# TidyMac

> TidyMac is a native macOS app that explains "System Data" in plain English, shows how storage changes over time with a "full in N days" forecast, and cleans only what's safe (everything goes to the Trash first). Free scan and explanations; $9.99 once to clean. It includes a local MCP server so AI agents can read storage insights (read-only by default).

## Product
- [TidyMac — See what’s filling your Mac (System Data explained)](https://tidymac.space/): TidyMac explains macOS “System Data” in plain English, shows how your storage changes over time, and cleans only what’s safe. Deletes for real after you confirm twice, or moves to the Trash if you prefer. Pay once.
- [About TidyMac](https://tidymac.space/about/): Why TidyMac exists, how we write explanations, and how we keep them accurate.
- [TidyMac changelog](https://tidymac.space/changelog/): What’s new in each version of TidyMac.
- [Download TidyMac for Mac (free)](https://tidymac.space/download/): Download TidyMac 1.0.1 for macOS 15 Sequoia or later. Install with one line in Terminal or from the .dmg. Free scan and explanations; one-time purchase to clean.
- [How to install TidyMac on your Mac](https://tidymac.space/install/): Install TidyMac on macOS 15 Sequoia or later in under a minute with one line in Terminal (no security prompt), or from the .dmg with a one-time Open Anyway.
- [TidyMac MCP server: let AI agents read your Mac’s storage](https://tidymac.space/mcp/): A local Model Context Protocol server built into TidyMac. Claude Code, Codex, Claude Desktop and Cursor can read storage insights; cleaning always needs your approval.
- [TidyMac pricing: free scan, $9.99 once to clean](https://tidymac.space/pricing/): Every explanation, the history and forecast are free. One-click cleaning is $9.99 once for two Macs, or ₹ in India. No subscription.
- [Privacy policy](https://tidymac.space/privacy/): TidyMac works offline. Nothing about your files leaves your Mac.

