CleanLoupeCleanLoupe questions and answers
What it costs, what it removes, and how to get anything back. If your question isn't here, the feature pages go into detail on each module.
The basics
Is CleanLoupe really free?
Yes. Every module is free to use with no limits, no trial and no subscription. There are no ads and no account.
Will it delete something important?
Only items you leave selected are removed, and they go to the Trash so you can put them back. Apple's own apps, system folders, Documents and Desktop are never proposed.
Why does it ask for Full Disk Access?
macOS hides some folders from every app until you allow it: Mail attachments, iPhone backups, the Trash and app containers. CleanLoupe works without it and simply skips those locations.
Why does it ask for my password sometimes?
Removing system caches and running maintenance tasks like flushing DNS need administrator rights. macOS shows its own password prompt; CleanLoupe never sees your password.
Does it work on Intel Macs?
Yes. CleanLoupe runs on Apple silicon and Intel Macs with macOS 15 Sequoia or later.
Is there an iPhone version?
CleanLoupe – Photo Cleaner for iPhone and iPad is in the works. It finds duplicates, look-alike shots and large videos in your photo library, on your device.
Using CleanLoupe
How do I undo a cleanup?
Open History in CleanLoupe. Every cleanup is listed with a Put Back button that returns the files to where they were, as long as you haven't emptied the Trash. Photos you delete stay in the Photos Recently Deleted album for 30 days.
Does CleanLoupe upload my files or photos?
No. Scanning and photo analysis run on your Mac, and no file, file name or photo is uploaded. The app sends anonymous usage statistics and crash reports (Firebase), which you can turn off in Settings › General › "Share anonymous usage and crash reports". The optional update check asks the App Store or an app's developer for the latest version of your installed apps.
What does Smart Scan clean when I press Clean?
Only the Cleanup items marked Safe. Review and Careful items, large files, duplicates, photos and app leftovers all wait for you to look at them in their own module.
macOS says CleanLoupe can't be opened. What do I do?
Version 1.0.0 is not notarized by Apple yet; upcoming releases will be. The download page explains how to check the file's checksum and open it once from System Settings › Privacy & Security, without turning off any macOS protection.
Does it remove malware?
No. CleanLoupe is a storage cleaner. Malware protection is intentionally out of scope; macOS has its own built-in protection for that.
Does it empty my Trash?
Only if you ask it to. The Trash is listed in Cleanup as a Review item, because emptying it is the one step that cannot be undone.
Still unsure? Read how Cleanup decides what is safe, what CleanLoupe does with your data (nothing), or the steps for the macOS warning. Waiting for the iPhone app? See what CleanLoupe – Photo Cleaner will do.
Get your space back
Download CleanLoupe, run Smart Scan, and decide what goes. Free.
Download for MacVersion 1.0.0 · macOS 15 or later
SHA-256 0d70ca906c4589c93a87347ec4a64f84641a89c18a839edf4a3891a55388f191