If Tim Cook put Apple users ahead of his Elon Musk grudge, Apple users would have superior satellite connectivity and better AI today Amazon’s $11.6 billion takeover of Globalstar is poised to benefit one of its biggest hardware rivals: Apple…
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
3 ways to give your old iPhone a performance boost If your older iPhone runs more slowly than it used to, there are straightforward fixes. You can speed up your iPhone with some simple steps.
(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
iPad Air with OLED now expected to have an early 2027 launch The long-discussed iPad Air will make its move to OLED in early 2027, with display panel mass production expected to start at the end of 2026.Apple's iPad Air with M4, without OLEDApple started to embrace OLED as a display technology with the iPad Pro, following after the smaller-scale display in the Apple Watch. However, while there has been some debate over when other models will get the same treatment, a report insists that it will be happening as soon as 2027 for one model.Multiple industry sources claim Samsung Display will start mass production of OLED panels for the iPad Air around the end of 2026, claims Wednesday's report from ETNews. This will be before the end of the year, with a chance it could slip into January 2027. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Adobe’s new Firefly AI Assistant will handle multi-step tasks across Creative Cloud apps Available in public beta soon, Adobe Firefly AI Assistant will take a user’s prompt and then orchestrate multi-step workflows across multiple Creative Cloud apps. Here are the details.
more…
Netgear can now sell new wireless routers in the US but nobody knows why Last month saw a surprise ban on almost every new wireless router intended for use in US homes. The FCC ruling described all foreign-made routers as a national security risk.
The FCC offered a pathway to approval, and today Netgear has received that – but nobody knows why. Not even Netgear itself was able to offer an explanation …
more…
OLED iPad Air reportedly set for launch early next year As Apple continues its gradual replacement of IPS LCD screens with OLED, it’s been unclear exactly when the iPad Air would join the party. Early reports suggested it might happen this year, while subsequent ones pointed to 2027 or later.
A new supply chain report says that production plans are now in place and we can expect to see the shiny new model launched in the spring of next year, potentially as early as March …
more…
iPad Air’s OLED display won’t match iPad Pro Samsung Display will purportedly begin mass production of OLED panels for the next iPad Air in early 2027.
(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
Apple Developer Program stuck on “Pending” after payment + agreement signed (3+ days) HELP. I enrolled in the Apple Developer Program and completed payment on April 12. Since then: Payment confirmed Invoice received Apple Developer Agreement signed But my account still shows “Pending” and I can’t access App Store Connect or deploy anything. It’s now April 15 (more than 2 business days), and nothing has changed. Has anyone […]
Hackers Are Using Emojis to Hide in Plain Sight Threat actors are using emojis as a form of visual shorthand to signal intent, evade detection, and coordinate activity across digital communications. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.
36M Xfinity customers had their data exposed – here’s how to claim your payout Back in 2023, hackers accessed the personal data of 36 million Xfinity customers. Comcast said at the time that the data exposed included names, contact details, and dates of birth. A class action lawsuit followed, and a $117.5 million settlement has now been reached …
more…
Freecash app scammed users and the App Store for months before removal An app called Freecash promised to pay users for scrolling through TikTok, and got by App Store review despite really tricking them to play paid games while also harvesting sensitive personal data to sell.Every new app goes though a review process, but Freecash got throughAt least the fake Ledger Live had a believable name, albeit copied from a genuine cryptocurrency app. In comparison, "Freecash" went all-in on the money-for-nothing idea that should have warned users that there was a problem.According to Malwarebytes, it did anything but. Until it was removed, Freecash reached the top five chart on the App Store in January 2026 and stayed there almost every day afterwards. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Report: iPad Air to Gain OLED Display Next Year Apple will bring OLED displays to its iPad Air models next year, according to a new report from Korea's ET News.
Citing industry sources, the outlet says Samsung Display will begin mass production of OLED panels around the end of 2026 or January next year, with a view to supplying panels for Apple's next iPad Air, expected to be released in early 2027. Apple last updated the iPad Air in March 2026 with an M4 chip.
Apple's iPad Pro models already have OLED displays, but the iPad Air models still use more affordable LCD displays that Apple calls Liquid Retina. The Liquid Retina displays do not support 120Hz ProMotion display technology, and are limited to 60Hz refresh rates.
OLED panels individually control each pixel, resulting in more precise color reproduction and deeper blacks compared to LCD. They also provide superior contrast, faster response times, better viewing angles, and greater design flexibility.
That said, unlike Apple's iPad Pro models, which feature two-stack low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) OLED panels, the iPad Air is expected to use single-stack low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) panels, meaning that they may be dimmer and continue to lack ProMotion.
Apple's plan to transition the iPad mini from an LCD to an OLED display is already widely rumored, with reports suggesting the iPad mini 8 will adopt OLED later this year, albeit using the same cheaper single-stack LTPS panel.
Once the iPad mini and iPad Air receive the display upgrade, the entry-level iPad will be the only model in Apple's tablet lineup without an OLED panel.Related Roundup: iPad Air Tags: ETNews, OLEDBuyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now)Related Forum: iPadThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
GoToMyPC – Emergency Maintenance THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Apr 16, 05:30 - 08:00 UTCApr 15, 11:10 UTCScheduled - As part of our commitment to provide exceptional service and reliability to our customers, GoToMyPC team will be conducting service maintenance on the following date and time listed below. Our team will be taking all appropriate actions to minimize service interruptions during this event.Date and Time: April 16th, 2026, 5:30 AM UTC to 8:00 AM UTC Purpose: This maintenance is to ensure and maintain system performance and stability.Duration: All maintenance will be performed within the 2-hour 30-minute maintenance window.What to expect: During the Maintenance, GoToMyPC customers may expect 5 minutes of downtime.We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.
Shipment For Apple Mac Increases Shipment for Macs at Apple increased by 9% in the first quarter of this year. The growth has beaten the general PC market in pace with their 2.5% growth due to the M5 MacBook Pro and the revamped MacBook Air. Apple was 4th in global PC vendors, with shipping of Macs reaching up to 6.2 […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is better than the iPhone. Here’s why it still can’t win Macworld
For years, premium smartphone makers have been trying to compete with Apple’s iPhone dominance with better cameras, larger screens, and exclusive features. Few have done more than the iPhone’s main rival, Samsung, which consistently makes flagship phones that have better specs and bigger batteries than Apple’s latest lineup.
Case in point: The Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone. The S26 Ultra isn’t exactly a major upgrade over last year’s model, but it still has enough interesting new features to entice buyers, upgraders, and switchers. But like most iPhone generations, it’s still not enough to beat the iPhone.
A genuinely great Android flagship
I’m not going to waste your time with a full S26 Ultra review. You can read that elsewhere if you want. All you need to know is that the S26 Ultra is absolutely a flagship smartphone. If you’re into Android, it’s probably the best you can get on the market today.
The S26 Ultra has a massive 6.9-inch display, just like the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Samsung’s flagship feels just as premium as an iPhone, since both are made of glass and aluminum. However, the Galaxy is much lighter and thinner, which is something I really like.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is every bit as good as an iPhone.Foundry
The notion that Android smartphones are too slow is also a thing of the past, at least when it comes to flagship models. The S26 Ultra is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip with 12GB of RAM. Benchmark tests show that this chip is quite comparable to Apple’s A19 Pro.
While benchmark tests don’t necessarily reflect real-world performance, my experience with the S26 Ultra has been quite good. Everything feels smooth, and I’ve yet to see this phone slow down, whether I’m editing RAW photos or playing games.
Privacy Display: Apple magic on Android
All of that may be impressive, but we’re not talking about anything truly new. However, Samsung had a trick up its sleeve for the S26 Ultra that you won’t find on any iPhone.
The S26 Ultra introduces a new display technology that takes away the need to apply a privacy screen protector, making it harder for people next to you to see what’s on the screen.
If you can believe it, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s screen is on in this pic. You just can’t see it from this angle.Foundry
Essentially, the technology works at the hardware level. The display has both narrow-angle and wide-angle pixels to show the full image. When Privacy Display is turned on, the wide-angle pixels are turned off, and only the narrow-angle pixels are used, which focuses the light in a straight line.
The result is that you have to look directly at the screen to see the content, while people next to you will see a much darker screen.
Some may question the usefulness of this feature, since there are cheap screen protectors that offer similar functionality. But Privacy Display is superior for a number of reasons. For one, most people won’t bother to use one. And the people who do are stuck with a permanent film on their display, with no way to turn it on and off as needed.
With Privacy Display on the S26 Ultra, you can do exactly that. For example, I can set Privacy Display to turn on automatically when I open a specific app, such as my banking app or 1Password, and can even be set to hide only specific parts of the screen, such as notification banners.
Samsung’s Privacy Display hides your screen from prying eyes while the iPhone lets anyone see it.Foundry
Yes, the feature does come with some trade-offs. You’ll definitely notice the lower resolution when Privacy Display is turned on. But it’s something I’m totally okay with in exchange for better privacy in certain situations. And when the feature isn’t in use, I can still benefit from the full resolution and brightness the display has to offer.
I’ve gotten so used to turning on Privacy Display when I’m at the gym or on the bus that I immediately miss it when I go back to using my iPhone. It’s the kind of feature I’ve come to expect from Apple, but it’s only on the S26.
Mind-blowing battery life
Another aspect of the S26 Ultra that really caught my attention is its battery life. Samsung’s smartphone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery. That’s pretty much the same battery capacity as the iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, there’s a huge difference between the two.