## Storage library (what each part of System Data is)
- [Mac storage library: what every part of System Data is](https://tidymac.space/learn/): Plain-English answers for every part of your Mac’s hidden storage: snapshots, iPhone backups, caches, Xcode files, Docker, AI models and more. What it is and whether it’s safe to delete.
- [How much storage does Apple Intelligence use on Mac?](https://tidymac.space/learn/apple-intelligence-storage-mac/): Apple Intelligence models are part of the system on macOS 27. Here’s roughly how much space they take, why you can’t delete them, and what turning features off does.
- [Docker.raw is huge on Mac: how to shrink it safely](https://tidymac.space/learn/docker-raw-mac/): Docker Desktop keeps every container and image in one virtual disk file. Deleting it erases everything. Here’s how to shrink it with Docker’s own tools.
- [Hidden folders in your Mac home (.cache, .npm, .gradle)](https://tidymac.space/learn/hidden-dot-folders-mac-home/): .cache, .npm, .gradle, .cargo and friends are created by developer and AI tools. Here’s what each one is and how to shrink it with the tool’s own command.
- [Clear Homebrew, npm, pip, pnpm and Yarn caches on Mac](https://tidymac.space/learn/homebrew-npm-pip-caches/): Package managers keep every version you ever downloaded. Here are the cache locations and the right cleanup command for each one.
- [Old iPhone backups on Mac: where they are, how to delete](https://tidymac.space/learn/iphone-backups-on-mac/): Finder keeps full copies of every iPhone and iPad you backed up to your Mac. Find them, see which device each belongs to, and delete old ones the right way.
- [Ollama and LM Studio models: disk space and removal](https://tidymac.space/learn/local-ai-models-ollama-lm-studio/): Each local AI model is 4 to 40 GB. See where Ollama, LM Studio and Hugging Face store models on a Mac, and how to remove the ones you don’t use.
- [Is it safe to delete ~/Library/Caches on Mac?](https://tidymac.space/learn/mac-app-caches/): App caches are temporary copies apps rebuild on their own. Here’s what’s safe to clear, which apps to close first, and which caches hold offline downloads.
- [~/Library/Application Support is huge: what’s inside?](https://tidymac.space/learn/mac-application-support-folder/): Apps keep settings, offline data and caches in Application Support and Containers. Find which app owns each big folder and whether it’s still installed.
- [Can I delete ~/Library/Logs on Mac? (Yes, mostly)](https://tidymac.space/learn/mac-log-files/): Apps write diary-style log files so problems can be investigated. They’re safe to delete unless a support team asked for them. Here’s where they are.
- [Mail Downloads folder on Mac: is it safe to delete?](https://tidymac.space/learn/mail-downloads-folder/): Every attachment you open in Apple Mail is copied into a hidden Mail Downloads folder and kept. The originals stay in your email. Here’s how to clear it.
- [Messages attachments using space on Mac: the right way](https://tidymac.space/learn/messages-attachments-mac/): Messages keeps every photo, video and file forever. Deleting the attachment files directly breaks conversations. Here’s the safe way to shrink it.
- [Can I delete .dmg files after installing on Mac?](https://tidymac.space/learn/old-dmg-pkg-installers/): After an app is installed, its .dmg or .pkg installer is no longer needed. Here’s how to find old installers, including 12 GB macOS installers, and remove them.
- [Time Machine local snapshots: how to delete them safely](https://tidymac.space/learn/time-machine-local-snapshots/): Local snapshots are hourly restore points Time Machine keeps on your Mac’s own drive. Here’s how big they get, how to list them, and how to thin them safely.
- [What is “System Data” on Mac, and why is it so big?](https://tidymac.space/learn/what-is-system-data-on-mac/): System Data is macOS’s catch-all for everything it doesn’t sort into Apps, Documents or Photos: snapshots, caches, backups, logs and more. Here’s what’s inside.
- [Xcode DerivedData: what it is, is it safe to delete?](https://tidymac.space/learn/xcode-deriveddata/): DerivedData holds Xcode build files for every project you have ever built. It’s safe to delete and rebuilt automatically. Here’s how, and how to keep it small.
- [iOS DeviceSupport folder in Xcode: safe to delete?](https://tidymac.space/learn/xcode-ios-devicesupport/): Xcode copies files from every iOS and watchOS version you connect for testing, and never removes old ones. They’re safe to delete. Here’s where they are.
- [CoreSimulator taking space: delete old iOS simulators](https://tidymac.space/learn/xcode-simulators-coresimulator/): Old iOS simulators pile up in ~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator after every Xcode update. Remove the unusable ones with Xcode’s own command.

## Guides
- [Mac storage guides: clear System Data, free space, macOS 27](https://tidymac.space/guides/): Step-by-step guides for the Mac storage problems people search for most: System Data on macOS 27, purgeable space, update space errors, Apple Intelligence settings and Terminal commands.
- [Check disk space on Mac in Terminal: 8 useful commands](https://tidymac.space/guides/check-disk-space-mac-terminal/): df, du, diskutil and tmutil show exactly where your space went, including hidden folders Finder won’t show. Copy-paste commands with what each one tells you.
- [How to clear System Data on macOS 27 (safely)](https://tidymac.space/guides/clear-system-data-macos-27/): System Data took 290–400 GB on some Macs after macOS 27. Here’s what’s inside it, what’s safe to remove, and the exact steps to get the space back.
- [How to find large files on a Mac (3 free ways)](https://tidymac.space/guides/find-large-files-mac/): Find the biggest files on your Mac with Finder search, Storage settings, or one Terminal command. Includes the folders worth checking first.
- [Not enough space to update macOS? Free it fast](https://tidymac.space/guides/not-enough-space-for-macos-update/): macOS updates need 20–40 GB free. Here are the quickest places to recover space, in order, without deleting anything you made.
- [Purgeable space on Mac: why “not enough space” lies](https://tidymac.space/guides/purgeable-space-mac/): macOS counts snapshots and some caches as “purgeable” and shows them as available. Installers and apps can still fail. Here’s why, and how to make the space real.
- [Turn off Apple Intelligence on macOS 27: all 11 settings](https://tidymac.space/guides/turn-off-apple-intelligence-macos-27/): macOS 27 removed the single Apple Intelligence switch. Here is every setting, where it lives in System Settings, Screen Time, Mail, Messages and Journal, and how to verify it’s off.

