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BodieThornfield's avatar
BodieThornfield
Iron Contributor
Mar 20, 2025
Solved

Can anyone recommend me a best mac cleaner software?

I usually use Windows computers. Recently, due to work needs, I had to dig out the old MacBook that had been lying in the drawer for several years. I found that this old machine was really stuck. It started slowly, ran slowly, and it was difficult to open a web page.

I guess there are a lot of junk files and caches accumulated in it. I want to find a reliable best mac cleaner software to clean it up.

I am not familiar with the Mac system. Does anyone have any recommended mac cleaning software?
It would be best if:

  • It is simple to operate, so that Mac novices can also use it smoothly;
  • The effect of cleaning junk files is obvious and can free up some space;
  • It is not easy to accidentally delete important files, and it is safe and reliable.

In addition, does the Mac system have any built-in functions or tips to quickly clean and optimize?
Thank you everyone~

10 Replies

  • CleanGeeker, the best Mac cleaning software I found recently. It works perfectly on my Mac. I can use it to remove junk, scan large files, find duplicate files and bulk uninstall apps. You can give it a try on your own Mac: https://www.microonn.com/best-mac-cleaner

     

  • HuxleyLane's avatar
    HuxleyLane
    Iron Contributor

    Recently I found my old MacBook and it was running very slow. I wanted to install the best mac cleaning software, but later I found that I could do it without software. Here are a few simple methods. After cleaning, it became much smoother:

    1. Manually delete large files and old apps

    Open "About This Mac" → "Storage Space" → "Manage" to see which large files and infrequently used software are taking up space and delete them directly.

    I cleared a few old videos and apps, and my Mac immediately had more than ten GB.


    2. Clean up the desktop and download folders

    The more files on the desktop, the slower the Mac runs. Sort the files into folders to reduce the burden on the system.

    In addition, the download folder often accumulates dust. Open Finder → "Downloads" and clear out files that are no longer needed.


    If you don't shut down your Mac for a long time, it will cause the Mac memory to occupy too much. Regular restarts can release the cache and make the system run more smoothly.

  • Wayneyan's avatar
    Wayneyan
    Iron Contributor

    About the best Mac cleaning software. Clearing browser cache and deleting language packs are straightforward, but man, it can take a lot of time. You’ve got to hunt down those files one by one, and if you're not super tech-savvy, it can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. When you're manually digging through application folders, there's a chance you might accidentally delete something important. Like, who knows what that random .lproj file does? You could end up causing more issues with the app than you solve.

    These manual methods usually only scratch the surface. They might get rid of some caches and extra files, but there are tons of hidden files, logs, and other digital dust bunnies floating around that you wouldn’t even think to look for. Mac Cleaning software can often root out those pesky hidden files and optimize storage way more effectively. Cleaning up space is one thing, but a proper cleaning app can also help with things like managing startup items, finding large files you didn't even know you had, and optimizing your system performance overall.

  • SamuelSamson's avatar
    SamuelSamson
    Iron Contributor

    I have always been used to using Windows, but recently I found an old MacBook that was running very slowly. I found that I could free up a lot of space by cleaning it. I didn't want to install the best mac cleaning software, so I used the terminal to solve the problem. Here are some simple and effective command line methods:

    Clean up the system cache

    bash
    rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/*
    sudo rm -rf /Library/Caches/*


    This trick freed up several gigabytes of storage space, which is cleaner than installing the best mac cleaning software.

    Clean up browser junk files

    bash
    rm -rf ~/Library/Safari/*
    rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Chrome/*


    Chrome used to open web pages very slowly, but it was much smoother after cleaning.

    Delete system log files

    sudo rm -rf /private/var/log/*


    I found that there were a lot of log files piled up in the system, and after deleting them, I actually recovered a lot of space. These commands are simple to operate and can really make your old Mac feel faster. I recommend you try it!

  • TannerBlaze's avatar
    TannerBlaze
    Iron Contributor

    There are tips you can use to free up more space without using Mac cleaning software. Manually cleaning large files and cache is a way to free up storage space by directly deleting files and temporary data that take up a lot of space.

