After using a Mac for a while, you will notice that your available storage keeps shrinking for no obvious reason. In my experience with Mac, the main culprits are extra installed apps, large files you have forgotten about, and a cache that keeps growing. I have used CleanMyMac to clean up my Mac and found it effective against all three. In this article, I will show you how to download CleanMyMac for Mac and how to use it.
Download CleanMyMac
In my view, CleanMyMac is a lightweight app, so downloading and installing it is quite simple. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Download the CleanMyMac installation file directly from MacPaw’s website and open the DMG file.
Step 2: Drag and drop CleanMyMac into the Applications folder.
Using CleanMyMac
I have been using CleanMyMac for more than 3 years, and in that time I have only used its cleanup features, because those are the core features users actually need. As for the Protection and Speed features, I do not rate them highly for an app that specializes in cleaning.
Uninstall multiple apps
CleanMyMac’s Uninstaller is very handy when you need to remove several apps at once, and it saves a lot of time compared to finding and uninstalling apps on a Mac one by one.
Steps: Go to Applications, click Scan, click Manage My Applications, select Uninstaller, select the applications you want to remove, and click Uninstall.
Find forgotten large files
Forgotten large files are one of the main reasons your storage fills up. You download some huge files, save them somewhere in Downloads or Documents, and then months or years go by. You no longer use them, but you have also forgotten they exist.
Steps: Go to My Clutter, click Scan, click Review All Files, select Large & Old Files, select the files you want to delete, and click Remove.
If you want to see where a file is stored, right-click its name and select Reveal in Finder. This is useful when you would rather move files somewhere else, such as cloud storage, instead of deleting them right away.
Compare the size of folders
CleanMyMac’s Space Lens feature helps you track down the folders and files that take up the most storage on your Mac. It lists folders from largest to smallest, and you can drill down into the subfolders and files inside. In my experience, Space Lens is very effective at finding out why you are running out of storage.
Steps: Go to Space Lens, click Scan, drill down into the large folders to find files and subfolders you no longer need, and click Remove. Be careful with system files.
Space Lens was temporarily removed when CleanMyMac 5 first launched. In June 2025, MacPaw redesigned Space Lens and brought it back to CleanMyMac, so you just need to update the app to the latest version, with no need to reinstall CleanMyMac X (updated 10/2026).
Clear system junk
System Junk is the files your computer generates automatically as you use it, such as caches, logs, and app updates. I usually clean up System Junk about 1 – 2 times a month. According to MacPaw’s guide to clearing cache on Mac, casual users (browsing, watching videos) can do it about once every 3 months, photo and video editors monthly, and developers who use virtual machines as often as weekly.
Steps: Go to Cleanup, click Scan, click Review All Junk, select System Junk, choose the files you want to delete, and click Cleanup.
Conclusion
In addition to downloading CleanMyMac for Mac, you can also check Apple’s guide to free up as much storage as possible on your Mac. Do you think CleanMyMac is worth paying for? Let me know in the comments below.