## What is this folder?
- [What is this folder on my Mac? Common big folders explained](https://tidymac.space/folders/): us.zoom.xos, com.tinyspeck.slackmacgap, .gradle, CoreSimulator, Docker and more: who owns each big folder on your Mac, what’s inside, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the Adobe/Common/Media Cache Files folder on Mac? (Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Media Encoder)](https://tidymac.space/folders/adobe-media-cache/): Adobe/Common/Media Cache Files belongs to Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Media Encoder. What’s inside, how big it gets (5 – 200 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the Android/sdk folder on Mac? (Android Studio)](https://tidymac.space/folders/android-sdk/): Android/sdk belongs to Android Studio. What’s inside, how big it gets (5 – 60 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the com.docker.docker folder on Mac? (Docker Desktop)](https://tidymac.space/folders/com-docker-docker/): com.docker.docker belongs to Docker Desktop. What’s inside, how big it gets (10 – 100 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the com.tinyspeck.slackmacgap folder on Mac? (Slack)](https://tidymac.space/folders/com-tinyspeck-slackmacgap/): com.tinyspeck.slackmacgap belongs to Slack. What’s inside, how big it gets (500 MB – 6 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the CoreSimulator folder on Mac? (Xcode simulators)](https://tidymac.space/folders/coresimulator/): CoreSimulator belongs to Xcode simulators. What’s inside, how big it gets (2 – 40 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the DerivedData folder on Mac? (Xcode)](https://tidymac.space/folders/deriveddata/): DerivedData belongs to Xcode. What’s inside, how big it gets (5 – 80 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the discord folder on Mac? (Discord)](https://tidymac.space/folders/discord/): discord belongs to Discord. What’s inside, how big it gets (300 MB – 4 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the GarageBand / Logic sound library folder on Mac? (GarageBand and Logic Pro)](https://tidymac.space/folders/garageband-logic-sound-library/): GarageBand / Logic sound library belongs to GarageBand and Logic Pro. What’s inside, how big it gets (2 – 80 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the Google/Chrome folder on Mac? (Google Chrome)](https://tidymac.space/folders/google-chrome/): Google/Chrome belongs to Google Chrome. What’s inside, how big it gets (1 – 15 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the .gradle folder on Mac? (Gradle (Android and Java builds))](https://tidymac.space/folders/gradle/): .gradle belongs to Gradle (Android and Java builds). What’s inside, how big it gets (2 – 30 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the Caches/Homebrew folder on Mac? (Homebrew)](https://tidymac.space/folders/homebrew-cache/): Caches/Homebrew belongs to Homebrew. What’s inside, how big it gets (1 – 15 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the .cache/huggingface folder on Mac? (Hugging Face tools (transformers, diffusers, hf CLI))](https://tidymac.space/folders/huggingface-cache/): .cache/huggingface belongs to Hugging Face tools (transformers, diffusers, hf CLI). What’s inside, how big it gets (2 – 200 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the com.microsoft.teams2 folder on Mac? (Microsoft Teams)](https://tidymac.space/folders/microsoft-teams/): com.microsoft.teams2 belongs to Microsoft Teams. What’s inside, how big it gets (500 MB – 5 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the MobileSync/Backup folder on Mac? (Finder (iPhone and iPad backups))](https://tidymac.space/folders/mobilesync-backup/): MobileSync/Backup belongs to Finder (iPhone and iPad backups). What’s inside, how big it gets (5 – 100 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the .npm/_cacache folder on Mac? (npm)](https://tidymac.space/folders/npm-cacache/): .npm/_cacache belongs to npm. What’s inside, how big it gets (500 MB – 10 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the .ollama/models folder on Mac? (Ollama)](https://tidymac.space/folders/ollama-models/): .ollama/models belongs to Ollama. What’s inside, how big it gets (4 – 150 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the /private/var/vm (swap and sleep image) folder on Mac? (macOS)](https://tidymac.space/folders/private-var-vm/): /private/var/vm (swap and sleep image) belongs to macOS. What’s inside, how big it gets (1 – 20 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the ru.keepcoder.Telegram folder on Mac? (Telegram)](https://tidymac.space/folders/ru-keepcoder-telegram/): ru.keepcoder.Telegram belongs to Telegram. What’s inside, how big it gets (1 – 40 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the com.spotify.client folder on Mac? (Spotify)](https://tidymac.space/folders/spotify-cache/): com.spotify.client belongs to Spotify. What’s inside, how big it gets (1 – 10 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the Steam folder on Mac? (Steam)](https://tidymac.space/folders/steam/): Steam belongs to Steam. What’s inside, how big it gets (1 – 300 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the us.zoom.xos folder on Mac? (Zoom)](https://tidymac.space/folders/us-zoom-xos/): us.zoom.xos belongs to Zoom. What’s inside, how big it gets (200 MB – 5 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.
- [What is the group.net.whatsapp.WhatsApp.shared folder on Mac? (WhatsApp)](https://tidymac.space/folders/whatsapp/): group.net.whatsapp.WhatsApp.shared belongs to WhatsApp. What’s inside, how big it gets (2 – 30 GB), whether it’s safe to delete, and the right way to shrink it.

