Kodiak Cleaner

Kodiak Cleaner for Mac

The Mac edition of Kodiak Cleaner: clean caches, logs, temporary files and browser data, and see everything that starts by itself. Version 0.8.0 Dev, free and open source.

Beta software: use at your own risk. Kodiak Cleaner for Mac is new and still in development. Analyze before you clean, read each caution, and keep your own backups of anything important.

Recommended

Disk Image

The usual way to install a Mac app.

  • Open it and drag Kodiak Cleaner to Applications.
  • Includes the Docs folder.
  • Update by dragging the newer copy over the old one.
Download DMGDisk image · 2.2 MB

KodiakCleanerMac.dmg

ZIP

The same app, packed in a ZIP.

  • Unzip it and move Kodiak Cleaner to Applications.
  • Includes the Docs folder.
  • Handy where disk images are blocked.
Download ZIPZIP with the app inside · 1.7 MB

KodiakCleanerMac.zip

For macOS 26 Tahoe or newer, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. Looking for another computer? See every download.

Opening It the First Time

This Dev build isn't signed with an Apple Developer ID or notarized yet, so the first time it opens macOS says it couldn't verify Kodiak Cleaner. To open it:

  1. Move Kodiak Cleaner to Applications and double-click it. When macOS stops it, click Done (or OK).
  2. Open System Settings, then Privacy & Security, and scroll down to Security.
  3. Next to the message about Kodiak Cleaner, click Open Anyway, then enter your password.
  4. Click Open Anyway once more. From then on Kodiak Cleaner opens normally.

If Open Anyway doesn't show up, open Terminal and run xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Kodiak Cleaner.app".

The Docs folder's ReadMe walks through the same steps.

Cleaner

Caches, Logs and Browser Data

Tick what to clean, click Analyze to see what's there, then Clean. Only apps found on your Mac are listed, and apps that are open are skipped. Sort By offers Default, A to Z, Largest Found, Last Cleaned and Most Space Freed.

Browsers:

ArcBraveChromiumFirefoxFloorpGoogle ChromeHeliumLibreWolfMicrosoft EdgeOperaSafariVivaldiZen
Kodiak Cleaner for Mac
GroupWhat It Cleans
macOSCrash reports, logs, temporary files, Quick Look thumbnails, saved window state, shell history and the Trash.
BrowsersCache, cookies, history and sessions, plus Thunderbird's cache. Bookmarks always stay.
Apps and Developer ToolsMail downloads, CocoaPods, Discord, Go, Homebrew, npm, pip, Slack, Spotify, Visual Studio Code, Xcode and Yarn.
Advanced CleaningThe entire cache folder, Xcode archives and device support files. Hidden behind a warning and never ticked for you.
Triggers

Everything That Starts by Itself

One list of launch agents (yours and everyone's), launch daemons, cron jobs and shell startup files, with Apple's own items available for reference.

  • Notes flag missing programs, programs in temporary, Downloads or hidden folders, code that is downloaded and run, recent changes and items that restart themselves.
  • Needs a Look shows only those.
  • Every change is backed up first and can be restored from Triggers History.
Kodiak Cleaner for Mac
TypeWhere It Comes FromWhat You Can Do
Cron JobYour crontabTurn off or on, remove your own
Launch Agent~/Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchAgentsTurn off or on, remove your own
Launch Daemon/Library/LaunchDaemonsTurn off or on (asks for your administrator password once per batch)
Shell Startup~/.zshrc, ~/.zprofile, ~/.bash_profile and the other zsh and bash startup filesShown
Make It Yours

Honey, Classic and Glacier, Light or Dark

The same color schemes as the Windows and Linux editions, with accent colors for everyone, including one that follows your Mac's own accent color.

Kodiak Cleaner for Mac

Honey is free for everyone. Classic and Glacier are a thank-you for supporters, and a supporter code from the Windows or Linux edition works here too.

Safety

Files are only removed inside your home folder and your own temporary folder, and links are removed, never followed. Cleaning never needs your administrator password; only launch daemon changes ask for it, through macOS's own prompt.

Privacy

Nothing leaves your Mac. Kodiak Cleaner for Mac has no network code at all. Settings and Triggers History live in ~/Library/Application Support/Kodiak Cleaner.

Full Disk Access

Safari, Mail and the Trash need Full Disk Access. Turn on Kodiak Cleaner in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access (you can turn it off again any time), then quit and reopen it. Everything else works without it, and Kodiak Cleaner marks the items that need it.

Changelog

What's New for Mac

0.8.0 Dev

Added

  • Kodiak Cleaner for Mac: a native Mac app (SwiftUI) for macOS 26 Tahoe and macOS 27 Golden Gate, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs that run them.
  • Cleaner: crash reports, logs, temporary files, Quick Look thumbnails, saved window state, shell history and the Trash; browser cache, cookies, history and sessions for Arc, Brave, Chromium, Firefox, Floorp, Google Chrome, Helium, LibreWolf, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Safari, Thunderbird (cache), Vivaldi and Zen; Mail downloads; CocoaPods, Discord, Go, Homebrew, npm, pip, Slack, Spotify, Visual Studio Code, Xcode and Yarn caches.
  • Advanced Cleaning: the entire cache folder, Xcode archives and Xcode device support files, hidden behind a warning, never ticked for you, each with a description and a caution where it matters.
  • Sort By: Default (macOS first, then programs A to Z, Advanced Cleaning last, ticked items first), A to Z, Largest Found, Last Cleaned and Most Space Freed, with a Last Cleaned column.
  • Full Disk Access: Safari, Mail and the Trash are marked, and Kodiak Cleaner explains how to allow it in Privacy & Security. Everything else works without it.
  • Triggers: one list of launch agents (yours and everyone's), launch daemons, cron jobs and shell startup files, with Apple's own items available for reference. Notes flag missing programs, programs in temporary, Downloads or hidden folders, code that is downloaded and run, recent changes and items that restart themselves.
  • Triggers changes: turn launch agents, launch daemons and cron jobs off or on, and remove your own launch agents and cron jobs. Every change is backed up first and can be restored from Triggers History. Launch daemons ask for the administrator password once per batch, through macOS's own prompt.
  • Look and feel: Honey (default), Classic and Glacier color schemes, light or dark or match device, accent colors (including one that follows the Mac's own accent color) and an Animations switch.
  • Settings, About, Contact & Feedback, Changelog, Privacy Policy and Terms of Use pages, a Beta Software notice and What's New after updates.
  • Supporter: offline supporter codes (the same codes as the Windows and Linux editions) unlock Classic, Glacier and the badge.
  • Downloads: an app in a ZIP and a disk image (DMG), each with the Docs folder.