Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Cleanmymac Vs. AppZapper
- Thread starter DJTaurus
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I use AppCleaner.
Free. Lightweight. Thorough.
It always has a small utility running so that if you ever trash an Application (installed or running from a DMG) it will find all dependent files, including Plist's and the .dmg, and ask if you want to trash them as well!
I love it. I'll never leave it.
Free. Lightweight. Thorough.
It always has a small utility running so that if you ever trash an Application (installed or running from a DMG) it will find all dependent files, including Plist's and the .dmg, and ask if you want to trash them as well!
I love it. I'll never leave it.
None are.
Either look at my signature for a fancy video tutorial on using Finder to do such a simple task, or look at this (the instructions the video is based upon):
CleanMyMac cleaned too much
Either look at my signature for a fancy video tutorial on using Finder to do such a simple task, or look at this (the instructions the video is based upon):
CleanMyMac cleaned too much
People here are going to criticize apps that do something that you can just do yourself, but that's like saying bookmarks and auto-complete shouldn't exist because you are capable of typing the URL yourself and writing it down to retain it.
AppCleaner thoroughly seeks out all of the files, plugins and extensions an App installs. Any further cleaning would be like pulling over on the highway to pick up a penny.
AppCleaner thoroughly seeks out all of the files, plugins and extensions an App installs. Any further cleaning would be like pulling over on the highway to pick up a penny.
While cleaning apps make it easier for people, who don't know better, they don't find everything. Look at the end of my video, or at the thread the guide is in I linked to.
And in most cases, uninstalling an application can be done by just putting the .app file or folder into the Trash, as the .plist files and other small files don't slow down your computer and don't take up valuable space, unless KBs matter.
Btw, I use TextExpander to autocomplete some pre-formatted posts and understand the need for handy applications. But what applications uninstalls the uninstaller? Finder.
I just tested and you are correct!
Finder, found more files compared to appzapper
http://f.cl.ly/items/3b2o1L2h3r1x1X3x0s21/Screen Shot 2012-02-29 at 1.09.42 AM.png
Another Question...for a monthly cleaner which one do u suggest?
CleanmyMac,CCCLeaner,Lion Cache Cleaner,Onyx,CleanGenious or sth else?
None: Five Mac maintenance myths
And please beware of CleanMyMac, it has rendered a lot of systems un-bootable. Just today I had a thread, where that happened. And without backup.
My experience is that Appcleaner does not completely remove all of the app files. I have deleted apps using Appcleaner and then done the manual deletion. Appcleaner left behind many files.
Perhaps you are right that total cleaning is like "pulling over on the highway and picking up a penny", but for me, total cleaning makes me feel more secure that nothing left behind might cause any problems.
I have nothing against them, people shall use them, if they want. I just point out, that there are free methods already available and built into the system.
I used finder to uninstall cleanmymac...
But i cant move to trach the files selected below...?
http://f.cl.ly/items/3S37151x2K3f0M0s3S2e/Screen Shot 2012-02-29 at 1.31.09 AM.png
But i cant move to trach the files selected below...?
http://f.cl.ly/items/3S37151x2K3f0M0s3S2e/Screen Shot 2012-02-29 at 1.31.09 AM.png
What happens when you want to put them into the Trash? Have you tried logging out and logging back in again, as the files might be still in use? You could also use Activity Monitor to find any running CleanMyMac processes via SHOW ALL PROCESSES and the search field and FORCE QUIT from there and then try deleting those files again.
Every newbie (like me) needs to ask, that's how I learned whatever little that I know.
Following the instructions in How to Fully Delete an App is not difficult...even for the unsophisticated used (me). Now I know how to do it.
Going from being an unsophisticated user, to one with slowly increasing knowledge, requires asking questions, trying things, and learning from the experience.
Leaving it to the bot, which may not do a great job, rather than learning a more effective technique means never learning how to use you device.
I'm sure your post was well intended, and no insult or criticism is intended. Just suggesting, as a newbie who is learning all he can, that learning to use you device is part of the fun of owning it.
1. Nothing happens...they return to the folder.
2. I logged off/on and finder did not found those files again or any other "cleanmymac" leftover. So i guess i am ok now.
One more question. You "are against" all these cleaner apps i mentioned....
What about 1) to run the script: sudo periodic daily weekly monthly 2) and do disk repair per. once a month?
They are not needed, as pointed out in the following article: Five Mac maintenance myths
Anyway, since you obviously are still ridden with Windows behaviour, I was too when I switched and ran the occasional script/app to "clean", you need to learn (as I did and many other did), that this is not Windows and cleaning is not needed, as Mac OS X takes care of that.
Just employ a proper backup system (Time Machine and/or clone (bootable, thus good for problem solving in worst case scenarios) and be done with that.
I haven't touched a cleaning app in five or six years, and I am a messy when it comes to computers. I don't need them.
Neither.
In most cases, app removal software doesn't do a thorough job of finding and removing files/folders related to deleted apps. For more information, read this. If you just want to delete the app, drag the .app file to the trash. No other software needed. If you want to completely remove all associated files/folders, no removal apps will do the job.
The most effective method for complete app removal is manual deletion:
I would not recommend CleanMyMac, based on the number of complaints that have been posted in this forum and elsewhere. As an example: CleanMyMac cleaned too much. While you may not have experienced problems yet, enough people have that it's wise to avoid it, especially since there are free alternatives that have better reputations, such as Onyx.
You don't need "cleaner" or "maintenance" apps to keep your Mac running well, and some of these apps can do more harm than good. Most only remove files/folders or unused languages or architectures, which does nothing more than free up some drive space, with the risk of deleting something important in the process.
These apps will not make your Mac run faster or more efficiently, since having stuff stored on a drive does not impact performance, unless you're running out of drive space. In fact, deleting some caches can hurt performance, rather than help it, since more system resources are used and performance suffers while each cache is being rebuilt.
Many of these tasks should only be done selectively to troubleshoot specific problems, not en masse as routine maintenance.
Mac OS X does a good job of taking care of itself, without the need for 3rd party software. Among other things, it has its own maintenance scripts that run silently in the background on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, without user intervention.
You don't need to do anything. Those scripts run without user intervention. If your Mac is shut down or in sleep mode at the scheduled time, the scripts automatically run the next time your Mac is on. You don't have to do anything for your Mac to maintain itself.