## Comparisons
- [TidyMac compared: CleanMyMac, DaisyDisk, OmniDiskSweeper](https://tidymac.space/compare/): Honest comparisons between TidyMac and other Mac storage tools: what each is best at, who should pick which, and a feature table.
- [TidyMac vs CleanMyMac: which Mac cleaner should you use?](https://tidymac.space/compare/tidymac-vs-cleanmymac/): CleanMyMac is a broad Mac maintenance suite sold mainly by subscription. TidyMac focuses on explaining System Data and cleaning only what’s safe, for a one-time price.
- [TidyMac vs DaisyDisk: disk map or plain-English answers?](https://tidymac.space/compare/tidymac-vs-daisydisk/): DaisyDisk draws a beautiful map of your disk. TidyMac tells you what each part of System Data is, whether it’s safe to remove, and how your space changes over time.
- [TidyMac vs macOS Storage settings: why System Data stays a mystery](https://tidymac.space/compare/tidymac-vs-macos-storage-settings/): System Settings › Storage shows a “System Data” bar you can’t open. TidyMac breaks it into named parts, explains each one, and shows how it changes.
- [TidyMac vs OmniDiskSweeper (free): what’s the difference?](https://tidymac.space/compare/tidymac-vs-omnidisksweeper/): OmniDiskSweeper is a free, no-frills list of folders by size. TidyMac adds explanations, safety labels, verified cleaning and storage history.

## Who it is for
- [Who TidyMac is for: developers, students, families and more](https://tidymac.space/for/): TidyMac for developers, 256 GB MacBook owners, privacy-minded users, families, students and people using AI agents.
- [Living with a 256 GB MacBook: keep it from filling up](https://tidymac.space/for/256gb-macbook/): On a 256 GB Mac, macOS and Apple Intelligence take a big share before you add anything. TidyMac shows where the rest goes and warns you before it fills up.
- [Let Claude or Codex check your Mac storage (MCP)](https://tidymac.space/for/ai-agents/): TidyMac includes a local MCP server so Claude Code, Codex, Claude Desktop and Cursor can read your storage. Read-only by default; cleaning always needs your approval.
- [Free up space on a developer Mac: Xcode, Docker, npm, AI](https://tidymac.space/for/developers/): DerivedData, simulators, device support, package caches, Docker and Ollama models quietly eat 50+ GB. TidyMac finds them, shows sizes and last-used dates, and cleans them the right way.
- [Fix a parent’s full Mac safely, without guessing](https://tidymac.space/for/families/): Install TidyMac on a parent’s or partner’s Mac, see exactly what’s using the space, and clean only what’s safe. Nothing is removed until you confirm twice.
- [Turn off Apple Intelligence and see your storage, privately](https://tidymac.space/for/privacy/): TidyMac lists every Apple Intelligence setting on macOS 27 and walks you to each one. It works offline and nothing about your files leaves your Mac.
- [Free up space on a student MacBook, safely](https://tidymac.space/for/students/): Course software, lecture recordings and phone backups fill student MacBooks fast. TidyMac shows what’s safe to remove.

