AI Explanations

Not sure whether a cache can be cleared or a startup item can be turned off? AI explanation tells you what an item is and what an action could affect. It only explains; it never deletes files or changes settings for you.

#Where to use it

AI explanations are available in Deep Cleanup, Privacy Cleanup, Large File Cleanup, Duplicate Cleanup, App Uninstaller, Startup Items, System Optimization and System Maintenance. Hover over an item and click AI explanation; the answer appears in a panel as it is generated. You can Stop generating, Minimize the panel to read later, or copy the answer. Custom rules in Deep Cleanup are not supported yet.

When an explanation finishes, you can ask a follow-up at the bottom of the panel: pick a suggested question such as "What is it actually used for?" or "What happens if I delete it?", or type your own and press Return to send (Shift+Return adds a line). You can ask up to eight follow-up questions per item, and reopening the same item keeps the conversation.

#Set up a custom service

This version does not include a built-in free AI service, and the settings show This version supports custom services only. Connect your own model service instead:

1. Open Settings → Scanning & analysis → AI explanations and click Configure…, or click Configure in the AI explanation panel.
2. Choose Custom service and fill in three fields:
   • Base URL: your provider's API root, without the trailing /chat/completions. For example, if the full endpoint is https://api.example.com/v1/chat/completions, enter https://api.example.com/v1;
   • Model name: the model ID from your provider, which may differ from the name shown on its website;
   • API Key: a key created in your provider's console.
3. Click Save and test to check the connection. The test sends one short request and may incur a small charge. To store the settings without testing, click Save.

Any service with an OpenAI-compatible Chat Completions API that supports streaming works, including compatible endpoints from model providers and API gateways. Pricing and usage limits are set by your provider.

#Advanced settings

The defaults usually work. Set Reasoning mode to Disable reasoning (compatible providers) to reduce waiting, and switch back to Provider default if your provider returns an error. Leave Temperature and Max Tokens empty to use the provider's defaults; a low Max Tokens value can cut answers short. If your provider requires extra headers, add up to 8 under Custom request headers.

#Use a local model

A model service running on your Mac works if it offers an OpenAI-compatible API, with a Base URL such as http://127.0.0.1:PORT/v1. For localhost or 127.0.0.1 you can leave API Key empty. A service on another computer on your network needs an API Key; if it doesn't check keys, any value works. HTTP connections are not encrypted, so use HTTPS for remote services.

#What is sent

Only when you click AI explanation does WashBear send information about that item, directly from your Mac to the service you configured, without passing through our servers:

• the item's name, description, type and current status, and your interface language;
• relevant full paths, such as file locations, startup configurations and program paths, which may include your macOS user name;
• extra details depending on the feature, such as file size and modification time, a startup item's publisher, version and signature status, an app's identifier, signing details, copyright notice and the reasons it gives when asking for permissions, or the apps that must close before cleanup;
• for follow-up questions, the earlier answers and questions about that item.

File contents are never sent. Requests also carry your API Key, any custom headers, and basic details such as the app and macOS versions. How the provider handles this data is governed by its own terms and privacy policy. Your API Key is stored only on this Mac; click Delete configuration to remove it.

#AI explains, you decide

AI cannot delete files, change settings or run commands; every cleanup and change still needs your confirmation. Answers can be wrong, which is why the panel notes AI is for reference only. Before handling important data, check its location and make a backup.

#Turn AI off

Turn off the switch in Settings → Scanning & analysis → AI explanations to hide AI explanations on every page. Your saved configuration is kept, so you can turn it back on at any time.

#Troubleshooting

• Authentication failed: check that the API Key is complete and valid, and comes from the same provider as the Base URL.
• Model or endpoint not found: check the Base URL and model name.
• Insufficient balance or rate limit reached: check your balance and limits in the provider's console.
• The provider rejected the request: set Reasoning mode back to Provider default.
• Answers cut short: raise or clear Max Tokens. After you stop generating, the provider may still charge for the request.