    Large files (e.g. videos, installers) and cache files (e.g. browser cache, app cache) usually take up a lot of space, but they are often easily overlooked. Manual cleaning can pinpoint and delete these files to free up space. And there is no need to use a Mac cleaning software within the trick.

    Delete large files

    1. Open Finder. 

    2. In the menu bar, click ‘File’ > ‘New Smart Folder’. 

    3. Click the ‘+’ button in the upper right corner to add filter conditions: Select ‘Type’ as ‘File’. 

    5. Select ‘Size’ as ‘Larger than’ and enter a value (e.g. 100MB). 

    macOS will display all large files that meet the criteria. Browse the list and delete the large files you no longer need (e.g. videos, installers, etc.).

    Clear the app and system cache

    1. Open the Finder. 

    2. In the menu bar, click Go > Go to Folder. 

    3. Enter the path ~/Library/Caches and press Enter. 

    4. Once in the cache folder, you will see several subfolders, each corresponding to a different app's cache. 

    5. Select the unwanted caches folder, right click on it and select ‘Move to Wastebasket’. 

    Note: Do not delete the whole Caches folder, only the sub-folders.

    Empty Trash

    1. Right-click on the Wastebasket icon on your desktop. 

    2. Select ‘Empty Wastebasket’. 

    3. Confirm the operation and permanently delete the files in the wastepaper basket.

  • RonaldWhite's avatar
    RonaldWhite
    Iron Contributor

    If you want to use the command line to complete the best mac cleaner operation, here are a few good methods that do not require third-party tools, suitable for optimizing old MacBooks.

    1. Clean up system logs and caches
    This command can automatically clean up the system's temporary files, logs, and caches:

    bash
    sudo periodic daily weekly monthly


    Function: Clean up long-term accumulated log files and caches to free up storage space.
    Suitable for old Macs that have not been maintained for a long time, and can recover a lot of available space.


    2. Delete Spotlight index and rebuild
    Turn off indexing:

    bash
    sudo mdutil -Ea


    Re-establish indexing:

    bash
    sudo mdutil -i on /


    Function: Too many Spotlight index files will slow down the system. After rebuilding, search will be faster and Mac will be smoother.
    This method is one of the hidden best mac cleaner tips.


    3. Quickly clean up the DNS cache
    Terminal input:

    bash
    sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder


    Purpose: If you find that the Mac network is slow and the web page is stuck, this command can reload the DNS and improve the network speed.


    4. Delete unnecessary language packs
    The Mac system comes with various language packs. Deleting useless ones can free up space:

    bash
    sudo rm -rf /Library/Resources/*.lproj


    Note: It is recommended to keep only en.lproj (English) and zh_CN.lproj (Simplified Chinese).
    These best mac cleaner tool command methods are very practical, especially for old MacBooks. They are effective and recommended!

  • AnselmSage's avatar
    AnselmSage
    Iron Contributor

    As a user who is used to using Windows, I found a few simple methods to achieve the best mac cleaner effect without installing any third-party tools when I was playing with my old MacBook:

    1. Manually clean the browser cache

    Open Safari or Chrome browser → Select "History" → "Clear History and Website Data" on the menu bar.

    It can quickly free up hundreds of MB to several GB of space, and the effect is obvious and safe.

    2. Delete unused language packs

    Enter the "Applications" folder, right-click on any App, and select "Show Package Contents" → Contents → Resources.

    Find the language folder ending with .lproj, and delete all unused language folders except en.lproj (English) and zh_CN.lproj (Simplified Chinese).

    This method can effectively save a lot of disk space, especially for old Macs.

    3.Empty the Trash and bypass system protection

    If there are files in the Trash that cannot be deleted or are occupied, you can open the terminal and enter:

    sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash/*


    Force the Trash to be empty, and the effect will be immediate.

