Is Clean My Mac a recommended program?

After uninstalling according to the developer's instructions Yyou can check to see if you've removed all of the supporting files by downloading and running the shareware app Find Any File to search for any files with the application's or the developer's name in the file name.  For the CMM software you'd do the following search(es): 

1 - Name contains cleanmymac

2 - Name contains macpaw

Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.

FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.  

If you get warnings that the file can't be deleted because it is in use or used by another app boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and delete from there.

Note:  if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode.  This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will assure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

DMtn,

The original question was "Is Clean My Mac a recommended program?" If that is what you are asking, Clean My Mac is 100% total garbage. Most experienced users on these forums consider it malware. Please do not download or install any third party:

• Antivirus apps
• Cleaning apps
• Maintenance apps
• VPN apps
• Security apps

All Mac OS needs to remain secure and healthy is to be kept up-to-date and to restart your computer about 1x per week.

No. You don't need these third-party cleaning, speedup, and other faux wizardry applications. I put little faith in what I read on the Internet regarding quick fixes for Macs.

CMM is malware, and SHOULD NEVER be installed on a Mac.

You would be wise to find the developers uninstall instructions for CMM and follow them. Then restart in Safe Mode to clear caches and finally run an EtreCheck report and study it to see if any parts of CMM were left after the uninstall. If any parts were they you have more work to do to fully get rid of it.

GunnarSJ wrote:

Interestingly CleanMyMac is sold in the Apple App Store. I cannot say whether it is a good or bad thing to run but I have been using it for about seven years with no issue. One time it supposedly found a couple of infected files on email attachments that were in the Junk inbox. The comments here make me wonder if I should delete but since I have never had an issue it gives me pause.

Yes you should delete CleanMyMac using the methods already suggested and possibly posting the EtreCheck report to ensure all files have been deleted. Apps available in the App Store are not meant to be endorsed by Apple. Generally using the App Store is safer as the Applications are only downloaded to the Applications folder, which makes it easier to delete them. What you will find with CleanMyMac is that they will claim you need to install additional software or scan your computer that will also install files in locations on your computer that are not as easily deleted. In my opinion, any benefit from the app is outweighed by the resources consumed, fake protection messages meant to make you believe the app is useful, and the many problems reported by other users here on these forums associated with the app.

Jean Kathleen, don't go to just any "Mac tech guy". If you can't log in to your Mac because "CleanMyMac" ruined it, I strongly suggest you post a brand new question with that topic, or contact Apple using the Support link below.

Having said that, the first thing I do with any Mac that has ever been affected by any non-Apple "cleaning" product is to erase it completely. It saves time. Those things are scams. They are destructive in nature, and they wreck Macs.

CJS510 wrote:

As an It professional I can say on thing if was that harmful apple wouldn't let you buy it from the Apple Store. The issue here is that most of this stuff that's done by the software you can do your self, if you have knowledge or knowledge where to look. Now about it messing up you computer that issue you have most antivirus software is that can be to over bearing. I think the bigger issue people don't understand the software and what there doing it deleting wrong files not understanding the task that are being performed while other task are running at the same time. That's just my two cents on the matter.

You just need to click the Search tab on the top of this page and enter "CleanMyMac" and draw your own conclusions. You will see the many problems this program has caused users and the difficulty they have had removing it. The installer used when purchasing the software from their website installs many system files that run on startup and conflict with the normal operation of the Mac. There is no reason for those files to be constantly running in the background, even when you are not using the app.

Jean Kathleen wrote:

I installed CleanMy Mac X on iMac 24” since mid December and had two issues - some letter keys do not work and documents popping up in Russian - when I saw others with the problem of language I uninstalled it and fixed docs back to English. However I don’t know how to get some of my letters to work. Any ideas? I am assuming this is a related issue to the “cleaner”.

Post the EtreCheck report to show what files are still being launched on startup that is causing this conflict with the system. It is a free download developed by a fellow user here on these forums and does not contain any personal information.

Using EtreCheck - Apple Community

I would like to know the answer also.

Jack-19 wrote:

Oskar2023 wrote:

Clean my Mac X is a recommended platform by many users. It might help.

CleanMyMac is not needed on Mac computers. It can harm user files and lead to poor performance and an unstable Mac. If installed, we suggest that it be deleted.

-Jack

diana3arno,

By following the developers instructions! This has already been explained, please read the complete thread.

I was shocked reading this thread. I had no idea I installed something that can be so malicious on my mac! I deleted it in a rush but before I read the entire thread - so I just moved it to the trash can. I haven't been a mac owner a long time, so I had no clue that wasn't the right way (this really should be though - for the average user).

Anyway, 2 things: I have always deleted apps that way. Is that a problem, is there a way to 'clean' up files left behind (without this CMM app - ha) in an easy way cause I wouldn't remember the names of all these apps to do it through Find Any File.

And the other thing: I also have Gemini II from MacPaw which helped me a lot in deleting duplicates from my SSD. As it is also from MacPaw like CMM, is it considered malware too? Should I delete this?

I am using FAF to find left over files from CMM but if I Gemini isn't considered bad, I'd like to keep the files related to that. Any way I can know this for the last 6 files on this screenshot?

After using the uninstaller by using the link provided by Allan Jones, it is a code idea to verify all files relating to MacPac or CleanMyMac have been removed from the following locations. Go to Finder > Go > Go to Folder and copy and paste each link into the field there. You can also post the files at each of these 3 locations if you want us to verify that all malicious files have been removed.

~/Library/LaunchAgents

/Library/LaunchDaemons

/Library/LaunchAgents

To see all the problems CleanMyMac causes, simply click the Search tab on the top of the screen and enter "CleanMyMac". You are free to use whatever software you like and we are here only to help others with the issues they are having with their computer. You will see that once they are able to remove CMM, their problems are solved. This piece of software has been labeled Malware, since it wants to live on your system without a simple way to remove all the files it installs. It will also claim to solve fake problems with your system to make you think that the program is providing value to you.

As for clearing purgeable space on your HD, the Mac will do that all on its own. That is what purgeable space means and will be cleared whenever that space is needed. There is no advantage to removing it before it is needed. That is just another example of CMM claiming to provide a benefit that does not exist.

If you are looking for large files to delete, I can recommend Find Any File, which does not install any system files and can be easily deleted by moving it to the trash, unlike CMM.