- How To Uninstall Cleanmymac App On Mac Mini 64-bit
- How To Uninstall A Program On Mac
- How To Uninstall Things On A Mac
- How To Remove Cleanmymac X
- How To Uninstall Cleanmymac App On Mac Mini Windows 10
If you are reading this article, the chances are that youhave a problem: your Mac is running slow.
Open CleanMyMac X and go to Uninstaller. Find and select CleanMyMac X in the list of apps. Click Uninstall. CleanMyMac will remove itself leaving no leftovers on your Mac. We hope you’re just moving CleanMyMac to another computer, but if you really decided to get rid of it, please let us know the reason. CleanMyMac is an incredibly useful app that cleans up your Mac’s hard drive and keeps your Mac in a good shape. It has a utility called Uninstaller that allows you to completely remove programs (and their associated files) in one go, including iTunes. Here’s a step by step guide to follow: Download and install the app on your Mac.
And chances are you read about CleanMyMac (read my review here) and how it can make your Mac run faster.
And finally, you also read multiple “expert” userreviews suggesting that CleanMyMac is a scam or a malware.
I decided to find out if the rumors are true or not on myown. Because I don’t like spreading rumors, I prefer hard facts. If I claimthat something is not working, it means I tested it myself, and it didn’t work.Conversely, if I claim that something works, I tested, and it worked.
So, let’s do some research and see what we can find.
Note: this article is not about whether you should or shouldn’t purchase CleanMyMac. I will post a detailed review later and provide a link for those who interested. This post is intended to answer the question in the title.
By the way, in case if you don’t want to read the entire article and simply want to know the answer, then check out “Is CleanMyMac Safe?” section at the end of the post.
Is MacPaw a Legit Company
CleanMyMac X is a product of MacPaw, a company with offices in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Santa Barbara, CA. It was founded in 2008 by Oleksandr Kosovan, a Ukranian developer.
Since then, MacPaw added several other applications, most notably a subscription-based service Setapp. By the way, Setapp was named World’s most innovative company in Europe 2019 according to FastCompany.
The company was also featured in Forbes, 9to5mac, TechCrunch and VentureBeat.
So, yes, MacPaw is a legit company and recognized by manyreputable organizations.
By the way, the funniest claim I read on forums is the assertion that MacPaw works for Russian intelligence.
I don’t want to go too deep in politics, but let me remind you that Ukraine is in the middle of a conflict with Russia, and it’s hard to imagine that Russians can influence a company in the capital of Ukraine.
Mac google apps dock. Moreover, reportedly the founder of the company risked his life by supporting civic protests in 2014 against the corrupt government. So, no, I don’t believe MacPaw is associated with any government.
Is CleanMyMac Malware
There is a very known myth that Apple computers cannot get viruses, but more experienced users know that this is not true.
How To Uninstall Cleanmymac App On Mac Mini 64-bit
Macs do get viruses and other types of malware. If you ever had to fight with annoying pop-ups after installing a new app or an extension in Chrome, you know what I mean.
Whenever I download any software over the internet I alwaysgo thru following steps to make sure that I am not getting a malware:
- Upload an installer package, usually DMG to VirusTotal. VirusTotal is a free online tool that checks for malware by over 70 antivirus scanners.
- Run Norton 360 Standard or Deluxe. It’s the best antimalware product for Macs currently.
Both VirusTotal and Norton assured that CleanMyMac is not a malware, or adware, or spyware of any sort.
Why is CleanMyMac not in App Store
Smart users know that it is best to install apps from theMac App Store.
https://rimugr.weebly.com/how-to-allow-accessibility-for-apps-mac.html. When a developer submits an app to the Mac App Store, Apple performs tests and validates the app to make sure that it does not contain any malicious code.
So, by submitting their app to the App Store, the developers get a stamp of approval from Apple itself. And any user knows, that any app downloaded from the App Store is secure, it is not a scam or spyware, it is OK to download and use.
But how does Apple guarantee that all apps in their storeare safe? By limiting their access to many parts of the macOS. It is called asandbox. Each app is placed in a restricted area where they cannot cause anyproblems to the system and other programs running on the computer.
And this is a problem for applications such as CleanMyMac.
Since CleanMyMac X needs access to the core, it cannot run in a sandbox in order to be effective. If you are still not convinced, try to find any antivirus program in the Mac App Store.