In my tests, the S26 Ultra lasts significantly longer than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. In one of the tests, I unplugged both phones at the same time (around noon) and tried using them with the same apps and wireless networks. By around 10 p.m., my iPhone had 43 percent battery remaining, while the Galaxy had 69 percent. That’s a big gap.
Here, I believe Apple could be doing a better job of optimizing iOS for lower power consumption, which has been a point of criticism since the introduction of iOS 26 and its Liquid Glass interface, which requires significantly more hardware resources to render all the effects.
More and better cameras
When it comes to cameras, the S26 Ultra doesn’t disappoint either, with four rear lenses compared to the iPhone 17 Pro’s three. The main camera boasts an incredible 200 megapixels, while the phone also features a 50MP 5x zoom lens and a 50MP ultra-wide lens. I also appreciate that Samsung has kept a 10MP 3x zoom lens as well.
Both the Galaxy S26 Ultra, left, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max did an admirable job with capturing the color and clarity of this flower.
I could spend a lot of time writing about the technical details of the cameras, but here’s the thing. They’re really good, especially for photos. Most of the pictures I’ve taken look just as good or even better than the ones from my iPhone, especially when it comes to zoom range.
Samsung’s image post-processing seems less aggressive than Apple’s, which tends to make images overly sharp in certain lighting conditions.
When it comes to videos, I still prefer the iPhone, but Samsung has done a great job with its Horizontal Lock feature, which keeps the video steady and at the same angle even if you turn the phone upside down. It’s pretty impressive and useful for action videos.
You can clearly see how much more detailed Samsung’s zoom camera (left) is compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The stylus is a nice convenience
Finally, there’s the S Pen, the stylus that comes included with the S26 Ultra. This has been a key feature of Samsung’s flagship smartphones for a few years now, and while I think the S Pen is a gimmick, it’s a nice one.
I don’t really miss having a stylus to use with my iPhone, but having one on the S26 Ultra is certainly useful every now and then to write quick notes instead of typing on the on-screen keyboard. It feels like I’m writing in a small notepad.
You can store the S Pen inside the phone itself when it’s not in use, which is quite convenient. I know Steve Jobs famously disapproved of a stylus, but a tiny Apple Pencil on board Apple’s biggest phone wouldn’t be a terrible thing.
I wouldn’t mind a tiny Apple Pencil on board my iPhone 17 Pro Max, but it’s not necessary.Foundry
It’s tempting, but I’m not leaving the iPhone
Okay, I’ve said a lot of good things about the Galaxy S26 Ultra. So why don’t I switch from the iPhone? While Apple and Google have made switching from iOS to Android (and vice versa) easier than ever, it’s still a difficult proposition. But even if I could snap my fingers and replace my iPhone with an S26, I still wouldn’t.
Apple has a robust ecosystem of products and services today. Along with my iPhone, I also have an Apple Watch, AirPods, a Mac, an Apple TV, and the list goes on. Plus, I subscribe to Apple One, and my entire life is on iCloud, not to mention my purchases from the App Store. I trust that’s the case for millions of iPhone users.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra, right, is every bit as premium as an iPhone 17 Pro Max.Foundry
But more than the devices and apps, Apple’s ecosystem makes everything just work. I can shoot videos on my iPhone, and they immediately show up on my Mac. Then I can edit them on my computer and send them back to my iPhone with just a click using AirDrop. There are many features that have become essential to my workflow, such as iPhone Mirroring, Handoff, and Universal Copy and Paste. Some of these are available in Galaxy land, but none of them work as seamlessly as they do on the iPhone.
But even if I just owned an iPhone, it would still be hard to leave Apple’s garden. Using both phones helped me appreciate how iOS apps look more polished than their Android counterparts, even after all these years. On top of that, iOS has a lot of great, exclusive apps that I love, such as Halide and Flighty. I really miss those apps when I’m using the S26 Ultra. It’s safe to say that developers put more effort into developing apps for iOS.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is an excellent smartphone, with some specs that even outshine the iPhone. But the Apple experience and integrated ecosystem can’t be beat, and that means much more than some fancy pixels.
Developer Integrates Mac OS X Cheetah for the Nintendo Wii A curious developer named Bryan Keller dove into the idea of whether an older version of the operating system for the Mac was capable of being run on a Nintendo Wii. This comes after a gaming device got a ported Windows NT. The developer gave it a try, and he was able to integrate Mac […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
New Subscription Added by OpenAI A new subscription tier has been added by OpenAI to support Codex use. OpenAI has a coding agent built into ChatGPT named Codex, rivaling Claude Code Anthropic. The subscription is priced at $100, giving the user more usage for Codex compared to other subscriptions. The company also states that it is optimal for high-effort and […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
The AirPods Max 2 is $19 Off The new AirPods Max places sound all around you with personalized spatial audio and dynamic head tracking made for your special ear shape to give you an immersive listening experience. The design features a knit-mesh canopy, custom textile ear cushions with memory foam for comfortable wear. Block out 1.5x more noise with better Active Noise […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
Dynamic Island Design Undecided Apple is reportedly choosing two options for this year’s iPhone 18 Pro models with Dynamic Island; they are rumored to be undecided on the matter. A report made rounds that suggests that the iPhone 18 Pro would have a smaller Dynamic Island compared to last year’s model. Other leakers say that the rear design of […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
Three Apple Stores In The United States To Close Permanently in a Few Months In an announcement today, Apple will be closing three Apple Stores in the United States for good in June. The stores are going to be the Apple Towson Town Center in Maryland, Towson, Apple North Country in California, Escondido, and Apple Trumbull in Connecticut. The stores mentioned are found in shopping malls that are struggling […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
Parts For Products Announced Last Month Now Available Apple is now selling parts for the 7 new devices that they have announced during March via the Apple self-service repair program. The program enables customers to get their hands on real manuals, parts, and tools to DIY repair their device. The 7 devices are the iPad Air with M4 chip, Studio Display XDR, the […]
The post appeared first on iLounge.
Smartphone market down and worsening, but Apple’s tactic pays off – IDC The global smartphone market fell more than 4% year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, ending 2.5 years of consecutive growth, according to a new market intelligence report.
Things are expected to get even worse as the memory shortage bites even harder, but the tactic adopted by Apple is paying off …
more…
Apple Watch hit by major bugs after watchOS 8.8.2 update Macworld
Around three weeks ago, Apple released watchOS 26.4 alongside iOS 26.4 and macOS 26.4. At the same time, the company quietly released updates for watchOS 5 and watchOS 8, two older versions of the Apple Watch’s operating system. These renewed security certificates and enabled iMessage and FaceTime to carry on working.
Unfortunately, users are now reporting across various channels that the watchOS 8.8.2 update is causing problems with their Apple Watches. The most common issue appears to be an inability to install apps. Even Apple’s own apps, such as Maps and Weather, are not immune.
Other users report random crashing and pairing errors. One affected Apple Watch shut down despite being almost fully charged; after a forced restart, it showed a battery level of 80%. A common tip for problems with the Apple Watch is to unpair it from the companion iPhone and then pair them again, but even during this step, affected users report that the connection sometimes fails.
So far, there appears to be no permanent solution to either the crashes or the app installation problem. Several commenters on Reddit and Apple Community say they’ve already contacted Apple Support, but this hasn’t yet led to a fix, or even an explanation of what’s going on. To make matters worse, there is no easy way to revert to the previous version of watchOS. And while watchOS 8 might sound like an ancient OS, it’s compatible with some Apple Watch models which remain popular, such as the Series 6 and SE.
If you’ve been affected by the issues with watchOS 8.8.2, please get in touch with us using the form below. The more user feedback Apple receives, the more likely it is that the developers in Cupertino will investigate the issue and (potentially) find a fix.
Submit a form.
Anthropic Rebuilds Claude Code Desktop App Around Parallel Sessions Anthropic has released a redesigned Claude Code experience for its Claude desktop app, bringing in a new sidebar for managing multiple sessions, a drag-and-drop layout for arranging the workspace, and more.
The new sidebar displays every active and recent session in one place, and users can filter by status, project, or environment, with the option to group sessions by project. A new side chat shortcut (Command + 😉 also lets users branch a question off a running task without feeding extra context back into the main thread.
Anthropic has also dropped more of the developer workflow into the app itself. There's now an integrated terminal for running tests and builds, an in-app file editor for spot edits, a rebuilt diff viewer aimed at large changesets, and an expanded preview pane that handles HTML files and PDFs alongside local app servers. Each pane is also drag-and-drop friendly, so the layout can be arranged to suit.
In addition, the desktop app now matches Claude Code's CLI for plugin support, while SSH sessions are supported on Mac as well as Linux. Lastly, there are three view modes (Verbose, Normal, and Summary) that let users decide how much of Claude's tool-call activity they want to see.
The Claude desktop app update is rolling out now to Claude Code users on Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans.
In related news, Anthropic also announced Routines – a new way to set up Claude Code automations that run without an active session. A routine bundles a prompt, a repo, and any relevant connectors into a single configuration that can run on a schedule, fire from an API call, or trigger off a GitHub event such as a new pull request.
Routines run on Claude Code's web infrastructure rather than a local machine, but Anthropic has put in place daily run caps that scale by plan. Routines are available in research preview to Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise users with Claude Code on the web enabled. For further details, check out Anthropic's blog post.Tag: AnthropicThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
The iPhone 4 and the scandals that rocked Apple Macworld
Quick–what’s the most important iPhone ever? Was it the original iPhone that started it all? The iPhone 6 Plus that offered larger sizes for the first time? The iPhone X that redefined the phone for a new decade?
There’s a strong argument to be made that the iPhone 4 is bigger than them all. It debuted in spectacular and infamous fashion, generated one of Apple’s most remarkable controversies, and also ended up being one of the most influential iPhones in terms of design.
