Where my Mac users at? If you're a creative of any sort, chances are you're a dedicated Mac user. I purchased my first Macbook Pro back in the mid-to-late 2000s, and I have never looked back. I've owned 2 different Mac laptops, a 2011 27" iMac (upon which I'm currently writing this blog post), 3 iPhones, 2 iPads, and of course, an iPod. I love how easy it is to integrate all of these devices into one seamless digital ecosystem. But we all know that as good as Apple products are, the biggest drawback is the investment. So when you invest in an Apple computer, you want to make sure it LASTS, amirite?
As a photographer, my computer is my lifeblood, and hours of being chained to said computer while editing photos can be grueling. A few years ago, my computer was slowing down so much that it would take 3-5 minutes to save a single high-resolution image, and I had just about had it. I needed something that could speed up my aging iMac in an attempt to keep it in tip-top shape for the long haul AND slash my editing time. That's when I stumbled upon MacPaw's CleanMyMac, an app designed specifically for Mac computers that "scans the entire macOS, removes junk and malware and brings a Mac back to its original fast performance." I downloaded the free trial and was immediately blown away by just how much space I was able to clear out. I. WAS. SOLD.
Fast forward about 6 years, and I'm still using CleanMyMac religiously. The program has only gotten better and better with each upgrade, and the newest iteration, CleanMyMac X is one of the best investments I've made for my business. Here are the top 5 things I love about it:
1. IT'S UNBELIEVABLY EASY TO USE WITH SMART SCAN
As technical as I can be when it comes to photography, I'm still learning the ins and outs of computers, RAM, external hard drives, etc. (yet another reason why I'm Team Apple all the way). CleanMyMac is ridiculously easy to use, and its interface is both sleek and explanatory. When you open the program, there's a single button you need to push, and it's clearly labeled "Scan." All you have to do is push the dang button and let the SmartScan feature do its thing.
Depending upon how old your computer is or how much junk you have on it, the initial scanning process might take a while. But, this process gets much quicker as you integrate CleanMyMac into your workflow on an ongoing basis. Once the scan is complete, you'll see what the program has found, including just how much space is available to safely clean up. At this point, you just have to click once more to run those processes and CMM takes care of it all for you. BOOM. DONE.
2. PEACE OF MIND WITH MALWARE PROTECTION AND REMOVAL
Remember how we all used to think that Macs were so much harder to infiltrate? Yeah, me, too. What a lovely time it was to be that blissfully ignorant. The truth is, scammers are constantly trying to getcha, and they're getting more and more clever with ways of doing it. CleanMyMac X's Malware Removal module "scans your system for vulnerabilities and hazards like adware, viruses, spyware, and cryptocurrency miners. If CleanMyMac notices something suspicious, it offers immediate removal."
What's awesome is that this feature is already included in the Smart Scan process, so there's really nothing additional you HAVE to do if you're running your CleanMyMac scans on a regular basis. But, if you need to run it separately, you can always do that from the sidebar menu.
3. THOROUGHLY UNINSTALLS PROGRAMS YOU NO LONGER USE
Everyone who's uninstalled a program on a Mac by simply dragging it into the Trash raise their hand! YUP! Me, too! Here's the problem with that method, though: simply dragging a program from your Applications folder into the Trash leaves behind a ton of remnants strewn across your hard drive. CleanMyMac's Uninstaller module "finds applications with all their components and shows them as a single list. To simplify the review, it groups apps by developer and download source."
I can't tell you how many versions of Photoshop I've had just lying around my hard drive taking up space. And Photoshop isn't exactly a SMALL application. By using CleanMyMac to uninstall my Adobe programs, I know that it's scooping up every last bit of unneeded data from previous versions and frees up that space on my computer.
What's cool is that they even include a separate "Unused" section in the menu that allows you to view ALL of the applications you don't use regularly. It groups them together and then allows you to handpick the ones you want to get rid of and keeps everything you don't. It'll even show you how much space each app is occupying, making it a bit easier to cut ties and reclaim that valuable hard drive space.
4. FINDS AND OUTLINES LARGE AND OLD FILES FOR POTENTIAL REMOVAL
I hate to admit it, but I'm definitely one of those digital hoarders who has the hardest time getting rid of files, even the ones I KNOW I'll never use again. There's always that nagging voice in my brain that says, "BUT...BUT...What if I NEED that .pdf on how to plan your business in 2013?!" Yeah, I know. I'm getting better at nixing the fluff, but sometimes I need a big nudge to get me there.
Let's be honest - if you had to go through every folder and single-handedly check the files to see if you need to keep it, you'd NEVER clean your hard drive. That's just way too tedious and frankly....boring. The Large and Old Files function of CleanMyMac "finds the heaviest files on your Mac and groups them by kind, size, and access date. So, instead of looking through every folder, you only need to check a list of properly arranged files."
Afraid to get rid of something you shouldn't? No worries - CleanMyMac doesn't make suggestions on what to get rid of in this module. It's ALL up to you. Once you've decided what to toss, though, CleanMyMac makes it easy to remove.
5. FREE UP RAM WITH ONE CLICK USING THE CLEANMYMAC MENU
Remember how I talked about my Photoshop image files taking FOREVER to save? Yeah, total editing buzzkill. If you're like me, then you probably have a TON of programs open at one time, bouncing between tasks and programs to manage the day-to-day craziness of entrepreneurship. The problem with that is running multiple programs at once eats up RAM fast, which in turn causes your computer to drag. The CleanMyMac Menu conveniently hangs out in the taskbar at the top right of your screen, so it's easy to access when you start feeling the dreaded lag or see the spinning rainbow circle of death. ;)
***HOT TIP: If you use Chrome, it's a RAM hog. So, if you're editing photos or using other programs that also use a ton of RAM, you're probably better off closing out Chrome while you use those apps
When you click the icon in the taskbar, the menu below drops down and allows you to see what's going on. Need to free up that RAM? Click on the "Free Up" button in the Memory section of the dropdown menu. You can ALSO quickly empty your Trash from the menu, as well as test out your network speed!
.
So now that you know what this awesome program can do, what's it cost, right? You can purchase a 1-year subscription (regularly $39.95 for 1 Mac, but you can get $5.00 off using this link) OR a one-time purchase ($89.95 for 1 Mac computer). The more computers you purchase licenses for, the more of a discount you'll get. Personally, I recommend the one-time purchase because trust me, you'll be using this program for years to come, and upgrades for existing users are always discounted. Plus, they have a 30-day money-back guarantee!
Do you already have a different Mac cleaning app or antivirus software? MacPaw will give you 40% off a license! Click this link and scroll all the way to the bottom for details.
Own a PC but still want to get in on the goodness that MacPaw has to offer? THEY MAKE A VERSION FOR PCs!!! I know, right?!
So what are you waiting for? We're in the midst of a global quarantine, and I KNOW you've had digital organization on your list of to do's for some time. Plus, we need to make sure we're keeping all of our Apple products in tip-top condition for all those Zoom meetings, huh?
Got questions? Let me know in the comments below or shoot me an email! Tried CleanMyMac? What do YOU think about it? I'd love to hear!
***DISCLAIMER: The links in this blog are affiliate links, so I do receive a commission for every purchase made through my link. That said, I'm VERY particular about any products I review or recommend, even when I am NOT receiving a commission. So, if I have agreed to recommend a product AND am willing to accept a commission, it had better be a DAMN good product. And this, my friends, is a DAMN GOOD PRODUCT!***