## MCP integrations
- [TidyMac integrations: Claude Code, Codex, Claude Desktop, Cursor](https://tidymac.space/integrations/): Connect TidyMac’s local MCP server to your AI tools so they can read your Mac’s storage. Read-only by default.
- [Check Mac storage from Claude Code (TidyMac MCP)](https://tidymac.space/integrations/claude-code/): Add TidyMac’s local MCP server to Claude Code and ask about your disk: free space, what grew, what’s safe to remove. Read-only by default.
- [Use TidyMac with Claude Desktop (MCP setup)](https://tidymac.space/integrations/claude-desktop/): Add TidyMac to claude_desktop_config.json and ask Claude about your Mac’s storage in plain words.
- [Check Mac storage from Codex CLI (TidyMac MCP)](https://tidymac.space/integrations/codex/): Add TidyMac’s MCP server to Codex with one command and let it read your Mac’s storage insights. Cleaning always needs your approval in TidyMac.
- [Use TidyMac with Cursor (MCP setup)](https://tidymac.space/integrations/cursor/): Add TidyMac to Cursor’s mcp.json so the agent can check disk space before builds and downloads.

## Glossary
- [Mac storage glossary: System Data, purgeable, APFS, swap](https://tidymac.space/glossary/): Short, plain definitions of the Mac storage terms you keep running into.
- [What is APFS container on a Mac? Plain-English definition](https://tidymac.space/glossary/apfs-container/): The pool of space that all the volumes on an Apple file system disk share.
- [What is App container on a Mac? Plain-English definition](https://tidymac.space/glossary/app-container/): A private folder in ~/Library/Containers where a sandboxed app keeps its data.
- [What is Full Disk Access on a Mac? Plain-English definition](https://tidymac.space/glossary/full-disk-access/): A macOS privacy permission that lets an app read protected folders such as Mail, Messages and backups.
- [What is Local snapshot (APFS) on a Mac? Plain-English definition](https://tidymac.space/glossary/local-snapshot/): A read-only, point-in-time copy of a volume kept on the same disk.
- [What is Purgeable space on a Mac? Plain-English definition](https://tidymac.space/glossary/purgeable-space/): Storage macOS counts as available because it promises to free it when needed.
- [What is Sealed system volume on a Mac? Plain-English definition](https://tidymac.space/glossary/sealed-system-volume/): The read-only, cryptographically sealed volume that holds macOS itself.
- [What is Swap (virtual memory) on a Mac? Plain-English definition](https://tidymac.space/glossary/swap/): Disk space macOS uses as extra memory when RAM is full.
- [What is System Data on a Mac? Plain-English definition](https://tidymac.space/glossary/system-data/): The storage category macOS uses for everything that isn’t Apps, Documents, Photos or another named category.

## Free tools
- [Free Mac storage tools](https://tidymac.space/tools/): Free, in-browser tools for understanding your Mac’s storage.
- [Free System Data explainer: what’s in your Mac’s Library?](https://tidymac.space/tools/system-data-explainer/): Paste the output of one Terminal command and get every big folder in your Mac’s Library explained, labelled Safe, Check first or Leave alone. Runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.