If you want to install antimalware solutions from McAfee, Bitdefender, or Norton, you have to download them from their sites. It’s because any application that needs to have access to the system files cannot run in a sandbox.
There are two other reasons for developers to encouragedownloading from their sites:
- Apple takes 30% cut from any purchase in its store, so the developers either have to increase their prices by 30% or eat the cost of hosting.
- Bypassing App store allows developers to have creative licensing solutions. For instance, they can offer a trial version and then unlock the full version after you obtain the license.
In short, I am not surprised by the fact that CleanMyMac isnot available for download from the App Store because it is a common practicefor programs that work on the system level.
However, MacPaw is not totally bypassing Apple checks with its products. CleanMyMac X is Apple notarized. What does it mean?
Unlike submitting the program to the App Store, where itundergoes a full review (and nobody really knows what happens behind thedoors), notarization is an automatic service.
When building and assembling the final version of the product, developers can send it to the Apple notary service. The service will check for any malicious code, and if nothing wrong was found, it would issue a ticket. This ticket is verified when the app gets installed on Mac.
When a user downloads and tries to install an app notarized by Apple, she will see the message that looks like a warning. The main message is the same as with any app downloaded from the internet: ‘”Blah blah app” is an app downloaded from the internet. Are you sure you want to open it?’
The difference is in a fine print below the main message: “Apple checked it for malware software, and none was found.”
As you can see Apple admitted that CleanMyMac X was checked for malware software and none was found.
Note: this screenshot is from a Mac running on macOS Mojave. In Catalina, the message is different, possibly because starting with Catalina, Apple promised not to allow to run un-notarized apps.
Why Are There So Many Negative Reviews on Forums
But, how about a great number of negative reviews on the internet?
Why every time someone asks whether to install CleanMyMac or not, there is always an expert who’s working with Mac for twenty years, and they claim that your Mac will melt as soon as you install the program?
Or, there is always an “Apple tech,” who suggests to immediately restore your Time machine backup from before you installed the application.
I believe there are several explanations:
1. CleanMyMac often gets confused with MacDefender and MacKeeper
I didn’t review MacKeeper yet, so I can’t tell if it’s a good program or not. Once I install and use it, I will provide a link for my review.
At this point, all I know about the company that sells MacKeeper is that there was a class-action lawsuit claiming that the company deceived users into paying for unneeded fixes.
Another well-known app MacDefender, is a type of malware. It gets your credit card information for fraud purposes, and Apple even provided instructions on how to remove it. The other names of the malware are MacGuard, MacDefender, MacProtector, and MacSecurity.
https://rimugr.weebly.com/blog/apple-support-macos-recovery-photo-app. After having issues with these apps, users became veryuneasy about any cleaning tools, including CleanMyMac.
2. There were cases when CleanMyMac deleted the wrong files
When reading user reviews, I found several cases when user-provided screenshots of damage caused by earlier versions of CleanMyMac.
I am a software engineer myself, and I know that all programs have bugs.
For instance, my favorite Windows version of all time is Windows XP. When it was first released, it was a total disaster – people were not able to run most of the applications after the upgrade for months. And this is the main product of Microsoft, a 100 bln dollar company.
Apparently, MacPaw learned from their mistakes, and now they have the Safety Database – list of files that should not be deleted. And after 12 years on the market, any software becomes stable.
If you are asking if there is a risk that a wrong file can be deleted by CleanMyMac, my answer is: there is always a risk that ANY cleaning software can do that.
However, I believe the probability of this happening is extremely for software that has 12-year history compared to a new program without such long experience.
3. Experts believe that everything done by CleanMyMac can be done manually
I agree with this point. In fact, I wrote a post on how to clean the disk on Mac without any software.
As always, there are two caveats.
First, I am a very technical person.
I understand how the software works because I’ve beendeveloping commercial software for twenty years. I know which files are safe todelete and which are not. I know how to use various system tools, and I know alot about Macs. Otherwise, I would not be running this site.
For someone less technical than me, doing everything that Ido may not be too easy. So, having an app that does the same, but withoutrequiring in-depth knowledge is worth paying for the app.
Second, the manual cleaning process is quite tedious.
