Tidymac shows you what is taking space on your Mac and lets you clear it safely. It takes about 5 minutes. Run it whenever you like, for example every 6 months.
Nothing is deleted until you sayTicked items go to the Tidy Bin first.
Every move can be undoneOne button puts everything back.
Nothing leaves your MacNo account, no internet, no upload.
1Open it and choose where to look
Open Contigi Tidymac from your Applications folder or your Dock. The first screen asks where you want it to look. It always checks your app caches, log files, Downloads and Movies. Tick any other place you want, such as Documents, Dropbox or iCloud Drive, or choose another folder. Then press Scan my Mac. Tidymac only looks. The scan takes about a minute. Please leave your Mac as it is while it runs.
contigi.Tidymac
1Choose where to look
DocumentsDesktopDropboxiCloud DriveChoose another folder…
2Scan
Scan my Mac
Your Mac will ask for permission, a few times. When you press Scan my Mac, macOS shows questions such as "Contigi Tidymac would like to access files in your Downloads folder" or "wants to access files managed by Dropbox". Please click Allow each time. This is macOS protecting your files, and it is part of the process. Allowing only lets Tidymac look. Nothing is changed or sent anywhere. The first screen tells you which questions to expect.
A message about Full Disk Access? macOS protects some folders. If you allow Tidymac in System Settings, Privacy and Security, Full Disk Access, it can read them and the scan is more complete. This is your choice. It only lets Tidymac look. Nothing is sent anywhere.
2Look at the list and tick what you want gone
Tidymac sorts everything it finds into three groups.
Safe to remove
Things your Mac or your apps rebuild by themselves. They come ticked for you.
Ticked
Your call
Big files, old downloads and exact copies of files. Only you know if you still need them. They come unticked.
Unticked
Never scanned
Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Music, Dropbox and iCloud. Tidymac does not look here unless you add a folder yourself.
Protected
What the list looks like
Untick anything you want to keep. Use Tick all or Untick all for a whole group.
~/Library/Caches/Google2.7 GB
~/Downloads/Installer-1.4.dmg640 MB
~/Downloads/holiday-video.mp41.2 GB
~/Downloads/report (1).pdf14 MB
Items marked as a package or project folder are shown as one item and never opened file by file. Removing single files inside one can break it.
3Press Move to the Tidy Bin
Tidymac asks you to confirm, then moves everything you ticked into the Tidy Bin. This is a holding folder, like the Bin on your Mac. Nothing is deleted yet. Every item goes back where it came from with one button.
Tidymac checks each item again just before moving it. If a file changed since the scan, or is somewhere it should not touch, it is left where it was and the report tells you why.
4Get your space back, or put everything back
This is the step that surprises people. Moving items to the Tidy Bin does not free any space yet, because the files still exist. The space comes back only when you empty the Tidy Bin.
Until you press Empty, you can change your mind.
81 items are in the Tidy Bin, 13 GB.
Nothing has been deleted, so your Mac has not got the space back yet.
Open the reportPut everything backEmpty the Tidy Bin…
You can leave the Tidy Bin full for as long as you like and empty it another day. The Tidy Bin button at the top right of the window always shows what is waiting.
5Keep your report
After every move Tidymac writes a report. It lists every item that was removed by name and what was left alone and why. It also shows your free space before and after. It is a web page you can open, print or save as a PDF. Reports are kept in your Library folder, in Application Support, Contigi Tidymac, Reports.
Next time you run Tidymac, the report also shows what changed since your last scan.
Good to know
Is it safe?
Tidymac never touches your Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Music or cloud folders. It never empties the Bin on your Mac. Everything it moves can be put back until you empty the Tidy Bin yourself.
Why is something unticked?
Files changed in the last day are probably in use, so they start unticked. Installers downloaded in the last 30 days are unticked too, because you may have just downloaded them. You can tick them yourself.
Can I look in a folder that is normally protected?
Yes. On the first screen tick the place you want, for example Documents or Dropbox, or choose another folder. Tidymac then lists big files and exact copies there. Nothing found in an added place is ticked for you.
Why are some items ticked and others not?
Every item says why underneath it. Something changed in the last 24 hours is probably in use by an app that is open, so it starts unticked. Something untouched for weeks or months is ticked. You can tick or untick anything.
Is a cache really harmless?
Yes. A cache is a temporary copy an app keeps so it opens faster. Nothing you created is stored in it. The app rebuilds what it needs, so the only thing you may notice is one slower start or being asked to sign in again. Every group in the list has its own short explanation.
Where is my report kept?
Only on your Mac, in your Library folder, in Application Support, Contigi Tidymac, Reports. Tidymac has no connection to the internet and sends nothing to anyone.
Will it make my Mac faster?
Tidymac frees disk space and tells you exactly how much. It does not promise speed. A Mac with plenty of free space has room to work.
How often should I run it?
About every 6 months, or whenever your Mac says the disk is nearly full.
Does it send anything anywhere?
No. It works without the internet and has no account. Your file names stay on your Mac.