[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":38},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-en-safety":3},{"meta":4,"html":10,"headings":11,"raw":37},{"title":5,"description":6,"icon":7,"order":8,"updated":9},"Safe Cleanup and Privacy","How WashBear scans on your Mac, which permissions it asks for, how deletion is confirmed, and what information ever leaves your Mac.","shield-check",14,"2026-10-28","\u003Cp>WashBear scans first and shows you the results; you decide what to delete. A scan never deletes or changes anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"local-scanning\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#local-scanning\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>Scanning stays on your Mac\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"permissions\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#permissions\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>Permissions and why they are needed\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Full Disk Access\u003C\u002Fstrong>: 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 \u003Cstrong>Settings → Scanning & analysis → Full Disk Access\u003C\u002Fstrong> and click \u003Cstrong>System Settings\u003C\u002Fstrong> 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.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Folder access\u003C\u002Fstrong>: when scanning certain locations, macOS may ask whether to allow access. Choose whatever you prefer; the scan continues after you respond.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"admin-password\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#admin-password\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>Administrator password\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"confirm-before-delete\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#confirm-before-delete\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>Confirmation before deletion\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Labels such as \u003Cstrong>Low risk\u003C\u002Fstrong> and \u003Cstrong>May contain user data\u003C\u002Fstrong> 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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"permanent-vs-recoverable\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#permanent-vs-recoverable\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>What can be undone\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Deleted permanently\u003C\u002Fstrong>: 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.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Reversible\u003C\u002Fstrong>: startup items you turned off can be turned on again. System Optimization settings can be switched back, or reverted with \u003Cstrong>Restore Previous Settings\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Cannot be undone\u003C\u002Fstrong>: deleted startup configuration files and System Maintenance tasks that have already run.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"history\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#history\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>Operation history\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Operation History\u003C\u002Fstrong> 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. \u003Cstrong>Clear History\u003C\u002Fstrong> deletes only the records, never your files.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"what-leaves\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#what-leaves\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>What leaves your Mac\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Data is sent only in these cases:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Feedback\u003C\u002Fstrong>: 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.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Update checks\u003C\u002Fstrong>: WashBear checks for updates periodically, sending the current version, macOS version, language settings and installation ID.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Phone remote access\u003C\u002Fstrong>: 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 \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fdocs\u002Fremote#security\">Phone Remote Access\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>AI explanations\u003C\u002Fstrong>: after you set up a custom service, clicking AI explanation sends information about that item directly to the provider you chose. See \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fdocs\u002Fai#data-sent\">AI Explanations\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>For the full details, see the \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fprivacy\">Privacy Policy\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"before-you-clean\">\u003Ca class=\"heading-anchor\" href=\"#before-you-clean\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">#\u003C\u002Fa>Before you clean\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Col>\n\u003Cli>Save your work and close the apps WashBear lists.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Check names, locations, sizes and labels.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Back up documents, photos, projects and important settings.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Fol>\n\u003Cp>If you are unsure about an item, leave it unselected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",[12,16,19,22,25,28,31,34],{"depth":13,"id":14,"text":15},2,"local-scanning","Scanning stays on your Mac",{"depth":13,"id":17,"text":18},"permissions","Permissions and why they are needed",{"depth":13,"id":20,"text":21},"admin-password","Administrator password",{"depth":13,"id":23,"text":24},"confirm-before-delete","Confirmation before deletion",{"depth":13,"id":26,"text":27},"permanent-vs-recoverable","What can be undone",{"depth":13,"id":29,"text":30},"history","Operation history",{"depth":13,"id":32,"text":33},"what-leaves","What leaves your Mac",{"depth":13,"id":35,"text":36},"before-you-clean","Before you clean","\nWashBear scans first and shows you the results; you decide what to delete. A scan never deletes or changes anything.\n\n## Scanning stays on your Mac {#local-scanning}\n\nFile 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.\n\n## Permissions and why they are needed {#permissions}\n\n- **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.\n- **Folder access**: when scanning certain locations, macOS may ask whether to allow access. Choose whatever you prefer; the scan continues after you respond.\n\n## Administrator password {#admin-password}\n\nOnly 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.\n\n## Confirmation before deletion {#confirm-before-delete}\n\nScan 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.\n\nLabels 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.\n\n## What can be undone {#permanent-vs-recoverable}\n\n- **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.\n- **Reversible**: startup items you turned off can be turned on again. System Optimization settings can be switched back, or reverted with **Restore Previous Settings**.\n- **Cannot be undone**: deleted startup configuration files and System Maintenance tasks that have already run.\n\n## Operation history {#history}\n\n**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.\n\n## What leaves your Mac {#what-leaves}\n\nData is sent only in these cases:\n\n- **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.\n- **Update checks**: WashBear checks for updates periodically, sending the current version, macOS version, language settings and installation ID.\n- **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](\u002Fdocs\u002Fremote#security).\n- **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](\u002Fdocs\u002Fai#data-sent).\n\nFor the full details, see the [Privacy Policy](\u002Fprivacy).\n\n## Before you clean {#before-you-clean}\n\n1. Save your work and close the apps WashBear lists.\n2. Check names, locations, sizes and labels.\n3. Back up documents, photos, projects and important settings.\n\nIf you are unsure about an item, leave it unselected.\n",1793258439560]