What it does about it
StorageJanitor is a Mac app that shows what is using your disk, explains each item in plain English (including System Data), says what is safe to delete, and removes only what you choose. Free to scan and to remove up to 2 GB in total; $9.99 once for the full version.
It is not a "cleaner" suite. It has no malware scanner and no performance tools, and it makes no claims about speed.
Who it is for
Anyone whose Mac is full. On most Macs the space is in your own things: photos, messages, device backups, downloads and apps. The app says what each one is and how to make it smaller, and never removes them for you.
It is for developers as much. On a developer's Mac the space is in what the tools keep: build files, package caches, containers and models. The app knows which rebuild themselves and which only look like caches.
The rules it works by
- Explain before offering to remove. Every size comes with what the item is and why it is or isn't safe.
- Delete only what rebuilds itself. Caches, logs and build files are deleted. Anything you might want is moved to the Trash.
- The totals add up. Space the app couldn't read is shown as not checked, not hidden.
- Nothing happens unseen. You get the exact list before a removal, and a history of every removal afterwards.
What it touches, and what it never touches, in plain words.
What removal checks first
Before any item is removed, the app checks five things. One failed check and the item is skipped.
- The verdict allows it. An item marked Keep is never removed (except an app's own data when you uninstall that app), and one marked Check first only goes to the Trash.
- It is inside your home folder or Applications. Nothing else on the disk can be removed.
- It doesn't lead somewhere else. A link that points out of your home folder is refused.
- It belongs to you. Files owned by the administrator account, such as apps from the App Store, are left for Finder.
- Its app isn't open. If the app can see that the owning app is running, the item waits until you quit it.
What stays on your Mac
Everything. There is no account and no telemetry, and the only network request is the check for app updates. The sizes from your last few scans are kept on your Mac, so it can show what grew.
What it can't do yet
- It runs on Macs with Apple Silicon (M1 and later) only.
- It scans the internal disk. External drives aren't supported.
- It isn't available to download yet.
Who makes it
StorageJanitor is a solo project, made by one developer. It is free to scan, and $9.99 once for the full version.