Most important? Well, maybe. But there’s no doubt that the iPhone 4 is the most interesting iPhone ever.
Found in a bar
The iPhone 4 story starts with a bang exactly 16 years ago, as an Apple engineer accidentally left one in a German restaurant in Redwood City, California, where it was found by someone who sold it to the tech blog Gizmodo.
It was less than two months before the new iPhone’s debut, which was scheduled for Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference in June. Gizmodo thoroughly documented every aspect of the device, spoiling what had traditionally been one of Steve Jobs’s greatest marketing tricks, the dramatic new-product reveal.
It seems obvious now, but back in the day, the idea that a new product announcement could be theater was revolutionary. Technology product announcements were boring litanies of specs. Industry standard practice was to sow fear, uncertainty, and doubt by pre-announcing products long before they even existed. Jobs kept Apple’s stuff in a black box, under a dropcloth, to reveal when the time was right, like a magician. It made it feel like you were watching technology being invented in real-time. It was a brilliant bit of showmanship.
The Gizmodo leak blew all of that up. There were police raids and criminal investigations, most of which went nowhere. But Apple lost its ability to publicize the iPhone 4–we all knew about it, in detail, way in advance.
You’re holding it wrong
Another milestone in the weird life of the iPhone 4 happened soon after the device was announced. All of a sudden, media reports began emerging that you could drop the phone’s cellular connection to no bars and end phone calls by placing your fingers on exactly the right spot on the device’s outside.
Tim Cook and Steve Jobs do not want to be here.
Jason Snell
Antennagate wasn’t the first iPhone “gate,” but it might have been the biggest one. The storm of attention got so strong that Steve Jobs had to cut a family vacation short and fly back to Cupertino for a hastily-called press conference. After playing a viral music video by Jonathan Mann, Apple’s CEO appeared on stage and sure didn’t seem happy to be there.
Jobs pointed out that lots of phones had places on them where, if you touched just the right spot, you could lose signal. He also admitted that Apple’s algorithm that displayed “cellular bars” was not really accurate and was misrepresenting weaker signals as stronger. He also seemed frustrated that a seemingly tiny number of user complaints were overshadowing the fact that more than 99 percent of iPhone 4 buyers seemed perfectly happy with their devices. But, admitting that a “bumper” case around the phone’s metal edges tended to mitigate the problem, Jobs offered a free bumper case to every iPhone 4 buyer.
Jobs also famously gave every iPhone 4 user a little advice, if they found themselves holding the device in a way that reduced the cellular signal: “Just don’t hold it that way then.”
There’s also a less-well-known scandal involving the iPhone 4, which Jobs referenced in the “Antennagate” press conference by apologizing for the fact that the white version of the iPhone 4 was late, but would be out later in July. That’s right–Apple sold the iPhone 4 in two colors, black and white, but the white one didn’t ship. Not in June, not in July, and not even in 2010. Apple’s white whale, er, iPhone didn’t ship until April 2011, a full 10 months after it was announced. Can you imagine?
Steve Jobs offered iPhone 4 buyers a full refund if they held it wrong.
Jason Snell
Does it look familiar?
But enough about the bad. Thanks to 16 years of hindsight, it’s also important to point out all the things about the iPhone 4 that make it a notable phone–in a good way.
The iPhone 4 was the first model to break AT&T’s exclusivity deal in the United States. For the first 3 and 1/2 years of the iPhone’s existence, AT&T was Apple’s exclusive wireless partner. Then, in early 2011, Apple announced a special Verizon-only version of the iPhone4 that brought the phone to America’s biggest carrier. It was a huge step for both Verizon and Apple, bringing the iPhone to a huge new set of customers who just weren’t willing to switch carriers to get the phone they wanted.
Perhaps most important, though, is the design of the iPhone 4. After the rounded original iPhone and the curvy plastic of the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4 was a real statement: Flat sides all around, clad in a band of silvery aluminum, with a flat front and back. The iPhone 4’s design persisted through the iPhone 5 and 5S, and then returned with a vengeance with the iPhone 12 series. Even today’s iPhone 17 Pro carries most of the shape with it, though it’s replaced the metal band with an entirely metal backshell.
For my money, it’s this design that has stood the test of time and is the definitive iPhone look. Despite being unveiled accidentally in a German restaurant by an Apple engineer via a tech blog, then re-unveiled at WWDC, then apologized for, and with a white color variant that almost never appeared, the iPhone 4 is a huge part of iPhone history. Especially if you don’t hold it wrong.
iPhone Ultra: Apple first folding iPhone design, display, and release rumors Macworld
We’ve been reporting on the supposedly imminent launch of a foldable iPhone for years. There have been strong and reliable rumors of a foldable iPhone being just two years away, dating as far back as 2018, at least. Back then, reliable reports from the likes of CNBC said Apple was going to have a folding iPhone on the market in 2020.
That became 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025… and now it’s expected to land in 2026.
So, while the rumors and reports from parts suppliers and analysts are heating up and we have more specifics than ever before, we would advise even more caution and skepticism than usual with Apple speculation. With that said, here’s what current rumors suggest about the release of a folding iPhone.
Update April 14, 2026: We’ve updated this guide with the latest rumors, including more dummy models, pricing info, and another leak that “iPhone Ultra” will be the name.
Foldable iPhone name: What will it be called?
iPhone Ultra is the expected name
Many fans and pundits have got into the habit of referring to the rumored device as the iPhone Fold, but this may not necessarily be the official name. The rumors and leaks from spring 2026 onwards suggest that Apple is looking to call it iPhone Ultra.
In March, Mark Gurman at Bloomberg claimed that the folding iPhone will be one of several “Ultra” products coming this year—though not all will use “Ultra” branding, it’s certainly a possibility for the folding iPhone. Then, the Weibo account Digital Chat Station (which is hit-and-miss) said Apple is looking to use the iPhone Ultra name, too.
Xcode crashes every time when saving xcode cloud workflow Has anyone been dealing with this as well? ChatGPT says its a purely xcode bug when i gave it the crash report. Basically every time i go to Manage Workflows -> Double click on the workflow to bring it up -> Make changes -> Save it then crashes immediately after. submitted by /u/DarkSombreros […]
Got stuck in App Review for 15 days over account deletion (no account system at all) I recently shipped a major update (NovaAccess 1.3.0), and the App Review process took much longer than expected (~2 weeks). I want to share the timeline and a lesson learned that might save others time. Timeline: March 30 – Submitted April 3 – Rejected (3.1.1 / 3.1.2(c) / 5.1.1(v)) Reviewer mentioned I could reply for […]
Logging out of SandBox account Does logging out of the SandBox account in iOS 26 log out of the main iCloud account? In my case, the SandBox account and the main account are the same. So if I go into developer settings and logout of the SandBox account, will the main account be affected? submitted by /u/not_soslim_shady [link] […]
App review automation now wants login info for an app that has only google and apple sign-in options Hi, yesterday for the first time in like 50 reviews, app review automation stated that i need to provide login info for my app that has google and apple sign-in. My question is should i provide it by creating a new Apple id or by creating a test/sandbox account through App Store Connect/Users and Access […]
Apple TV and Peacock $20 Monthly Bundle Available on Amazon Prime Video, Offering a 30% Discount Apple and Amazon are partnering up for a $19.99/month streaming TV bundle that includes access to Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus.
Available to customers in the U.S. for a limited time, the streaming bundle offers access to both services at a 30% discount, similar to the bundle that launched in October 2025.
Apple TV is normally $12.99 per month, while Peacock starts at $16.99 for the Premium plan that's included in the bundle, so that's a $10 monthly saving. Peacock Premium Plus includes the option to download content and watch it offline. It also removes most ads.
The Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus bundle offers customers access to live sports like Premier League soccer and Major League Baseball, Apple Originals like Pluribus and Severance, as well as Peacock shows and moves. Customers can watch content from both services directly through the Prime Video app on compatible devices.
"This bundle makes it easier for customers to seamlessly access even more entertainment options all in one place," Ryan Pirozzi, Head of Prime Video Channels, US, said in a statement. "By expanding the streaming services and bundles available on Prime Video, we're continuing to deliver on our commitment to provide customers with greater choice and seamless access to the shows, movies, and sports they love."Prime members can subscribe to the bundle via the Prime Video app or visiting the Prime Video website and using their existing Amazon account and payment method.Related Roundup: Apple TVBuyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)Related Forum: Apple TV and Home TheaterThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Keep your brain active with this low-stakes learning app, now $70 for life (was $599.99) Macworld
TL;DR: Nibble is a new app that teaches you things like art, history, finance, and more, and a lifetime subscription is only $70.
A lot of learning apps ask for more time and focus than most people actually have. Nibble takes the opposite approach, turning spare minutes into short lessons that feel manageable enough to keep using, even on days when a full course sounds exhausting. A lifetime subscription is also on sale now for only $69.99 (reg. $599.99).
Nibble centers everything around 10-minute sessions, so you can pick up something new without feeling like you need to block out your whole evening. The app covers 16 broad topics, including history, art, AI, personal finance, music, and philosophy, and it mixes formats instead of forcing everything into the same lesson style. You can read, listen, watch, take quizzes, play learning games, or use AI chats that make the material feel a little more interactive.
Some days, you may want a structured path that builds from one lesson to the next. Other days, you may just want to open the app, learn a few things about a topic that caught your attention, and move on. Nibble works both ways. The personalized recommendations and guided journeys help with direction, but the app still leaves room for curiosity.
