MacPaw today announced the launch of CleanMyMac X, an updated version of the CleanMyMac software that's designed to help users get rid of unwanted files and clean up space on their Macs.

According to MacPaw, CleanMyMac X offers up a new Malware Removal option along with 14 tools for optimizing macOS. It also offers a Menu app for quick access to CleanMyMac X options, an extended Safety Database, and personalized cleanup tips.

cleanmymacx1
A Smart Scan feature offers up a quick, complete scan of the Mac with options for Cleanup, Protection, and Speed to remove unnecessary system junk and malware while also offering performance optimization tips.

Scanning with CleanMyMac X is up to three times faster than the previous CleanMyMac 3 software, while the newly implemented Malware Removal tool will check for vulnerabilities and get rid of suspicious files.

An optimization module provides tools for managing login items, launch agents, and apps that are absorbing too many system resources, and a built-in assistant will provide explanations, reminders for regular checkups, and additional optimization steps that are meant to improve performance.

cleanmymacx2
All of these tools are run when using the Smart Scan option, but there are also individual controls for cleaning up system junk, photo junk, mail attachments, trash bins, and iTunes junk.

Malware scans can also be conducted individually, as can optimization scans, and there is a built-in uninstaller and updater for application management.

MacPaw is charging $39.95 per year for a subscription to CleanMyMac X, or $89.95 for a one-time purchase, but the new software is also included in Setapp, MacPaw's Mac software subscription service priced at $9.99 per month.

Setapp offers more than 100 apps for the $9.99 per month price tag, including titles like iStat Menus, Bartender, Ulysses, Canary Mail, and more.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with MacPaw. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Top Rated Comments

keysofanxiety Avatar
95 months ago
I'm a big fan of this site and understand you need to make ends meet, but there needs to be a point where your editorial ethics take hold.

This is a crap program and you should, if anything, be discouraging people from using it. I don't care if you're an affiliate partner. If this is the stuff you'll be promoting for money, then myself and others will happily stop being contributors.
Score: 101 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keysofanxiety Avatar
95 months ago
What’s so bad about it? Been using it since like 2011 almost weekly
I always use it but reading comments shall i not is it better to just leave it
Can you briefly explain why you are saying this is crap and why you would discourage people from using it? That would be very helpful for me and others who may have OS-OCD lol
Why is it a crap program? Asking for a friend.
Every time I see CMM mentioned there are these arguments. I don’t know why.

MalwareBytes correctly detects this application as a PUP (potentially unwanted program). That should say enough, but I'll expand.

It's very aggressively marketed and incorrectly promotes the idea that you need to carry out constant maintenance on your Mac. This is profoundly wrong.

Full of nice little animations to satisfy the Candy Crush generation. This tricks people into thinking their Mac’s running faster as a result — yet a simple restart would do just as much, which CMM will do anyway. It’s amazing how much goes wrong on macOS with a large 30 day uptime.

You don’t really know what it’s deleting. Not only is this incredibly dangerous but there have been instances where it’s caused damage to the operating system.

It used to be promoted as “on average, clears 50GB of data from a Mac.” On average. Now that’s either one of two things: an outright lie, or a terrifyingly high number. That should not be right.

Furthermore the people who defend it always seem to go back to the argument: “Well I’ve always used it and it’s never done any damage.

As if that’s the criteria for a good application. It’s never bricked my computer so it must be fine, right?

This application promotes ignorance about both good computing habits and how macOS works. At the absolute best case scenario, there are many other free apps which do the same thing CMM does and provides more information on what they’re doing.

There are countless seas of threads about this. Avoid cleaner apps on both Mac and Windows. Practice good computing habits and use MalwareBytes. It’s as simple as that.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
eroslws Avatar
95 months ago
This app is a waste of money. Just use DaisyDisk to locate and clean up stuff if your computer is really full of junk. Anything else you’re clearing out will slow down your computer temporarily as cache is rebuilt...unless of course you believe this company has insider knowledge above and beyond that of Apple’s own engineers. Remember, remnants of old apps are smaller than the CMMs install file and if they aren’t, DaisyDisk will make that obvious.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SBlue1 Avatar
95 months ago
Hey Macrumors, can you please mark ads like these at the beginning so people don't get fooled think its an editorial article but an ad? Thank you!
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ctg7w6 Avatar
95 months ago
I'm a big fan of this site and understand you need to make ends meet, but there needs to be a point where your editorial ethics take hold.

