Find the space your Mac lost.

Tidy Lite shows how your disk is really laid out, and safely clears what macOS updates and developer tools leave behind.

See what it does

Free on the Mac App Store. Requires macOS 15 or later.

Where the gigabytes went.

Old installs, found.

Every macOS install leaves a folder on the hidden Preboot volume, often 15–20 GB, and a reinstall can strand it. Tidy Lite finds the folders nothing uses any more, and walks you through removing them.

Safe by design

Scanning is read-only. Every item is checked again just before it’s removed, and anything that can’t be proven safe is refused. Your own files go to the Trash, never straight to deletion.

Updates and installers

Finds leftover macOS Install Data, downloaded updates, and old installer apps, with the exact command to remove system items.

Developer leftovers

Xcode DerivedData, DeviceSupport, and Archives, once you give it access to your Library folder.

Caches and snapshots

Large cache folders go to the Trash. Local Time Machine snapshots are listed, with the command to remove them.

Software Update, checked

Background downloads are what get stranded, and security responses should stay on. Tidy Lite checks both.

Read-only scan Re-checked before removal Sandboxed Mac App Store edition Says “couldn’t check” instead of guessing macOS 15 or later

This is Tidy Lite.

Real screens from the app. A map of your disk, what can safely go, and a last look before anything does.

Tidy Lite's overview: a storage bar for Macintosh HD, the Preboot volume with an unused macOS 26.6 folder of about 18.4 GB, and 36.5 GB that can be freed — See where your space really went

System Leftovers listing unused macOS 26.6 boot files of about 18.4 GB, marked Back Up First, with a Remove in Recovery button — Find what old macOS installs left behind

The Developer list: Xcode Derived Data, iOS Device Support, Xcode Archives and Simulator Caches, each marked Safe or Review with its size — Clean up after Xcode

Recommendations: the Preboot volume is unusually large, Software Update settings couldn't be checked, and back up before removing system leftovers — Clear advice, in plain words

The Clean Up 4 items sheet listing what will be moved to the Trash, about 36.5 GB in total — Nothing goes without your OK

The disk, volumes and files in these screenshots are invented for the demo.

Why the last step happens in Recovery.

macOS guards the Preboot volume

With System Integrity Protection on, nothing can delete from it while macOS is running, not even an administrator. In macOS Recovery, it can.

One short command

Tidy Lite saves a small script for you, so in Recovery you type one short command instead of a long one by hand.

It checks again before it acts

The script confirms the folder is still unused and on the right disk, and asks you to type yes before it removes anything.

The Remove from macOS Recovery sheet with six steps: back up with Time Machine, save the Recovery script, start up in macOS Recovery, open Terminal, type one short command, and restart — The steps Tidy Lite walks you through

It looks at your disk, and tells no one.

Tidy Lite makes no network requests and contains no analytics. What it finds on your Mac stays on your Mac.

No network at all

The app never connects to the internet. The scan and its results stay on your Mac.

Your files, your call

Nothing is removed without you choosing it, and your own files go to the Trash so you can change your mind.

Honest about the sandbox

Where the Mac App Store sandbox hides a value, Tidy Lite says it couldn’t check instead of calling it fine.