Another nice part of the setup is that it doesn’t pressure you to learn. There are no deadlines, no long assignments, and no sense that you are falling behind. New content gets added monthly, so the library keeps growing.
The lifetime subscription unlocks the full library, plus all available formats, including lessons, videos, audio, games, and AI chats.
If you want to keep yourself sharp and learn in your spare time, get a Nibble lifetime subscription for $69.99.
Nibble All-Around Knowledge App (Lifetime Subscription)See Deal
Buying this deal? Top off your cart to $100+, then add a Microsoft Office 2021 lifetime license and use GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) to get it free through 4/19.
Gift with $100+ purchase promo ends April 19, 2026. Exclusions apply. Only one promo code applicable per order.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
This $68 portable projector comes with a mic for backyard karaoke Macworld
TL;DR: The ION Portable HD Projector comes with built-in speakers and a wired Mic, and it’s on sale for $68.
Some portable projectors require all sorts of separate accessories, which very quickly defeats the purpose of having a portable projector. The ION Portable HD Outdoor Projector keeps things simple by putting the projector, speaker, Bluetooth, and microphone support in one unit, so you can set it up for a movie, game, or karaoke night without dragging out a pile of extra gear. Right now, you can pick up one of these portable projectors for only $67.99 (reg. $84.99).
This is not a cinema-quality movie projector, but it’s not supposed to be. You get 720p HD resolution, 100 ANSI lumens, and an adjustable image from 30 inches to 150 inches. That won’t replace a serious home theater setup, but it should work well for movies, games, and outdoor hangouts once the light drops. The bigger selling point is the sound. Most compact projectors sound thin and weak on their own, but this one has a built-in 70W stereo system with dual 3-inch drivers and 1.5-inch tweeters, so you can actually fill a room or patio without immediately reaching for another speaker. That’s especially useful for karaoke nights, which can also benefit from the included microphone.
Connecting to your projector is easy. It has ports for HDMI, USB, and AUX, so it’s easy to hook up a laptop, console, or another media device. Bluetooth 5.3 is built in with a range of up to 100 feet, so it can pull double duty as a wireless speaker when you’re not using the projector.
Get an ION Portable HD Outdoor Projector on sale for $67.99 while you can.
ION Portable HD Outdoor Projector with Bluetooth, Speakers & MicrophoneSee Deal
Buying this deal? Top off your cart to $100+, then add a Microsoft Office 2021 lifetime license and use GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) to get it free through 4/19.
Gift with $100+ purchase promo ends April 19, 2026. Exclusions apply. Only one promo code applicable per order.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Made a Python script to translate App Store listing text because it’s the most tedious thing and I don’t want to pay for tools. Giving it away free, no API needed. https://preview.redd.it/cesxm174ravg1.png?width=875&format=png&auto=webp&s=d143d48455a7a465f7d455826e74d590418dc122 Every time I push an update and have to localize my App Store listing I want to bash my head into a wall. I usually push to 37 locales. Five fields each. It's tedious as hell manually. So I made a Python script that handles the whole thing in one shot: – Prompts you […]
YouTube Music rolls out split-view Now Playing redesign on Android, iOS The split-view Now Playing redesign that YouTube Music has been working on since last year is now widely rolling out.
more…
Low cost customer contact and feedback tool (iOS/Android/React Native) Does anyone have suggestions for ways a customer can contact in the app? Intercom, Zendesk, Freshdesk, etc. are too expensive with too many features Email is getting a bit weird, a lot of low quality "what's this app do?", "is it fake?", and just various completely unrelated one-liner emails in various languages (I have machine […]
Developers behind vibe coding app Anything detail next steps after months-long fight with Apple Following a dispute that led to two removals from the App Store, the developers behind the vibe coding platform Anything are publicly accusing Apple of shutting out a new generation of app creators through outdated app review guidelines. Here are the details.
more…
How we got to 16 in the Apple App Store and over 1,000 downloads in under 24hrs and 2x our free trial rate https://preview.redd.it/31sro7b3n9vg1.png?width=1179&format=png&auto=webp&s=32d2072be5778a253baf4c60c8d47c31dd82b814 Our newspaper style puzzle app Puzzlit just hit #16 and crossed 1,000 downloads in under a day. Here’s what actually moved the needle incase anyone wants to be inspired by this: 1. Everything was data-driven We use PostHog for basically everything. No decisions based on “this feels right”. We track things like: onboarding drop-off […]
Tried solving retention for my app… accidentally launched a second one I recently finished building and launching an app that helps groups split restaurant bills. Then I ran into the obvious problem: people only use it when they go out, so retention is tough. To solve that, I added a simple game inside the app to encourage daily opens… …and it ended up being engaging enough […]
Built a tool that inspects your .app bundle before you ship it I built a MacOS tool that acts as a pre-release check for your .app bundle. It answers questions like: will this pass Gatekeeper on users machines, are you leaving any secrets baked in to your bundle, is every binary in the bundle properly signed, what entitlements are you shipping, etc. This replaced a 700-line release […]
Should I market this app? Created the Task and Calendar Pro app for my own personal use. I published but there’s 0 download. I guess everyone and their friends are creating these to-do app :). Just wondering if I should spend $ marketing it at all? https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/checked-task-and-calendar-pro/id6477135285 submitted by /u/CycleOfLove [link] [comments]
Grok nonconsensual pornographic deepfakes almost led to an App Store ban Apple reportedly threatened Grok owner xAI with an App Store ban if the deepfake nude generation issues weren't addressed. In spite of ongoing problems with the chatbot, the app was never removed.X and Grok faced backlash after deepfake problemFor several horrific days in January, social media platform X was flooded with AI-generated pornographic images involving non-consenting adults and minors. Many wondered why legal entities were slow to respond, but above all, why Apple was completely silent on the matter.According to a new report from CNBC, shared by 9to5Mac, Apple did threaten to remove Grok from the App Store. While Elon Musk did change moderation rules on X, even after monetizing the illegal porn, the Grok app didn't change much at all. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Margo’s Got Money Troubles, starring Elle Fanning, premieres on Apple TV Apple TV subscribers can now watch the first three episodes of comedic drama Margo’s Got Money Troubles, starring Elle Fanning (Predator: Badlands), Michelle Pfeiffer (Basic Instinct), and Nicole Kidman (The Hours). Here are the details.
more…
Apple reportedly threatened to remove Grok from the App Store over sexualized deepfakes In a letter obtained exclusively by NBC News, Apple told U.S. senators how it worked behind the scenes to address the viral surge of sexualized deepfakes generated by Grok earlier this year. Here are the details.
more…
Journey Summit Ultra 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station review: sleek, speedy, and expensive JourneyiPhone 17's 3-in-1 charging station, the Summit Ultra, keeps your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch topped off and ready to go at a moment's notice — but you'll pay for that convenience.Journey Summit Ultra 3-in-1 Wireless Charging StationIf you're in the Apple ecosystem, chances are you've got at least two — if not three, four, or five Apple devices that need to be charged at any given moment. Journey knows this, which is why it's created its own take on a convenient multi-charger.The Summit Ultra is a three-in-one charger, designed to charge your MagSafe-compatible iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. And, as a bonus, it does so without needing any sort of wires going to or from your devices — everything is grab-and-go. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
9to5Mac Daily: April 14, 2026 – MacBook Neo competition, more Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Sponsored by CardPointers: The best way to maximize your credit card rewards. 9to5Mac Daily listeners can exclusively save 30% and get a $100 Savings Card.
more…
App has traction from Reddit, but almost no App Store discovery. What would you change? I built a niche iPhone and Apple Watch utility app that did almost $1,100 in a month and has 1,000+ users, but I cannot get App Store discovery to work. At this point I am not really worried about validating the idea. The app has traction. The problem is that almost all of that traction […]
Microsoft Raises Prices for All Surface PCs, Making Them More Expensive Than Equivalent Macs Microsoft increased prices for all of its Surface PCs this week, with most models priced hundreds of dollars higher than they were when launching. Windows Central highlighted the increases, which now see Microsoft's mid-range models priced above $1,000 and flagship models priced starting at $1,500.
A Microsoft spokesperson said the price increase was due to "recent increases in memory and component costs."
Microsoft's 12-inch Surface Pro, which was its cheapest modern PC at $799, is now priced starting at $1,049. The flagship 512GB 13-inch Surface Pro is $1,499, up from $1,199 when it launched in 2024 (Microsoft also discontinued a $999 256GB configuration). The 13-inch Surface Laptop went from an $899 starting price to a $1,149 starting price, while the 13.8-inch model went from $999 to $1,499 and the 15-inch model went from $1,299 to $1,599.
The 13-inch Surface Pro and the 13.8-inch and 15-inch Surface Laptop models originally launched in 2024, and Microsoft did increase prices for them in 2025, so this is the second price increase. The 13-inch Surface Laptop and the two Surface Pro models that have seen a $300 price increase launched in 2025.
Microsoft's 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 with 16GB RAM and 256GB of storage used to be $100 cheaper than the 256GB M4 MacBook Air, but now it's $400 more than the 512GB M5 MacBook Air. Apple increased MacBook Air pricing from $999 to $1,099 with the M5 upgrade, but Apple's hike came with more base SSD storage. The Surface Laptop 7 is the laptop that Microsoft says is "faster than a MacBook Air M4."
Prices have increased for all Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models, from entry-level to high-end. Microsoft's PCs are now more expensive than their Mac equivalents, which is good news for Apple. The high-end Surface Laptop 7 with 64GB RAM and a 1TB SSD is $3,649, which is more expensive than the 16-inch $3,300 M5 Pro MacBook Pro with 64GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. Apple's M5 Pro chip also far outperforms the Snapdragon X Elite.
