Built to be safe to trust.
A cleaner is only useful if you can trust it with your files. Here is exactly how MacDiskCleaner protects them.
Everything goes to the Trash first
No file is erased outright. Cleanup uses the macOS Trash, so anything you remove can be put back until you empty it.
Protected paths are off limits
System folders, your Keychains, Preferences and privacy databases are on a hard block list. Every deletion is checked against it right before it happens, whichever screen you clicked from.
You approve every deletion
Nothing is removed without you seeing it. Recently used projects, Xcode archives and similar items are marked "Review first" and left unselected.
Scanning stays on your Mac
File names, paths and contents are analysed locally and never uploaded. The only network calls are license activation, checkout, the update check and, on the free plan, the running total of space cleaned (a number — no file details).
You choose what is scanned
Pick the whole home folder or just the folders you want. Results are stored only on your Mac and can be cleared at any time.
Verified updates
Each release publishes a SHA-256 checksum. The built-in updater refuses to install a download that doesn't match it.
Why is the download only 5 MB?
Because it's genuinely native. MacDiskCleaner is written in Swift and SwiftUI — Apple's own languages for macOS — and calls the built-in file and Trash APIs directly. There's no embedded browser engine and no bundled runtime, so a small download is exactly what a focused native Mac utility should be.
Verify your download
Version 1.1.2. Compare this checksum with your file using the Terminal command below.
SHA-256
551c9cb9458af3b07d60621f017bf5021c274c684157b7473d36ce7da49b6cc6Terminal
shasum -a 256 ~/Downloads/MacDiskCleaner.dmgMacDiskCleaner is distributed directly from this website and isn't on the Mac App Store, so macOS asks you to confirm the first launch of the downloaded .dmg — the download page shows how, and the Terminal installer avoids the prompt entirely. After that, updates install from inside the app.
Frequently asked questions
Can MacDiskCleaner delete system files?
No. System folders, Keychains, Preferences and privacy databases are on a block list that is checked immediately before every deletion, so they can never be removed — even by mistake.
Can I undo a cleanup?
Yes. Everything is moved to the Trash, so you can open the Trash and use Put Back until you empty it.
Does it need Full Disk Access?
It's optional. Without it, scans skip folders macOS protects (such as Mail and Safari data). With it, scans can see those too. You can grant or revoke it any time in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access.
What data leaves my Mac?
Only your license key and a hashed hardware ID during activation, the total amount of space cleaned on the free plan (a single number), the checkout page when you buy, and a version check for updates. No file names, paths or contents are ever sent.