CleanMyMac X review | Macmonde

For years, MacPaw’s CleanMyMac , optimize performance, update apps, uninstall software and help prevent malware and adware. And while practical and worth keeping, version 4.15.3 continues to suffer from the same excesses we mentioned previously when reviewing this software.

Compare CleanMyMac to other Mac cleaning solutions – check out our roundup of the best Mac Cleaner software.

What is good

Similar to previous versions, CleanMyMac for 2 Macs (usually $79.90) or $79.95 for 5 Macs (usually $199.75), or arrange a seven-day trial where MacPaw keeps your credit or debit card number on file . Once installed, simply assign permissions, allow the software and its modules to access different sections of your hard drive, and off you go.

The catch-all utility offers an assortment of modules whose main goal is to identify and clean up gigabytes after gigabytes of unused system garbage. The modules are Smart Scan, System Junk, Attachments, Recycle Bins, Malware Removal, Privacy, Optimization, Maintenance, Uninstaller, Updater, Extensions, Space Lens, Large and Old Files and Shredder. Each module performs various tasks.

Smart Scan is the overall feature that scans for unnecessary files that can be deleted to free up disk space, performs a quick malware scan, and runs a speed test to examine optimization features, such as freeing up disk space. RAM or fast clearing of system caches.

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The other modules fulfill the functions for which they are named and offer a good level of customization. Nevertheless, the notable features of CleanMyMac which helps find multi-gigabyte files that you forgot to delete and provides a quick way to delete them to reclaim disk space.

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The modules themselves generally serve their purpose, and it’s handy to be able to perform a general search for data that consumes a large portion of your hard drive, as well as explore and enable or disable specific extensions at the module level. system if necessary. CleanMyMac

CleanMyMac CleanMyMac This received a substantial update in 2023, bringing additional information such as the battery, temperature and health of your laptop, the capacity and general health of your hard drive, your capacity to Free RAM, as well as your CPU load and hardware temperature, are at your fingertips and easily accessible.

The Space Lens feature arriving with the 2023 update and the Large and Old Files module provide a quick and convenient view of what is consuming the majority of your hard drive space, and it was easy to select several large and forgotten gigabytes . video files as well as gigabytes and gigabytes of unused language and cache files with the System Junk module. Click the CleanMyMac X icon in the menu bar to access useful information like remaining battery life, bandwidth, CPU load, and information about connected devices. It’s extremely easy to see what’s taking up the most space on your Mac’s hard drive. The features are well integrated.

To its credit, CleanMyMac Other features like Disk Lens and Uninstaller provided a clear view of which folders were consuming the most disk space and a quick way to remove applications.

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What’s not going so well

Unfortunately, these are the same sticking points I’ve mentioned in the past that seem to haunt CleanMyMacX 4.15. With Mac utilities, a multifaceted approach that offers several basic functions can be great. But the danger is that the developer overextends himself by trying to be all things to all people, and the result is that some features aren’t as good as others, leading you to question the value of the application as a whole. This is unfortunately the case with CleanMyMac X.

CleanMyMac Both are well-intentioned and focused, but unfortunately they don’t work as well as we hoped.

Malware protection remains mixed, and while the app works well with macOS’s Gatekeeper feature to prevent malware from being installed on your Mac, it’s still possible to install a fair amount of questionable software. Yes, the malware removal module was able to detect and quarantine several threats (such as OSX.EvilEgg, DazzleSpy, and parts of AdWind malware), but it left segments of AdWind installed during testing and missed the dubious WaveBrowser, a simulated version of the Adobe Flash Player installation manager, Adobe Album and the infamous MacSecurity application, which had to be removed along with another application. This was disappointing considering MacPaw’s well-marketed and publicized use of the Moonlock engine for this purpose.

Other weaknesses of the malware removal module include the fact that while it is easy to select which external volumes to scan when mounting, there is no clear display as to what is happening, nor a simple option to select a target volume and begin a scan, which would be a convenient UI option. For better antivirus options, if that’s what you’re looking for, read our roundup of the best antiviruses for Mac.

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If the malware removal module needs improvement, the update module is in an even worse state. This section of the software feels like almost nothing was done with it, and the only update it was able to detect and install was a small AI screenshot update via the Apple App Store. These scans missed important app updates for critical programs like GitHub, Slack, Google Chrome, Adobe Reader, VirtualBox and others, and one wonders how it can be so difficult to add support for these developers for the module to search and locate free updates. What developers would want users to have in the first place?

Verdict

CleanMyMac the same errors. Despite the company’s use of the Moonlock engine for its malware removal module, it still left significant chunks of malware behind, which is concerning. The rough state of the Updater module once again leads us to consider that MacUpdater, which costs $9.76 for an individual user, is narrowly focused on its task and has become my medium for locating just about all updates software I could dream of for my Macs. .

I don’t think MacPaw is ill-intentioned in its efforts, far from it, and its customer service has always been responsive, but I think it faces the same problems as any company when trying to to create a Swiss army. knife of a suite of applications and continues to add to its feature base. Some features invariably become better than others, and unless a new version or major update is released, it seems that these issues cannot be fixed in a short period of time. CleanMyMac not able to provide a large amount of space. it promises.