Windows Central says Microsoft has new Surface PCs coming later this year, which are also expected to have the same higher prices.
Microsoft's decision to increase PC prices comes as Samsung also raised prices for some of its smartphone models and all of its U.S. tablet offerings.
Both Microsoft and Samsung are responding to increased costs caused by global memory shortages. Chip makers are prioritizing memory for AI data centers, and there is little manufacturing capacity left for consumer devices.Tag: MicrosoftThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple Removes Freecash App From App Store After Months of Data Harvesting Apple removed scam app Freecash from the App Store this week after the app spent months harvesting data from iPhone users, reports TechCrunch.
Freecash reached the number two spot on the U.S. App Store charts in January after being heavily marketed on TikTok. It promised users up to $35 per hour for watching TikTok content, but it was collecting swaths of user data. Back in January, Wired covered Freecash's deceptive marketing, and MalwareBytes pointed out that the app was gathering data like race, religion, health, and biometrics, with extra data harvested through mobile games that Freecash pushed users to install.
Users tricked into downloading Freecash with the promise of free cash found that they could not earn money by using TikTok, but instead were able to earn tiny amounts of cash by playing games like Monopoly Go and Disney Solitaire. The goal was to push users to make in-app purchases or watch paid ads in the apps. Freecash advertised itself as a platform for matching game developers with users likely to spend money in their games.
After the Wired report, TikTok pulled the Freecash ads, but Apple did not take action to remove the app. Freecash stayed in the App Store until TechCrunch contacted Apple on Monday, which is when Apple removed the app from the App Store. Apple said Freecash violated its guidelines prohibiting scam practices and misleading marketing.
Freecash parent company Almedia denied using deceptive marketing techniques and said it was in compliance with Apple's App Store rules.
Our apps are fully compliant with the Apple App Store and Google Play Store policies, as demonstrated by the fact that they are live and regularly pass platform reviews. We do not comment on internal product strategy regarding specific app listings.
Freecash was downloaded by 5.5 million people across the Apple App Store and Google Play in January 2026, and it has remained high on the App Store charts since then. In addition to using misleading TikTok ads, the app appears to have used bots and fake ratings to drive traffic. The app's developers may have also acquired an existing App Store app to get around Apple's app review system, as the Freecash app was banned at one point in 2024 before an existing App Store app was renamed Freecash and updated with the same functionality.
TechCrunch's full report has more information on Freecash and the scammy tactics the company behind the app used to lure in users.Tag: App StoreThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Farewell to Mac Writers John Martellaro and Chuck La Tournous The Mac community has lost two longtime writers in recent weeks: John Martellaro and Chuck La Tournous. John wrote once for TidBITS in 1996 before settling at The Mac Observer, where Chuck was also a contributing editor.
SwitchBot S20 Review: A Budget-Friendly Robot Vacuum and Mop With Matter Support SwitchBot makes some of the most affordable HomeKit-compatible robot vacuums on the market. I've been testing the SwitchBot S20 and the K11+ for the last several months to see how they measure up to some of the more expensive models that I've reviewed.
SwitchBot S20
The MSRP for the S20 is $799, but SwitchBot runs sales often that drop the price to under $500, so it's competitive with some of the more affordable robot vacuums that don't have Matter integration.
I've noticed some clear differences between the SwitchBot vacuums and higher-end vacuums I've tested, but the S20 has impressed me with its cleaning ability. It is a vacuum and a mop, so it can vacuum up crumbs and mop the floors at the same time.
For vacuuming, it has a 10,000Pa suction, but I've never been able to tell a real difference in suction power between the vacuums I've tested. They're all able to do a good job with dust, fur, dirt, and other debris on the floor. There is an anti-tangle system, and I've never seen the SwitchBot S20 have a problem with hair or fur, and there are rubber ridges on the vacuum brush that seem to help it pick up lightweight messes. A brush on the side sweeps along baseboards, and while I don't think it's as good at getting into small crevices as the Roborock vacuum I have, it does a passable job. You might have to do a perimeter sweep with a regular vacuum every once in a while.
The S20 has a roller mop, and that's my favorite robot vacuum mopping design. A lot of companies use rotating mopping pads, but the roller gets washed continually as the robot cleans, so it's not spreading a mess around. It also just feels more hygienic to me because it's scrubbing grime off of the mop as it goes. No robot vacuum is able to get crusty, dried-on stains off in one pass, but the S20 did a good job on dried ketchup with two passes. Robot vacuums aren't ideal for deep cleaning, but with multiple cleans per week or even every day, my floor is cleaner than when I do it manually.
I have wood flooring and tile, but no carpet, so I can't test carpet extensively. I have a few larger-sized rugs that it has done fine vacuuming, and it's done no damage to my wood floors.
All robot vacuums have a base station, and the S20 is no exception. In fact, it has the option for a base station that hooks up to your plumbing so it can automatically empty waste water and refill with clean water. For a review, I didn't want to hook it up to my house permanently so I opted for tanks that I refill and empty manually, but it's nice to have the option. The SwitchBot S20 base station has a simple, unobtrusive design, and it's not overly large.
There's a 2.7L clean water tank and a 2.5L dirty water tank, which I have to refill/empty around once a week depending on how often the robot runs. The base station also has a spot for adding floor cleaner, and there are cleaners that are for robot vacuums. The tanks are easy to access, simple to open, and quick to refill or empty.
Dust and dirt are collected in a bag that needs to be replaced every three months, so that is an ongoing expense. You'll also need to do some light cleaning and maintenance of the robot vacuum every so often because the mop and other components don't last forever, but that usually only needs to be done once a year or so. The base station uses hot air (50°C) to dry the mop after cleaning, and that keeps it from growing mold or smelling mildewy.
Those are all the good things about the SwitchBot, and now I'll go over the not-so-good and the bad. The base station has a thin plastic mat to protect the floor from the wheels, which SwitchBot wants you to attach to the floor with adhesive. I am not going to attach plastic to my floor, and I was disappointed there wasn't a snap-in floor protector like most robot vacuums have for the base station. Without the adhesive, the plastic moves around and is useless, so I just deal with some drips and dirt on my kitchen floor.
Compared to Ecovacs and Roborock vacuums I've tested, the S20 is loud. I would not be able to sleep or work through its vacuuming noise, though it does have a mode to reduce suction and make it quieter. It's still not quiet enough. It sounds like a vacuum when the vacuum is running, but it's not the worst tradeoff for a lower price.
The S20 has modes for vacuuming, vacuuming and then mopping, or vacuuming and mopping at the same time, but if you just want it to mop, SwitchBot doesn't have an option for that.
As far as the AI goes, it's not as good as some of the other vacuums I've used, and in some ways that's a good thing. It doesn't get stuck on my kitchen rugs because it just flat out ignores them. If one is stuck on the wheel, it drags the rug along until it gets unstuck. I don't necessarily mind, because I don't have to get up and save it. It's able to operate independently for the most part, and I don't have to intervene often.
It is able to avoid cords almost entirely, and I haven't had it suck up anything that it shouldn't except for a cat toy and a sock. The Ecovacs robot I tested would sometimes err too far on the side of caution, misidentifying objects and staying away from them for a less thorough clean. The S20 cares less, and that could be an issue if you have a lot of items on the floor.
The AI mapping isn't as capable as some more expensive robots, but the S20 was able to identify every room in my house and it navigates them well for the most part. It is not great at thresholds, especially taller thresholds. It gets stuck in my bathroom, and instead of realizing it's stuck and alerting me, it will keep trying to get out until its battery is exhausted.
I can edit maps to create no-go areas, label rooms and objects, and make other edits to make sure that it's only cleaning where I want it to clean, and the edits are a must with the SwitchBot vacuums.
The S20 can go for around 100 minutes before it needs to charge (in vacuum and mopping mode), and can clean approximately 1,000 square feet in my house before that point. It isn't able to do my entire house on a single charge, but in-app scheduling lets me have it clean a room or an area a day on a cycle. The battery lasts closer to three hours in vacuum-only mode.
SwitchBot K11+
The SwitchBot K11+ is a much smaller, vacuum-only robot. It's best for small spaces and it's a robot I'd consider in an apartment. With three attempts, I wasn't able to get it to accurately map my entire house, and the AI seems to be limited.
I can isolate it in a room and get an accurate map, so it's okay in a smaller area, but it's still not particularly intelligent. Like the S20, if it can't get to an area, it doesn't give up and move on. It continues to try to get there until it dies and I have to go hunt it down, and that's inconvenient when I'm not home.
The suction is decent at 6,000Pa per SwitchBot, but it doesn't pick up as much as quickly as the S20. What I like best about the K11+ is the small size. It's able to get in smaller nooks and crannies than bigger robot vacuums, which makes it ideal for small spaces.
There is technically a feature where you can attach a Swiffer-style mop to the K11+ for a mopping feature, but that just seems like much more of a hassle than quickly mopping the floor myself.
Matter Integration
With an Apple Matter hub (Apple TV or HomePod), SwitchBot vacuums connect to the Home app. Basic functions can be controlled through the Home app or through Siri, and I've come around to Siri integration as a useful feature.
I wasn't impressed with the limited robot vacuum controls in the Home app to begin with, but I can say things like "Siri, vacuum the kitchen" or "Siri, mop the dining room" to get a targeted clean when needed, and that's come in handy.
That's primarily what I use Matter for, but the Home app also supports automations and integration with other Apple products. You can have a setup where the robot vacuums when you leave home, so you never have to deal with the sound.