    These three methods are simple and direct, and can be regarded as the pure manual version of the best mac cleaner software, which are worth trying.

  • Kamrynim's avatar
    Kamrynim
    Iron Contributor

    Recommended best Mac Cleaner Software.

    1. Onyx:

    Onyx is a powerful maintenance tool for macOS that can help clean up junk files, caches, and logs. It has a straightforward interface but offers many advanced options, so proceed with caution. It’s important to follow the instructions carefully, especially if you're new to using Mac tools.

    2. Disk Cleanup Pro:

    This tool helps to locate and remove junk files quickly. It’s relatively simple to navigate and can be a good choice for beginners.

     

    Tips for Safe Cleaning

    • Backup Important Files: Always backup your files using Time Machine or by copying them to an external drive before using Mac cleaner software. This ensures that you don’t accidentally delete something important.
    • Use Caution: When using Mac cleaner software, carefully review what files it suggests deleting, as sometimes it can flag files that could be necessary for certain applications or system operations.
    • Progressive Cleaning: Start with simple tasks and gradually move to more advanced cleaning. Clean up heavy files and applications first to see if that improves performance.
  • AmayaI's avatar
    AmayaI
    Iron Contributor

    Disk Manager is a build Mac clean app to helps users quickly free up space by analyzing storage usage and providing optimization suggestions. It identifies large files, duplicates, caches, etc., and suggests actions such as moving files to iCloud and automatically emptying the wastebasket to effectively manage storage space.

    1. Open the ‘Storage Management’ tool: Click the Apple menu () in the upper left corner of the screen. Select ‘About This Phone’. In the pop-up window, click the ‘Storage’ tab. Click the ‘Manage’ button to enter the ‘Storage Management’ interface.

    2. View optimization suggestions: The system will display the current storage usage and provide optimization suggestions, such as: Store in iCloud: Move files, photos, etc. to iCloud to free up local space. Optimise storage: Automatically delete watched movies and TV shows. Automatically Empty Wastebasket: Automatically delete files older than 30 days in the wastebasket. Reduce clutter: Identify large and old files for easy manual deletion.

    3. Perform disk cleaning task: Choose the appropriate optimization option based on the recommendations. For example, click ‘Store in iCloud’ and follow the prompts to upload files to iCloud, or click ‘Optimize storage’ to automatically delete unwanted content.

    4. Check storage space: After you've finished optimizing, return to the Storage tab to see if the available space has increased. With these steps, you can quickly free up storage space on your Mac with the Storage Manager tool.

    For me, Disk Manager app is the best mac cleaner app without installing additional tools. It is fast and user friendly.

  • DravenPierce's avatar
    DravenPierce
    Iron Contributor

    Let me share my own experience when using an old MacBook. I can clean up my Mac without third-party tools.

    The following are the three best mac cleaner methods that I personally think do not require software installation:

    1. Use the system's built-in storage manager

    1. Click the Apple menu in the upper left corner → "About This Mac" → "Storage Space" → "Manage".
    2. The system will automatically analyze which large files, old applications, junk emails and duplicate files occupy space.
    3. This is actually Apple's built-in and officially recommended best mac cleaner function, which has obvious and safe cleaning effects.


    2. Clean up the cache folder

    1. Press the shortcut keys Command + Shift + G to open "Go to Folder" and enter: ~/Library/Caches/.
    2. Directly delete all cache files in it, which can free up a lot of space. It is effective in personal testing.
    3. I often use this method. It is a manual version of the best mac cleaner trick. It is very practical.


    3. Use terminal commands to clean up system garbage regularly

    Open the "Terminal" and enter the following commands to clean up old logs, temporary files, and caches:
    sudo periodic daily weekly monthly

    sudo periodic daily weekly monthly

    After entering the password and pressing Enter, wait for a while and the system will automatically clean up.
    This command line method is also considered to be Apple's native best mac cleaner tool, which is very convenient.

    The above methods do not require the installation of third-party mac cleaner software at all. They are safe and easy to use. I recommend you to try them all.

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