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Nat edited this page Jul 17, 2026 · 4 revisions

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions about CleanMyMac CLI.

What is CleanMyMac CLI?

CleanMyMac CLI is a terminal-first tool for cleaning developer artifacts, exploring disk usage, and running lightweight Mac optimization tasks.

It is designed for developers and other people who prefer command-line workflows.

🩷 Built and used daily by the CleanMyMac team on our own Macs.

Is CleanMyMac CLI the same as the CleanMyMac desktop app?

No.

CleanMyMac CLI focuses on terminal-first developer workflows, including:

  • Developer-tool caches
  • Project build artifacts and dependencies
  • AI-tool junk
  • Interactive disk analysis
  • RAM and purgeable-space optimization

CleanMyMac Desktop provides a broader visual experience with whole-Mac cleanup, application management, malware protection, and other maintenance tools.

CleanMyMac CLI is not intended to replace the desktop app.

Is CleanMyMac CLI open source?

No. CleanMyMac CLI is proprietary software owned by MacPaw Way Ltd.

The GitHub repository is used for documentation, releases, feedback, issue tracking, and community discussions.

See the repository License for complete terms.

Is CleanMyMac CLI free?

CleanMyMac CLI is currently available as a Public Beta.

For the latest availability and licensing information, check the CleanMyMac CLI repository.

Which macOS versions are supported?

CleanMyMac CLI requires:

  • macOS 11 Big Sur or later
  • Homebrew

Check your macOS version:

sw_vers

How do I install CleanMyMac CLI?

Install it through Homebrew:

brew install --cask macpaw/taps/cleanmymac-cli

Verify the installation:

cleanmymac --version

How do I update it?

Update Homebrew and upgrade CleanMyMac CLI:

brew update
brew upgrade --cask cleanmymac-cli

Check the installed version afterward:

cleanmymac --version

How do I uninstall it?

Run:

brew uninstall --cask cleanmymac-cli

What is the difference between clean and purge?

Use clean for caches and other removable files created outside individual project folders:

cleanmymac clean

Examples include package-manager caches, developer-tool files, AI-tool junk, system junk, and Trash.

Use purge for generated artifacts stored inside development projects:

cleanmymac purge

Examples include node_modules, virtual environments, dependency folders, and build directories.

Use clean for shared tool-generated junk. Use purge for generated files inside your projects.

Where should I start?

When you are unsure what is consuming storage, start with:

cleanmymac analyze

It opens an interactive storage explorer so you can understand where your disk space is being used before deciding what to remove.

Does CleanMyMac CLI delete files automatically?

Not by default.

Cleanup commands scan first and show what they have detected. You can review and change the selection before confirming removal.

The exception is the --force option:

cleanmymac clean --force

Warning

--force skips interactive confirmation and removes detected items immediately.

Does purge remove my source code?

purge is designed to target generated project artifacts rather than source code.

Results are grouped by project, and you can inspect the selected paths before confirming.

Artifacts older than seven days are preselected. Newer artifacts remain visible but unchecked.

Always review the selection, especially when scanning a custom directory:

cleanmymac purge ~/Work/my-project

Why are some project artifacts not selected?

Artifacts newer than seven days remain unchecked by default.

This reduces the risk of removing generated files from projects you may still be actively working on. You can select them manually after reviewing the paths.

Can I protect a file or folder?

Yes. Add it to the ignore list:

cleanmymac ignore add ~/Projects/important-project

Review ignored paths:

cleanmymac ignore list

Remove a path from the list:

cleanmymac ignore remove ~/Projects/important-project

Ignored paths remain excluded from clean, purge, and analyze results.

Does analyze modify my files?

Browsing through analyze does not modify your files.

Any removal action requires an explicit selection and confirmation. You can also press O to reveal the selected item in Finder.

Does CleanMyMac CLI upload my files or source code?

No source code or personal files are uploaded as part of cleanup and storage analysis.

Processing happens locally on your Mac.

For complete information about data processing, see the CleanMyMac Privacy Policy.

Can I disable analytics?

Yes. Open the configuration menu:

cleanmymac config

Use it to manage analytics and other CLI preferences.

What is the difference between cleanmymac and cmm?

There is no functional difference.

Both commands launch the same tool:

cleanmymac
cmm

The documentation uses cleanmymac for consistency.

Why did the command or interface change?

CleanMyMac CLI is currently in Public Beta.

Commands, navigation, default selections, and behavior may evolve as the team learns from real-world usage and community feedback.

Check your installed version:

cleanmymac --version

View the commands available in your version:

cleanmymac --help

Can I use CleanMyMac CLI in scripts?

Direct commands are designed for terminal workflows.

Some cleanup commands support --force, but it skips interactive confirmation. Test the command without --force and review its results before adding it to an automated workflow.

How can I request support for another developer tool?

Share the tool, generated paths, and the type of removable artifacts through:

Rough ideas, screenshots, and real examples are welcome — no polished proposal required.

How do I report a bug?

Before reporting, include when possible:

  • CleanMyMac CLI version
  • macOS version
  • Command you ran
  • Expected behavior
  • Actual behavior
  • Error message or screenshot

Remove personal paths, usernames, project names, source code, and tokens before sharing.

Report a bug

How do I report a security vulnerability?

Do not publish security vulnerabilities in Issues or Discussions.

Follow the repository’s private Security Policy.

Still have a question?

Think of Discussions as a shared team channel. Ask us directly, share what you tried, and include a screenshot or command when useful.

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