There is no situation where Siri or the Home app can be used to control a robot vacuum entirely without the need to access the dedicated SwitchBot app. Features like editing a map, updating firmware, viewing cleaning progress, troubleshooting, or checking estimates for replacement parts require the SwitchBot app, and that's true of any robot vacuum.
HomeKit integration is nice to have, but it is limited, and it's not a feature that I would choose one robot vacuum over another for.
Bottom Line
If you're looking for a robot vacuum and mop that does a good job cleaning and mopping and you don't want to spend a ton, the SwitchBot S20 is worth checking out. You'll need to deal with some frustrations, like loud noise, map editing, and rescuing it from being stuck, but it cleans well.
I would not recommend the smaller K11+ unless you have a small space. It's not meant for larger homes, but it is a good apartment vacuum if you won't miss mopping functionality.
How to Buy
The SwitchBot S20 is available from the SwitchBot website for $520 after a 35 percent discount (I've seen the price lower, so it's worth waiting for a bigger sale), while the SwitchBot K11+ is available for $220 after a 45 percent discount.
Note: SwitchBot provided MacRumors with an S20 and a K11+ for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple pulls fake Ledger app and Freecash in rough day for App Store review Just as CoinDesk reported that a fake Ledger app had drained millions from App Store users, TechCrunch revealed that another app had been harvesting sensitive user data. Apple pulled both today. Here are the details.
more…
Patch Tuesday, April 2026 Edition Microsoft today pushed software updates to fix a staggering 167 security vulnerabilities in its Windows operating systems and related software, including a SharePoint Server zero-day and a publicly disclosed weakness in Windows Defender dubbed "BlueHammer." Separately, Google Chrome fixed its fourth zero-day of 2026, and an emergency update for Adobe Reader nixes an actively exploited flaw that can lead to remote code execution.
Samsung's U.S. Price Increases Add to Concerns About Rising Apple Device Costs Samsung raised the prices of several of its smartphones and tablets in the United States overnight, likely due to increasing costs caused by ongoing memory shortages.
As shared by PhoneArena, the 512GB Galaxy Z Flip increased by $80 from $1,219.99 to $1,299.99, while the S25 Edge and S25 FE went up $80 and $40, respectively. Samsung did not increase the cost of its current-generation S26 smartphones because those were priced higher than the prior-generation models from launch, but the company did also increase the cost of the 512GB and 1TB Galaxy Z Fold 7 earlier this month.
Samsung's tablet prices increased for the full U.S. lineup, including the latest Galaxy Tab S11 and the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra models. The base models are $100 more expensive at $900 for the S11 and $1,299 for the S11 Ultra, while higher-end models went up even more. The 1TB S11 Ultra is now $1,899.99, which is a $280 increase.
Samsung didn't comment on the price increase, but the quiet price hike suggests that Samsung is going to need to charge more for upcoming devices that are coming out later this year.
As a major smartphone manufacturer, Samsung has not been able to weather rising costs without raising prices, and that could be a sign that Apple's upcoming devices could also be more expensive than they would have been without hardware shortages.
The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models that came out earlier this year are more expensive than their predecessors, though Apple increased storage to justify the price hike.
Apple already removed the 512GB RAM upgrade for the Mac Studio, and started charging $400 more for the 256GB RAM upgrade. Apple also recently stopped accepting orders for some Mac Studio and Mac mini configurations with higher amounts of RAM. For machines still in stock, shipping times are extraordinarily high.
Hardware makers like Apple are dealing with high demand for memory and storage, which has been caused by demand from artificial intelligence data centers. Manufacturers are prioritizing AI chip production over chips designed for consumer products because large data center contracts are more profitable. Chipmakers like Samsung, TSMC, and SK Hynix are unable to keep up with demand even while operating at full capacity, and the lack of supply mixed with rising demand has led to price hikes.
During Apple's January earnings call, Tim Cook said that memory costs didn't impact the company's gross margin in the first fiscal quarter of the year, but would have a "bit more of an impact" during the second fiscal quarter. Apple is set to hold its Q2 earnings call on April 30.
Cook said that Apple is looking at a "range of options" to deal with rising prices over the long term if needed, and Apple is seeking supplier price cuts in other areas to offset the increase. Apple apparently agreed to pay Samsung twice as much for LPDDR5X memory chips for ongoing iPhone 17 production.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in January that he expects Apple to keep iPhone 18 starting prices flat despite having to pay more for components. He said Apple could absorb the costs to gain market share, and make up some of the money on its services side. Apple plans to launch a new foldable iPhone this year, and its rumored $2,000+ price tag could also pad Apple's margins.
Apple has been planning M5 updates for the Mac Studio and the Mac mini, and it is unknown how the memory shortages and long shipping times for current machines will impact those plans.Tag: SamsungThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple TV’s under-the-radar masterpiece ‘For All Mankind’ is still soaring – Empire Season five of “For All Mankind” picks up in the years since the Goldilocks asteroid heist. Happy Valley has grown into a thriving colony…
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple holds the line while rivals jack up prices Rising Microsoft and Samsung prices are shifting the competitive landscape in the electronics market today. Here's how Apple benefits.
(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
Indie devs, what’s the one thing about App Store screenshots you wish you knew before your first launch I'm spending a lot of time right now looking at indie app listings and I see a few mistakes come back over and over. Wanted to start a discussion instead of a lecture because I'm pretty sure the community knows way more than me on this. Here's what I notice a lot on indie listings, […]
Apple says Jon Prosser has only partially complied with subpoenas in iOS 26 leak case In a joint status report, attorneys for Apple and Michael Ramacciotti updated the court on the latest developments in the trade secrets lawsuit over the leak of iOS 26 design details. Here’s what’s new with the case.
more…
OpenAI unveils GPT‑5.4‑Cyber, an AI model for defensive cybersecurity OpenAI has announced a new AI model called GPT-5.4-Cyber. Similar to Anthropic’s Claude Mythos, this new “cyber-permissive” variant of its GPT-5.4 is built for defensive cybersecurity and not public use.
more…
Amazon Prime Video bundles Apple TV and Peacock for $19.99/mo. for a limited time Amazon is making it easier and more affordable for Prime members to access premium streaming content by introducing a new…
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple chooses Amazon satellites for iPhone, years after rejecting Starlink offer Amazon announces $11.6B merger with Globalstar and satellite deal with Apple.
Apple Store closures make sense to Apple, but not to the community Apple sometimes closes retail stores. The company always has private and public reasons why, but the communities and workers that are impacted don't care much about what they are.Apple Trumbull - Image Credit: AppleOn April 9, it was revealed that Apple was preparing to close three of its stores in the United States in June. The group consists of Apple North County in Escondido, California, Apple Towson Town Center in Towson, Maryland, and Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut.After the initial shock of the closures, people are still expressing their feelings about the store closures. However, as usual, nothing is straightforward in the court of public opinion. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Apple Store closures make sense to Apple, but not to the community Apple sometimes closes retail stores. The company always has private and public reasons why, but the communities and workers that are impacted don't care much about what they are.Apple Trumbull - Image Credit: AppleOn April 9, it was revealed that Apple was preparing to close three of its stores in the United States in June. The group consists of Apple North County in Escondido, California, Apple Towson Town Center in Towson, Maryland, and Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut.After the initial shock of the closures, people are still expressing their feelings about the store closures. However, as usual, nothing is straightforward in the court of public opinion. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Apple Store closures make sense to Apple, but not to the community Apple sometimes closes retail stores. The company always has private and public reasons why, but the communities and workers that are impacted don't care much about what they are.Apple Trumbull - Image Credit: AppleOn April 9, it was revealed that Apple was preparing to close three of its stores in the United States in June. The group consists of Apple North County in Escondido, California, Apple Towson Town Center in Towson, Maryland, and Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut.After the initial shock of the closures, people are still expressing their feelings about the store closures. However, as usual, nothing is straightforward in the court of public opinion. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
iOS 26 has new Home Screen setting for app icons, here’s how to use it Apple has added a lot of new ways to customize your iPhone in recent years. One of my favorites is a Home Screen setting in iOS 26 for your app icons that tints the icon color to match that of your iPhone or its case. Here’s how to use it.
more…
Apple Watch Activity badges: Earth Day and International Dance Day Macworld
Achievement badges are a funny thing. You know they’re just a simple little bit of visual flair, they don’t even do anything, and yet for some reason you just have to collect them. Gamification can be a great motivator, and the achievement badges for the activity tracking on the Apple Watch have inspired many users to get more exercise.
If you want to maximize your badge count, you’re going to want to chase down as many activity achievements as you can. Most are available year-round, but there are also some time-limited special events to grab, too. Here’s a list of all the activity achievements for the Apple Watch and how to unlock them.
Updated April 14, 2026: Earth Day is coming on April 22, and International Dance Day will be here on April 29.
Apple Watch Series 11
Price When Reviewed:
From $399
Best Prices Today:
$299 at Amazon |
$329 at Walmart |
$377.73 at Best Buy US
Standard achievements
Most of the achievements can be earned year-round. If you open the Activity app on your iPhone, then head over to the Achievements tab, you’ll see some of them listed even before you earn them (in which case they will be represented by a grey outline).
However, there are some achievements that are not shown until you earn them. Past and future monthly challenges, for example, won’t show up, nor do all the various individual exercise workouts.
Here is a list of all the standard badges you can get.
First [exercise] Workout
The first time you perform a new exercise for at least 5 minutes, you’ll get a achievement badge. Every workout type that does not fall under the “Other” category is eligible for this badge: from walking to yoga to HIIT to hiking and more.
Activities with both indoor and outdoor variants, like Cycling and Walking, are bundled together; you can do either activity to get the badge, and can only get it once.
