Safe Cleanup and Privacy

WashBear scans first and shows you the results; you decide what to delete. A scan never deletes or changes anything.

#Scanning stays on your Mac

File names, paths, file contents and scan results are processed on your Mac and are not uploaded to analyze your disk. Operation history, settings and logs are stored locally too.

#Permissions and why they are needed

• Full Disk Access: optional. With it, WashBear can read app and system data that macOS protects, so Deep Cleanup, Privacy Cleanup and Startup Items return more complete results. Check its status under Settings → Scanning & analysis → Full Disk Access and click System Settings to turn it on. Without it, protected locations are skipped and everything else is scanned as usual. You can revoke it in System Settings at any time.
• Folder access: when scanning certain locations, macOS may ask whether to allow access. Choose whatever you prefer; the scan continues after you respond.

#Administrator password

Only a few operations that touch system-level locations need administrator rights, such as changing startup items that apply to all users, uninstalling some apps and running some System Maintenance tasks. macOS then shows its standard authorization window, and the password is verified by the system; WashBear never handles it. If you cancel, the operation does not run. WashBear does not install a privileged helper that keeps running in the background.

#Confirmation before deletion

Scan results are never deleted automatically. Before any cleanup, deletion or uninstall, WashBear shows a confirmation listing the selected items and their size. It checks again while running: content that changed or is in use is skipped, and apps that must close are listed beforehand, so save your work first.

Labels such as Low risk and May contain user data help you narrow your review, but they don't replace it. If you don't recognize an item, open its location to see which app or project created it.

#What can be undone

• Deleted permanently: content removed by Deep Cleanup, Large File Cleanup, Duplicate Cleanup, Disk Space Analysis, App Uninstaller and Privacy Cleanup does not go to the Trash and cannot be recovered. Apps may need to download or rebuild deleted caches, and Privacy Cleanup can sign you out of some accounts.
• Reversible: startup items you turned off can be turned on again. System Optimization settings can be switched back, or reverted with Restore Previous Settings.
• Cannot be undone: deleted startup configuration files and System Maintenance tasks that have already run.

#Operation history

Operation History records the items and results of cleanup, uninstall, startup item and System Optimization operations. It is stored only on this Mac and keeps the latest 100 records. Direct deletions in Disk Space Analysis, System Maintenance tasks and phone remote actions are not recorded. Clear History deletes only the records, never your files.

#What leaves your Mac

Data is sent only in these cases:

• Feedback: when you submit it, WashBear sends what you wrote, an optional email address, attachments and diagnostic logs, plus the app version, macOS version, language and installation ID.
• Update checks: WashBear checks for updates periodically, sending the current version, macOS version, language settings and installation ID.
• Phone remote access: the relay is contacted only after you turn it on. Dashboard data and commands are end-to-end encrypted, and the relay only handles connection information. See Phone Remote Access.
• AI explanations: after you set up a custom service, clicking AI explanation sends information about that item directly to the provider you chose. See AI Explanations.

For the full details, see the Privacy Policy.

#Before you clean

1. Save your work and close the apps WashBear lists.
2. Check names, locations, sizes and labels.
3. Back up documents, photos, projects and important settings.

If you are unsure about an item, leave it unselected.