and protected high-risk directories in one workflow.

Expanded toolchain detection

Includes Ollama, Android Studio, Gradle, Maven, CocoaPods, npm/pnpm/yarn/bun, pip/Conda/uv, NuGet, Flutter/Dart, Ruby/Bundler, JS build caches, Cargo, Go modules, and ML cache paths.

Permission-aware scan states

Every category clearly shows Scanned, No Access, or Not Scanned status to reduce false assumptions.

Quick Actions + OpenClaw complete uninstall

Jump straight to App Caches, Temporary Files, System Logs, or Xcode, and run one-click OpenClaw complete uninstall to remove app files, caches, configs, and saves.

Export-ready reports

Export scan results in JSON, CSV, HTML, or PDF and share a support bundle when troubleshooting.

Undo assistant + local audit trail

Open Trash from the app and verify each cleanup attempt in ~/Library/Application Support/FreeMacSpace/cleanup-audit.jsonl.

How It Works

Setup -> Scan all categories -> Clean & Export

A practical cleanup path with explicit safety checkpoints at each stage.

01

Set permissions and threshold

Grant only the directories you want to analyze and start with the recommended 100 MB threshold for cleaner first results.

02

Scan with category states

Review file size, path, and timestamps while tracking explicit category states: Scanned, No Access, or Not Scanned.

03

Clean safely and keep evidence

Move selected items to Trash, then export reports for operations, support, or team handoff.

Download

Safety

Operational safety built into cleanup

Safety rules are enforced in product behavior, not just in copy.

Safety design

Three guardrails run before every cleanup action.

Only cleanup-selectable items can be acted on in-app. High-risk categories are protected, and every operation remains review-first with local evidence.

  • Protected categories stay cleanup-disabled

    App Data, iOS Backups, Mail & Messages, Trash, and Other are protected by default to avoid accidental data loss.

  • Selectable items follow Trash-first flow

    Cleanup-selectable files are moved to Trash first, and Undo Assistant helps reopen Trash and review the latest cleanup summary.

  • Local diagnostics and audit logs

    Each cleanup attempt is appended locally and can be paired with JSON/CSV/HTML/PDF exports for support workflows.

Category safety matrix

macOS native

  • Xcode

    DerivedData, Archives, iOS DeviceSupport

    Safe cache

  • npm / pnpm / Yarn / Bun

    Node package caches, stores, and install artifacts

    Safe cache

  • Docker

    Container layers and virtual disk images

    Review first

  • pip / Conda / uv

    Python cache, site-packages, and virtual environment payloads

    Review first

  • Ollama Models

    Local LLM model files and related caches

    Review first

Sample reports

Inspect export formats before you install

Free Mac Space can export JSON, CSV, HTML, and PDF reports. Download JSON/CSV samples here before installing.

You can also export a support package and keep a local cleanup audit trail.

JSONCSVHTMLPDF
Download sample report (JSON)Download sample report (CSV)View safety policyExplore solution pages

Blog

Hidden storage stories from real Mac scans

Read eleven practical cases that explain where hidden storage comes from and how Free Mac Space helps you clean safely.

Xcode

Xcode DerivedData and DeviceSupport: the classic hidden giant

Xcode can quietly keep tens of gigabytes in build artifacts and simulator/device support files. This post explains where it grows and how to clean without breaking active projects.

Updated: February 25, 2026

Read time: 6 min

Hidden source: DerivedData, Archives, iOS DeviceSupport, CoreSimulator

Read article

Docker

Docker Desktop VM disk: why it keeps growing after projects end

Docker images, layers, and build cache are stored inside Docker-managed directories and VM disk files. They can grow fast and stay invisible to normal Finder checks.

Updated: February 25, 2026

Read time: 6 min

Hidden source: Container layers, build cache, virtual disk files

Read article

Homebrew

Homebrew cache folders: small installs, surprisingly large history

Homebrew keeps download and metadata caches that can survive across upgrades. They are safe cleanup candidates when they become oversized.

Updated: February 25, 2026

Read time: 5 min

Hidden source: Bottle downloads, source tarballs, API metadata cache

Read article

JavaScript Toolchains

npm, pnpm, Yarn, Bun caches: hidden duplicates across projects

Package managers are fast because they cache aggressively. On multi-project Macs, these stores can consume massive space even when repos are removed.

Updated: February 25, 2026

Read time: 6 min

Hidden source: npm cache, pnpm store, Yarn cache, Bun install cache

Read article

Mail & Messages

Mail and Messages attachments: sensitive data that still needs visibility

Attachment libraries can grow quietly for years. They are high-risk user data, so Free Mac Space treats them as analysis-only by default.

Updated: February 25, 2026

Read time: 5 min

Hidden source: Mail downloads, iMessage media history, attachment mirrors

Read article

iOS Backups

iOS local backups in MobileSync: easy to forget, huge when duplicated

Finder/iTunes backups can keep multiple generations of device snapshots. These backups are valuable but often oversized and forgotten.

Updated: February 25, 2026

Read time: 5 min

Hidden source: MobileSync backup snapshots for iPhone and iPad

Read article
View all posts

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the most common questions.

Does the app permanently delete my files?
Regular cleanup uses Trash-first actions. Protected categories are cleanup-disabled by default.
What if I do not grant access to some directories?
Those categories are explicitly labeled Scanned, No Access, or Not Scanned, so you always know exactly what was and was not analyzed.
Which report formats can I export?
Free Mac Space exports scan reports in JSON, CSV, HTML, and PDF, and can generate a support package when needed.
What macOS versions are supported?
The app supports macOS 14.0 and later.
Can I uninstall OpenClaw in one click?
Yes. Quick Actions includes OpenClaw Complete Uninstall. It detects OpenClaw app files, caches, configs, and save data in allowed roots, then moves matched items to Trash first.

Start cleaning your Mac today

Run your first scan in minutes with the latest capability set. Free forever with no paid unlocks.

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