[exercise] Workout Record
Every time you beat your previous best record for calories burned in any of the exercises listed above, you get this badge.
There is one caveat: You must complete five workouts of that type first. If you want to game the system, make sure your first four workouts of each type are short and easy, so it won’t take much effort to beat them.
You get a badge the first time you do each major exercise type, and when you break a record.
7-Workout Week
Simply complete any workout of at least 15 minutes every day of the week. Note that the week is Monday-Sunday, and you have to do a workout on each of those days (you can’t simply do any seven days in a row). If you start a walking workout whenever you walk outside, you can achieve this easily.
New Move Record
Any day that your Move ring goes further than ever before (meaning you burned more calories in a day), you’ll earn this award. There’s one catch: you have to use your Apple Watch for 10 days before you can complete this.
New Exercise Record
This is just like the Move Record achievement, only for the green ring. This one is based on minutes of exercise, not calories burned, so it’s really easy to get. Just like the Move Record achievement, you have to use your Apple Watch for 10 days first.
Move Goal 200%, 300%, 400%
You earn this when you exceed your calorie target (the red Move ring) by 2x, 3x, or 4x, respectively. In other words, it’s given for making the red activity ring go around two, three, or four times in a day. It’s easy to get if you just set your Move goal very low.
Double, triple, and quadruple your Move ring goal. Reduce your goal if you’re having trouble.
New Move Goal
Every time you change your daily Move goal, and then exceed that new goal, you get this achievement. You can change your Move goal by opening the Activity app on your Apple Watch and force-pressing the screen.
Longest Move Streak
When you hit your Move goal (close the red ring) several days in a row, that’s a “streak.” You get this award when your streak finally ends, if it’s longer than your previous best streak.
Perfect Week
This is given out for four categories: Move, Exercise, Stand, and All Activity. For the first three, simply close the rings (red, green, or blue) every day of the week. To get the Perfect Week (All Activity) badge, close all three rings every day for an entire week. You can earn this multiple times, though it only shows one badge.
Remember, one week in the Activity app is from Monday-Sunday!
Close those rings every day from Monday to Sunday to earn a handful of badges.
Perfect Month
Unlike Perfect Week, there are not multiple different Perfect Month badges for the different color rings. The lone Perfect Month achievement is for closing the red Move ring every day of the month.
There’s a separate Perfect Month badge for every month and every year, though. So you can earn this in February and again in March, and again in February in the next year.
Monthly Challenge
Each month has its own unique fitness challenge. If you have notifications set for the Activity app on our Apple Watch, you’ll see the goal presented at the beginning of the month, but you’ll also see the current month’s challenge in the Achievements tab of the Activity app on your iPhone. It will be a grey outline before it’s completed, but you can tap on it to see what the challenge entails.
The monthly challenge may task you with burning a specific number of calories, working out a number of times, or traveling a certain distance. There’s no telling what each new month will bring, you just have to look!
There’s a different challenge every month, so check your Activity app.
100, 365, 500, 1,000 Move Goals
When you hit your daily Move goal (close the red ring) 100 times, you get an achievement badge. You get another for hitting it 365 times, 500 times, and 1,000 times. These do not need to be in a row; it’s just the total number of times you’ve ever hit the goal.
Close the Move ring often to unlock a series of badges. Set the Move goal low if you want to make it easier.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Read our review
Price When Reviewed:
$799 (base)
Best Prices Today:
$649.99 at Best Buy US |
$799 at Apple |
$799.99 at Target
Limited Achievements
Apple offers multiple one-off challenges per year that are only available for a limited time. Often, they’re only around for one day or one weekend. Some are limited to the U.S. because they’re based on U.S. holidays.
You’ll get a notification on your Apple Watch when one of them is coming up (make sure you have notifications enabled for the Activity app, using the Watch app on your iPhone).
International Dance Day (April 29, 2026)
Apple
Show off your dance moves for International Dance Day. Earn this award by recording a Dance workout of 20 minutes or more on April 29. Record it with the Workout app or any app that adds workouts to Health.
Earth Day (April 22, 2026)
Apple
This Earth Day, April 22, record any 30 minute workout with the Workout app or any app that records workouts to Health to earn this award. The earth will think the world of you.
Heart Month challenge (February 14, 2026)
Foundry
Close your exercise ring on Valentine’s Day, February 14, to earn this award. Your heart will love you for it.
New Year 2026 (January 2026)
Foundry
Start the year strong and stay active! Earn this award by closing all three Activity rings for seven days in a row in January.
World Meditation Day (December 21, 2025)
Foundry
Time to celebrate World Meditation Day! On December 21, record five mindful minutes or more with the Mindfulness app or any app that adds mindful minutes to Health to earn this special badge.
Veteran’s Day (November 11, 2025)
Foundry
Earn this award on November 11 by doing any workout for 11 minutes or more. Record your time with the Workout app or any app that adds workouts to Health.
World Mental Health Day Challenge (October 10, 2025)
Foundry
Record 10 minutes of mindfulness or meditation with any app that adds mindful minutes to Health to get this award.
National Parks Challenge (August 24, 2025)
Foundry
The anniversary of the founding of the U.S. National Parks is on August 25. Every year, Apple celebrates this is a global National Parks badge (on the 24th this year, since the 25th is a Monday).
Just do a workout of 20 minutes or more on August 24 with any app that records workouts the the Health app to earn this badge.
Global Running Day (June 4, 2025)
Apple
Apple’s description says: “Let’s run this one together. On June 4, record a running workout and go at least 5K (3.1 mi) to earn this special badge. Record it with any app that adds workouts to Health.”
Bogus crypto wallet on App Store steals $9.5M Multiple cryptocurrency users have lost approximately $9.5 million after a fake Ledger Live app on the macOS App Store drained their funds.A fake version of the Ledger Live macOS app has stolen $9.5M in cryptocurrency.The world of cryptocurrency has always carried significant risks, and even iPhone and iPad users aren't immune to its dangers. Now and then, malicious actors find ways to steal money, be it via outright hacking or through a cams designed to drain cryptowallets.In April 2026, Mac users were hit with the latter after downloading a fake version of the Ledger Live app from the macOS App Store. The fake app was submitted by the publisher "Leva Heal," which has nothing to do with Ledger SAS, the owner and developer of the real Ledger Live app. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Apple releases revamped Business app with Apple Vision Pro support Last month, Apple announced plans to unify its enterprise tools into a free suite called Apple Business. The unified Apple Business platform officially arrives today, and it includes a revamped Business app.
more…
Apple boosts foldable display orders by 20% ahead of iPhone Fold launch Apple is showing strong confidence in its upcoming foldable iPhone by ramping up orders for foldable display panels. According to a…
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple Watch Earth Day and International Dance Day Activity Challenges Launching Later This Month Apple has two new Apple Watch activity challenges coming up, celebrating Earth Day and International Dance Day. The Earth Day activity challenge will launch on Wednesday, April 22, while the Dance Day challenge will take place a week later on Wednesday, April 29.
To complete the Earth Day challenge, Apple Watch owners will need to complete a workout that lasts for 30 minutes or longer.
This Earth Day, April 22, record any 30 minute workout with the Workout app or any app that records workouts to Health to earn this award. The earth will think the world of you.
The International Dance Day award can be earned by completing a Dance workout of 20 minutes or more.
Show off your dance moves for International Dance Day. Earn this award by recording a Dance workout of 20 minutes or more on April 29. Record it with the Workout app or any app that adds workouts to Health.
Apple Watch owners who earn the Earth Day award will unlock a badge in the Fitness app, along with animated stickers.
The Dance Day challenge will also unlock a special Fitness app badge and accompanying stickers.
Earth Day and International Dance Day are two events that are always part of Apple's ongoing Apple Watch activity challenge schedule. They follow the February Heart Month activity challenge and the January New Year challenge.Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11Tag: Activity ChallengeBuyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple Watch getting two new Activity challenges later this month Apple Watch has two new challenges coming this month that encourage users to hit certain Activity goals on Earth Day and International Dance Day. Here are the details.
more…
AirPods Pro 3: Better today than at launch [Video] Apple released the AirPods Pro 3 back in September of 2025. I have been living with them and using them every single day since then. I have used them for everything from workouts and runs to Zoom calls, travel, and just everyday listening. What has truly stood out to me isn’t how good they sound for the size, or how they are just about as good as their $550 AirPods Max 2 counterpart, but how Apple has actually improved them over the last 7ish months of owning them. Here is how they have held up, how they’ve improved, and what Apple can still add to them.
more…
Apple Removes Fake Crypto Wallet App That Stole $9.5 Million From Mac Users A fake Mac app designed to look like the real thing snuck past Apple's app review team, costing users $9.5 million in cryptocurrency.
According to CoinDesk, a fake macOS version of the Ledger Live crypto wallet app scammed people into handing over access to their cryptocurrency wallets. More than 50 people fell victim to the fake app between April 7 and April 13.
Ledger has an official Mac app, but it is distributed via the Ledger website and not through the Mac App Store. The real app does not ask users to enter their seed phrases like the fake app did, nor do other legitimate cryptocurrency apps. The stolen money was routed through the KuCoin crypto exchange, and hackers used a mixing service known as AudiA6, which charges high fees to launder cryptocurrency.
Three of the victims lost seven-figure sums, which is an unusually high amount of money to lose in a fake app scam. ZachXBT, who investigated the scam and shared the info on Telegram, suggested Apple could be subject to a class-action lawsuit in the future due to the amount of money lost.
