- name
- mac-cleaner
- description
- Analyze and safely clean disk space on macOS. Use when the user asks about Mac storage, "System Data" taking too much space, disk cleanup, freeing up space, or managing storage on macOS. Covers caches, iOS simulators, Xcode data, trash, logs, and browser caches. Safe for everyday Mac users.
Mac Cleaner
Safely analyze and reclaim disk space on macOS. Designed for everyday Mac users — no technical knowledge required.
When to use
- "My Mac says System Data is taking too much space"
- "How do I free up disk space?"
- "Why is my disk full?"
- "Clean up my Mac storage"
- "What's taking up space on my Mac?"
What this skill covers
| Category | Safe to Clean | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| User Caches | ✅ Yes | App temporary files |
| iOS Simulators | ✅ Yes | Unused simulator devices |
| Xcode Derived Data | ✅ Yes | Build artifacts (rebuildable) |
| Browser Caches | ✅ Yes | Chrome, Safari, Firefox |
| System Logs | ✅ Old only | 7+ days old, requires sudo |
| Trash | ✅ Yes | Empty trash |
| iOS Backups | ⚠️ Review | Check if backups are needed |
| Parallels VMs | ⚠️ Review | Only if Windows not needed |
| Time Machine Snapshots | ⚠️ Review | Can delete old snapshots |
NEVER delete
/Systemfolder contents/Library/Extensionsor kernel extensions/private/var/db(system databases)- Active iOS backups you need
- Parallels VMs you use
Quick start
Analyze (safe, read-only)
bash scripts/mac-cleanup.sh analyzeShows disk usage and identifies large items without making changes.
Clean (with confirmation)
bash scripts/mac-cleanup.sh cleanPerforms safe cleanup after user confirmation.
What gets cleaned
- User Caches (
~/Library/Caches/*)
- App temporary files, thumbnails, downloaded content - Safe: apps rebuild these automatically
- Xcode Derived Data (
~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/*)
- Build artifacts and intermediate files - Safe: rebuilds on next compile
- iOS Simulators (unavailable devices only)
- Old iOS simulator images - Safe: easily re-downloaded via Xcode
- Browser Caches
- Chrome, Safari, Firefox cache files - Safe: websites reload, login sessions preserved
- Old System Logs (7+ days)
- Requires sudo password - Preserves recent logs for debugging
- Trash
- Empties .Trash folder - Safe: user already chose to delete these
Manual cleanup for large items
If the script identifies large items you want to handle manually:
iOS Device Backbacks (~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup)
# List backups
ls -lah ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync/Backup/
# Delete specific backup (use folder name from above)
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync/Backup/[FOLDER_NAME]Or use Finder → Locations → [Your iPhone] → Manage Backups
Time Machine Local Snapshots
# List snapshots
tmutil listlocalsnapshots /
# Delete all local snapshots
sudo tmutil deletelocalsnapshots /
# Or delete specific date
sudo tmutil deletelocalsnapshots 2024-01-15-123456Parallels VMs
Open Parallels Desktop:
- Right-click VM → Reclaim Disk Space (safest)
- Or Delete if you don't need Windows
WeChat / Large Apps
Clear from within the app:
- WeChat: Settings → General → Storage → Manage
- Telegram: Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Usage
- Slack: Help → Troubleshooting → Clear Cache
Large folders to review manually
| Path | What it is | Safe to delete? |
|---|---|---|
~/Downloads | Downloaded files | Review first |
~/Movies | Videos | Review first |
~/Parallels | Windows VMs | Only if not using |
~/Library/Containers/com.tencent.xinWeChat | WeChat data | Clear from WeChat app |
~/Library/Application Support | App data | Review per app |
Expected results
Typical cleanup results for an everyday Mac user:
- Light user: 2-5 GB freed
- Developer: 20-50 GB freed (Xcode, simulators)
- Heavy messaging apps: 50-100 GB freed (WeChat, Telegram)
- With VMs: 50-200 GB freed (if deleting Parallels)
Troubleshooting
"Operation not permitted" errors
Grant Terminal Full Disk Access:
- System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access
- Add Terminal (or iTerm)
- Restart terminal
Cleanup didn't free much space
Run the analyze mode again:
bash scripts/mac-cleanup.sh analyzeLook for:
- iOS device backups (often 50-200GB)
- Parallels VMs (20-100GB each)
- WeChat/Telegram data (can be 100GB+)
- Time Machine snapshots (can accumulate)
These require manual review before deletion.
References
- Apple's storage documentation: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/check-storage-space-mchlc03eb677/mac
- Safe macOS cleanup practices: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202083