This is a crap program and you should, if anything, be discouraging people from using it. I don't care if you're an affiliate partner. If this is the stuff you'll be promoting for money, then myself and others will happily stop being contributors.
This is one of the better posts I’ve seen on Macrumors. Good job, sir.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Heineken Avatar
95 months ago
Almost as bad as mac keeper. stay away. If you want to clean something use OnyX it's free and does what is needed.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.2

Friday December 5, 2025 9:40 am PST by
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...
Intel Inside iPhone Feature

Apple's Return to Intel Rumored to Extend to iPhone

Friday December 5, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in a few years, and the latest rumor claims the partnership might extend to the iPhone. In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028....
iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

iPhone 18 Pro Leak Adds New Evidence for Under-Display Face ID

Monday December 8, 2025 4:54 am PST by
Apple is actively testing under-screen Face ID for next year's iPhone 18 Pro models using a special "spliced micro-transparent glass" window built into the display, claims a Chinese leaker. According to "Smart Pikachu," a Weibo account that has previously shared accurate supply-chain details on Chinese Android hardware, Apple is testing the special glass as a way to let the TrueDepth...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds Second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Monday December 8, 2025 10:18 am PST by
Apple today seeded the second release candidate version of iOS 26.2 to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming one week after Apple seeded the first RC. The release candidate represents the final version iOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found. Registered developers and public beta testers can download the betas from the Settings app on...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Monday December 1, 2025 2:40 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
Johny Srouji

Apple's Chipmaking Chief Johny Srouji Responds to Report About Him Potentially Leaving

Monday December 8, 2025 9:23 am PST by
Apple's chipmaking chief Johny Srouji has reportedly indicated that he plans to continue working for the company for the foreseeable future. "I love my team, and I love my job at Apple, and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon," said Srouji, in a memo obtained by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Here is Srouji's full memo, as shared by Bloomberg:I know you've been reading all kind of rumors and...
Johny Srouji

Apple Chip Chief Johny Srouji Could Be Next to Go as Exodus Continues

Sunday December 7, 2025 10:41 am PST by
Apple's senior vice president of hardware technologies Johny Srouji could be the next leading executive to leave the company amid an alarming exodus of leading employees, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Srouji apparently recently told CEO Tim Cook that he is "seriously considering leaving" in the near future. He intends to join another company if he departs. Srouji leads Apple's chip design ...
google pixel 10

Switching Between iPhone and Android Will Get Easier With New Apple and Google Collaboration

Monday December 8, 2025 11:10 am PST by
Apple and Google are teaming up to make it easier for users to switch between iPhone and Android smartphones, according to 9to5Google. There is a new Android Canary build available today that simplifies data transfer between two smartphones, and Apple is going to implement the functionality in an upcoming iOS 26 beta. Apple already has a Move to iOS app for transferring data from an Android...
Apple Fitness Plus expansion hero

Apple Fitness+ Coming to 28 New Regions With Digital Voice Dubbing

Monday December 8, 2025 6:19 am PST by
Apple today announced that Fitness+ is expanding to 28 new markets on December 15 in the service's largest international rollout since launch, accompanied by new language dubbing and a K-Pop music genre. Apple Fitness+ will become available in Chile, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan, and additional regions on December 15, with Japan scheduled to follow early next year....
top stories 2025 12 04a

Top Stories: iOS 26.2 Coming Soon, Apple Execs Depart, and More

Saturday December 6, 2025 6:00 am PST by
You'd expect things to be starting to wind down for the holidays by now, but that doesn't seem to be the case yet in the world of Apple news, with Apple just about ready to release iOS 26.2 and other operating system updates to the public. There was also a flurry of news this week about Apple executive departures, some expected and some not so expected, while we also learned that Apple and...