To understand how much work it is, let me explain in the next example. I have two grills: charcoal and gas. For the last two years, I use the gas grill in 90% cases.
While the charcoal grill is superior in the end result, it takes a lot of time and effort to light the coals and even more time to clean. I use the charcoal grill on certain occasions, but prefer the gas grill for the convenience it provides. I hope you understand what I mean.
Now, when I laid out all the facts I was able to find during my research, I am finally ready to make a conclusion.
Is CleanMyMac X Safe?
CleanMyMac is safe to download, install, and use. It’s a product built by a well known Ukranian company MacPaw, which has other products as well. CleanMyMac X is not a virus or spyware. It is Apple notarized, which means Apple scanned its code and found no malicious components.
Additionally, CleanMyMac maintains the Safety Database – a database of files that cannot be deleted, which reduces the chances of removing data required for macOS and other program operations.
To avoid getting malware, download any app directly from the company sites. Avoid downloading anything from sites such as cnet dot com, macupdate dot com and others.
Always check the DMG files on VirusTotal or with a good antivirus (Norton, McAfee, Bitdefender, etc.)
Want to know more? Read my in-depth review of CleanMyMac X.
Also, check out:
Previous article: CleanMyMac vs. AppCleaner: Which Uninstaller is the Best
Previous article: CleanMyMac vs. AppCleaner: Which Uninstaller is the Best
Just like any day-to-day item, your Mac needs a good cleaning once in a while. Getting rid of all the unnecessary files will help your Mac return to its factory excellence and speed up to match your needs. However, you might find yourself clueless as to where to start your Mac clean up: what can be deleted and what should be left on drive? Don’t worry. You might be a little bit lost right now but, as usual, we have some bulletproof tips and tools to help you clean your Mac and speed it up.
4 steps to Mac cleanup
The good news is that in four (or even less) steps you can get a cleaner Mac and boost your Mac’s performance.
If your Mac is out of storage space or starts running slow, you’re up for a cleaning game. And you don’t have to do it alone. We’ve prepared the smartest memory-boosting hacks and practices to speed of your Mac safely. Time for an easy Mac cleanup!
Clean up your Mac’s Desktop
This might seem like an obvious step to take, but you’d be surprised how many Mac users believe the Desktop is the perfect place to store files and docs, handy and always on tap. However, that’s a rookie mistake. Fortunately, you can fix it. That’s why you should clean your Mac starting from the Desktop before you go any deeper. Be honest, can you even see your desktop background clearly now or is it obscured because of the icon-riddled mess?
Completely remove apps from mac. The fact is, that the Finder treats any folder or file on your desktop as a window. A couple of items on the desktop cause no problem, but if the clutter persists, your Finder will soon slow down and get on your nerves. So better sort it all out to separate folders and let us quickly take you to number two.
Free up your Mac’s hard drive
When it comes to storage, there are items you know about (like your photos and videos) and many hidden entities (like cache files, logs, and app junk). These deep-seated junk files may start off small, but over time they will begin to weigh your Mac down.
Tip: According to one test conducted by MacWorld, nearly full hard drives perform 17.5% slower than the cleaner ones. That’s why it’s so important to refresh your hard drive every now and then. Your system will convert the newly-released free space into virtual memory to ensure your apps are running smoothly. Otherwise, if you’re low on space, your Mac will slow down.
One folder you should regularly clean up for a faster Mac is the Downloads folder. This is where junk piles up little by little, resulting in a total mess. For a complete Mac clean up, make sure to also ditch any unnecessary widgets or apps. Wait, but you think you might need them one day? Truth is, if you haven’t used them so far, you won’t use them in the future. So gather all your courage and hit Delete.
If your Mac is still running slow, then it could be due to old hardware. A new SSD or more RAM is the easiest way to boost your hardware performance without having to spend too much.
How do I know what to delete?
What’s really annoying is that some massive folders on your Mac remain invisible. Each app or website visit leaves behind its own archive of data, which keeps growing over time. To hack this, you can use CleanMyMac X app by MacPaw. It uncovers large redundant files you can delete. And this application is notarized by Apple.
You can delete:
- broken downloads
- remains of old apps
- outdated cache
It found 5.81 GB on our computer, but it may detect even more on your Mac.
