how to completely clean a Mac. I know there are tools like disk defragmentation or disk cleanup or even check disk for windows but Im wondering if Mac has that stuff or a different way to clean and optimize Mac. It's first time ever with a Mac.
MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
macOS has all needed tools built in, mostly working in the background. No 3rd party products needed, which can do more harm than being useful.
Check this User tip about it:
Effective defenses against malware and ot… - Apple Community
eddievalentin007 wrote:
I know there are tools like disk defragmentation...
Specifically regarding defragmentation, that is applicable to spinning hard disk drives (HDDs) but is not needed with the solid state drives (SSDs) used in modern computers. In fact, Apple's currently-used drive format (APFS) intentionally fragments files to save space. For example, say you have a 10 GB video file, make two copies of it and add another 1 GB of footage to one of those two copies...on an old HDD, you'd need 31 GB of space for those three videos but with APFS you only need 11 GB because macOS will keep only one copy of all data blocks and will store new data separately, then simply keep track of where each block for the files is stored.
A big percentage of Mac problems we see here are due to useless aftermarket utilities that claim to do what your Mac already does for itself. One so-called "cleaning" app had the nasty habit of failing to recognize critical macOS system files and deleting them. Talk about troubles!
Unless you love to compute like its 1990 all over again, stay away from these scammy products.
Even Windows users seldom need all the bottom dredgings thrown at them.
Just to add to the already good advise
There are 4 Categories of Third Party Software / Services that are not needed at all on Apple Computers
1 - Third Party 2 Way Firewalls
2 - Commercial VPNs
3 - Third Party Security Software
4 - Third Party Disk Cleaners / Optimizer
To expand on point 4 above
Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS, is an invitation for disaster.
Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store
This only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a percentage on each sale.
What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase
To put the Third Party Disk Cleaner / Optimizer in context and the damages it may have or has already done.
This type of applications can or will Muck Up your User Account ( Home Folder ) of this machine.
It does not touch the Operating System itself unless you consider your User Account ( Home Folder ) as part of the Operating System.
The macOS operating system resides in a sealed and read-only volume that can’t be opened by users or third-party applications.
How to fully clean and optimize m1 MacBook Air?
