How do I remove Clean My Mac from my computer?

Like many ill-conceived "cleaning" utilities, "CleanMyMac" is trash capable of corrupting a Mac to the point that erasing it completely is the only practicable means of recovery.

There is no way to reverse the effects of having used CleanMyMac2, and the developer's uninstallation instructions are ineffective. Only MacPaw, its developer, can know the reason for that, but I can think of two possibilities: either they are purposefully leaving components behind for reasons known only to them, or they simply don't know what they're doing. Neither one of those possibilities is particularly comforting for the user.

Reinstalling OS X alone will have no effect on either removing CleanMyMac or reversing the damage it is capable of inflicting upon a system.

Follow the applicable recovery procedure below:

• If you have a backup that you created prior to using CleanMyMac, now is the time to use it. For Time Machine, boot OS X Recovery, and at the Mac OS X Utilities screen, choose Restore from Time Machine Backup. Choose a date preceding the installation of CleanMyMac.
• If you do not have a backup that predates the use of CleanMyMac, create one now. To do that read Mac Basics: Time Machine backs up your Mac.
  • The recovery procedure will require that you erase the Mac using OS X Recovery, and then create a new user whose contents will be empty. You will then be able to use Setup Assistant to migrate your essential documents including photos, music, work products and other essential files.
  • When doing so, select only your previous User account and do not select "Applications", "Computer and Network Settings" or "Other files and folders". De-select those choices.
  • Subsequent to using Setup Assistant, you will need to reinstall the essential software you may require, once again remembering to install software only from their original sources, and omitting all non-essential software.

To erase and install Mavericks read: OS X Mavericks: Erase and reinstall OS X

To migrate your essential documents read: OS X: How to migrate data from another Mac using Mavericks and follow the procedure under Time Machine or other disk migration.

Hi there!

My name is Yaroslav and I'm from MacPaw team!

Regarding your question:

To remove CleanMyMac 2 from your Mac:

1. Open CleanMyMac 2.
2. Proceed to the Uninstaller module.
3. Find CleanMyMac 2 in the list of apps found by the module.
4. Click Complete Removal in the Smart Selector panel to mark the application file and all it related items for removal.
5. Click Uninstall.
6. Confirm that you are going to remove the app in the newly appeared message.

In case you have additional questions regarding CleanMyMac 2, please don't hesitate to contact us: support@macpaw.com

Regards,

Yaroslav,

MacPaw Support Team.

Padre85,

DO NOT follow the directions from MacPaw_Support. Many users have found that using their application and following their advice has created more problems. I strongly recommend you follow the directions provided by John Galt.

Go to: Users/Home/library/Launch Agents. There will be Clean My Mac preference files located there. Trash them.

Go to: Users/Home/library/Logs. A CleanMyMac doc will be in one of the folders located in users/library/Logs. Don't remember which one. Trash it.

Go to: Users/Shared. A CleanMyMac folder, possibly other crap, will be there. Trash it/them.

Edit previous answer, additional method, clearer, and more detailed instructions posted here. I mistakenly posted the answer before it was complete and for some reason Apple isn't letting me delete it.

Try the following.

Go to Spotlight. Type in "Clean My Mac”. Bottom left of window that pops up, click on “Show all in Finder ....” . The Searching “This Mac” window appears. That should give you the location of most, if not all, CleanMyMac docs. Delete all CleanMyMac stuff. To delete the application, go to the Applications ƒ. Press the "control" key, highlight the CleanMyMac application, drag down the menu that appears to "Move to Trash", click on "Move to Trash".

Just to double check, do the following.

1. Go to: Users/Home/Library/Launch Agents. There might be a "Clean My Mac" ƒ(s) located inside the "Launch Agents" ƒ. Trash the "Clean My Mac" ƒ(s).
2. Go to: Users/Home/Library/Logs. A CleanMyMac doc might be in one of the folders located inside the Logs ƒ. Don't remember which one. Locate the doc and trash it.
3. Go to: Users/Shared. At least one "Clean My Mac" ƒ, possibly other crap, might be there. Trash "Clean My Mac" ƒ(s) and any other folders/docs that shouldn't be there.

NOTE: I didn’t have the CleanMyMac application on my computer since I never installed it. I have no idea how the other docs got there.

Hi Yaroslav,

I am trying to uninstall the trial version following your instructions, but the CleanMyMac Uninstaller requires to purchase the software before uninstalling it.

What's your suggestion to remove it then ?

Finally-it's gone! thanks

Where is the answer to this question Please? I have the same problem. In only see the question here and a satisfactory result reply but no instructions to help?