Download Free VersionTake control of startup and login items
When your Mac boots up, the macOS will launch various startup items. Some you do need, but nearly half of them can be safely switched off. Otherwise, they’ll sit in the background using up your system resources and slowing your Mac down.
To remove startup and login items manually, go to System Preferences > Users & Groups and click on your username. Next up, click on “Login Items” and select all the apps you don’t need running at startup. Then click the “-” button below and you’re done. By disabling the startup programs, you’ll have a speedier Mac next time you boot up.
Repair disk permissions
Disk permissions act like doorkeepers preventing third-party apps from meddling with your system. But disk permissions can get broken, which limits your Mac ability to find the right files.
If you’re on El Capitan or older OS X versions, you can repair disk permissions using the following command in the Terminal window:
sudo /usr/libexec/repair_packages --verify --standard-pkgs /
It will now check the validity of your disk permissions. If you get anything saying “permissions differ”, then you can fix it with this command:
sudo /usr/libexec/repair_packages --repair --standard-pkgs -- volume /
If you are a mere mortal, uneasy with using Terminal, a Mac cleaning utility like CleanMyMac X, can do a better, risk-free job. A single click in Maintenance > Repair Disk Permissions solves it without fuss. With your disk permissions fixed and verified you can enjoy a smoother overall Mac experience.
The free version of this tool is available for download here.
Once you’ve finished to clean up your Mac, make sure to reboot your machine for a fresh start.
Delete System Junk and browser cache
System Junk can account for significant amount of disk space. It’s a broad term that describes temporary files created by your OS itself and all your apps. Since we mostly use our Macs to go online, the internet-related junk takes up the most space.
How to clean up your browser cache:
- For Safari, click Develop in the top menu
- Then, click Empty caches
- For Chrome, click the “hamburger” icon in the top right corner
- Then click More tools > Clear browsing data
Find hidden files on your drive
You probably know that a lot of files are purposely made invisible on your Mac. Not necessarily with bad intentions. Such files could be crucial system components and thus protected from accidental deletion. Quite often, however, you’ll encounter remains of old apps, invisible adware, and extensions.
There is a shortcut key combination to reveal the unseen files.
- Go to your Documents, or any other directory
- Click Shift +Command + Period key
Do you see any grayed out files? Check what these files are and delete them if they look suspicious.
Remove old backups (and Time Machine backups)
There are several layers of backups built in your macOS. Local Time Machine snapshots, iOS, and iCloud backups, etc. If we’re talking about a clean Mac, that’s free from old baggage, you should look into removing them too.
Here is how to remove local Time Machine backups (a.k.a snapshots)
Click Launchpad and type in Time Machine
Your backups will be broken by locations, like Desktop. You can use arrows to the right to navigate between past states of that location.
Now, click on the gear icon in the menu above.
Select “Delete All Backups” in the menu.
Delete the iCloud backups stored on your Mac
Open System Preferences > iCloud.
Click Manage.. at the bottom the pane.
Look through the list of iCloud backups in the sidebar.
iCloud photos will probably occupy the most space. If you’re ready to say goodbye to them, click Delete.How To Uninstall A Program On Mac
Build the map of your storage
How To Uninstall Things On A Mac
Any computer is ultimately a tree of folders. What if you could draw the map of all folders you have on your Mac and see how large these folders are?
Apparently, there is an ultra simple way to do it. Some applications like Daisy Disk or CleanMyMac will build such “folder tree” for you and it’s really fascinating to look at.
For example, this is the Space Lens tool from CleanMyMac X:
Download Free VersionThe blue bubbles stand represent my folders big and small. You can dive into each folder exploring your drive in a completely new way, much more informative than using the Finder. You can find your long lost folders and locate your biggest space wasters.
- To use this tool, download the app (see the button above)
- Click the Space Lens tab in the sidebar
How To Remove Cleanmymac X
Clean your Mac the smart way, all the way
How To Uninstall Cleanmymac App On Mac Mini Windows 10
If you’ve been following the steps above (and read some extra tips), you are fully equipped to clean up your Mac. Because you don’t need to be a bearded IT guy to do it. Let alone spend extra cash to improve your Mac’s performance. Simply cleaning your system as steps above suggest or using a dedicated app like CleanMyMac will help you out. By the way. CleanMyMac is free to download, so give it a try. And see your Mac’s capabilities now, when it it’s not weighed down by junk.