Apple removed the fake Ledger Live app from the Mac App Store, but it was live for approximately two weeks. It is not known how it passed Apple's app review process, and Apple hasn't commented.Tags: Cryptocurrency, Mac App StoreThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Service Issue – Dedicated CPU – Several Regions Apr 14, 18:33 UTCInvestigating - Our team is investigating a service issue that affects the Dedicated CPU offering. Some users may experience failed Linode boots, errors related to insufficient resource allocation, unsuccessful migrations of Dedicated CPU plans or scaling of LKE clusters, and difficulty deploying or scaling workloads that require Dedicated CPU resources. We will share additional updates as we have more information.
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining Rumors about this fall’s new iPhone 18 lineup keep coming, but there’s one key detail that’s still a big question mark: how many iPhones will Apple launch?
more…
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining Rumors about this fall’s new iPhone 18 lineup keep coming, but there’s one key detail that’s still a big question mark: how many iPhones will Apple launch?
more…
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining Rumors about this fall’s new iPhone 18 lineup keep coming, but there’s one key detail that’s still a big question mark: how many iPhones will Apple launch?
more…
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining Rumors about this fall’s new iPhone 18 lineup keep coming, but there’s one key detail that’s still a big question mark: how many iPhones will Apple launch?
more…
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining Rumors about this fall’s new iPhone 18 lineup keep coming, but there’s one key detail that’s still a big question mark: how many iPhones will Apple launch?
more…
IAH (Houston) on 2026-04-15 THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Apr 15, 15:30 - 23:00 UTCApr 14, 18:22 UTCUpdate - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in IAH (Houston) datacenter on 2026-04-15 between 15:30:00. and 23:00:00. UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.Apr 14, 18:20 UTCUpdate - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in IAH (Houston) datacenter on 2026-04-15 between 15:30:00. and 23:00:00. UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.Apr 14, 18:18 UTCUpdate - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in IAH (Houston) datacenter on 2026-04-15 between 15:30:00. and 23:00:00. UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.Apr 14, 18:16 UTCUpdate - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in IAH (Houston) datacenter on 2026-04-15 between 15:30:00. and 23:00:00. UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.Apr 14, 18:14 UTCUpdate - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in IAH (Houston) datacenter on 2026-04-15 between 15:30:00. and 23:00:00. UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.Apr 14, 18:12 UTCUpdate - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in IAH (Houston) datacenter on 2026-04-15 between 15:30:00. and 23:00:00. UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.Apr 14, 18:10 UTCUpdate - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in IAH (Houston) datacenter on 2026-04-15 between 15:30:00. and 23:00:00. UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.Apr 14, 18:08 UTCUpdate - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in IAH (Houston) datacenter on 2026-04-15 between 15:30:00. and 23:00:00. UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.Apr 14, 18:06 UTCUpdate - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in IAH (Houston) datacenter on 2026-04-15 between 15:30:00. and 23:00:00. UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.Apr 14, 18:04 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in IAH (Houston) datacenter on 2026-04-15 between 15:30:00. and 23:00:00. UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.
Apple Business tools are now available to download for free Apple has made its newly refurbished business tools available for download, giving businesses ways to manage company devices, employees, and more.The newly refurbished Apple Business| Image credit: AppleIn late March, Apple announced that it would be releasing a consolidated version of its business tools. Formerly spread across three apps, the Apple Business platform aims to provide helpful tools to businesses of any size.As promised, Apple has released Apple Business to the App Store on April 14. To download, you'll need a Mac with macOS 12.0 or later, or an iPhone or iPad with at least iOS 15 or iPadOS 15, respectively. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Inaccurate values in Health Check Events Analytics Apr 14, 17:36 UTCInvestigating - Cloudflare is investigating an issue where Health Check Events analytics are returning incorrect round-trip time (rttMs) values. Affected users may observe abnormally large values in Health Check latency analytics on the dashboard. This does not affect the actual health check functionality or monitoring — health checks continue to operate normally. The issue is limited to the analytics data displayed for health check events.
Apple TV users get $2/month Peacock, as bundle expands to new places Apple TV lets subscribers add Peacock Premium for just $2/month, and now a similar bundle offer has just launched through Prime Video for anyone who prefers to subscribe directly through Amazon.
more…
Google announces ‘Skills’ for Gemini in Chrome to quickly run custom workflows Gemini in Chrome on desktops is getting a new Skills feature that lets you quickly run frequently used prompts. Besides saving time, this capability helps educate users about what Gemini can do when given a webpage.
more…
Apple seems confident that folding iPhone will be a hit Apple apparently increased orders for a critical folding iPhone component, signaling confidence in future consumer demand.
(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
Apple releases public beta 2 for iPadOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and more Yesterday Apple released beta 2 of iPadOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and more for developers, and now today the public beta version has arrived too.
more…
Anthropic adds ‘repeatable routines’ feature to Claude Code, here’s how it works Anthropic’s Claude Code has a new repeatable routines feature that works even when your Mac is offline.
more…
Apple Launches New All-in-One Apple Business Platform for Device Management, Email, and Customer Engagement Apple today launched its new all-in-one Apple Business platform, debuting the refreshed Apple Business web portal and accompanying app.
Apple Business aggregates several of Apple's prior business-focused products, like Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple Business Connect. The service offers organizations a unified platform for managing devices, employees, communications, and customer engagement across the Apple ecosystem.
Companies can take advantage of built-in mobile device management tools (MDM) for configuring device settings, security policies, available apps, and user groups from one location. With a simplified "Blueprints" option, employers can preconfigure devices purchased from Apple or authorized retailers with settings and apps for zero-touch deployment. Employees can use Apple Business to install work-related apps, request support from employers, and contact colleagues through a company directory.
Managed Apple Accounts provide "cryptographic separation" between personal and work data, so employees don't need to deal with multiple devices. Provisioning can be automated with providers like Google Workspace and Microsoft Entra ID.
Apple Business includes integrated email, calendar, and directory services linked to custom domains, plus customer engagement tools. Businesses can manage how their brand and locations show up across Apple services using brand profiles in Safari, Siri, and Spotlight, branded communication in Apple Mail, order tracking in Wallet, customizable place cards in Apple Maps, Tap to Pay branding, and more.
Apple is gearing up to introduce ads in Apple Maps this summer, and ads can be purchased through Apple Business. Businesses can create ads that show up at the top of search results in Maps and in a Suggested Places feature coming in iOS 26.5. Ads will be limited to the U.S. and Canada at launch.
Apple Business is available in over 200 countries and regions. It is a free service for new and existing users, with optional paid add-ons for more iCloud storage and AppleCare+ and no monthly fees for device management. Apple is discontinuing Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple Business Connect now that its unified Apple Business platform is available.
The Apple Business companion app and email, calendar, and directory features require iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26.Tag: Apple BusinessThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple to report Q226 earnings on Thursday, April 30th Apple will report FY26 Q2 earnings on Thursday, April 20, 2026 after market close.Apple’s conference call to discuss second fiscal quarter…
The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple Releases Second iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5 and macOS Tahoe 26.5 Public Betas Apple today provided public beta testers with the second releases of upcoming iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, macOS Tahoe 26.5, watchOS 26.5, and tvOS 26.5 updates for testing purposes. The public betas come a day after Apple provided the betas to developers.
After signing up for beta testing on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section of the Settings app on each device.
iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, and macOS Tahoe 26.5 include a new Suggested Places feature for recommending nearby locations to visit, and Apple is also gearing up to start showing ads in Maps.
Apple is testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages between iPhone and Android users again, and there are proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities for third-party wearables in the EU.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS TahoeRelated Forums: iOS 26, macOS TahoeThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple releases iOS 26.5 public beta 2 Apple has released the second iOS 26.5 public beta. The release follows iOS 26.5 beta 2 for developers, which added an Apple Maps ads explainer.
more…
Gemini in Google Chrome Gets a Skills Library for Saving Custom AI Prompts Chrome has been updated today with a Skills library that's designed to let Chrome users turn AI tasks into repeatable skills that can be used on any website.
Useful prompts you create for Gemini in Chrome can be saved as a Skill that can be accessed later with a single click. If you're shopping for skincare and ask Gemini about the ingredients in a product, for example, you can save the question as a Skill and then use it again later without needing to re-type the prompt.
Google provided the following examples of how testers have used the feature across different categories.
Health & Wellness: quickly calculating protein macros for any recipe
Shopping: generating side-by-side spec comparisons across multiple tabs
Productivity: scanning lengthy documents for important information
Skills can be saved directly from the chat history in Chrome (located in the side panel when Gemini is enabled), and recalled by typing a forward slash and the Skill name or clicking on the plus sign. The selected Skill will run on the page that's being viewed, along with other selected tabs.
Google is debuting the feature with a library of pre-written Skills for common tasks and workflows like viewing ingredients, finding a gift for someone, or making substitutions in a recipe. Pre-prepared Skills can be customized as needed.
When using a Skills prompt, Gemini will confirm before taking actions like adding an event to the calendar or sending an email, similar to other Gemini actions in Chrome. Skills are rolling out for Gemini in the desktop version of Chrome when the browser's language is set to U.S. English.Tags: Google, Google ChromeThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Issues loading Player Apr 14, 12:43 EDTUpdate - We have identified an issue with the Player and are investigating.Apr 14, 12:42 EDTInvestigating - We are currently investigating this issue.
Apple’s huge MacBook Pro overhaul is coming soon, here’s what we know Apple just released a MacBook Pro update last month, but there’s more coming soon. Apple is expected to debut one of its biggest MacBook Pro updates ever later this year. Here’s everything we know so far.
more…
Question on 5.2 Third Party Content Restrictions in App Approval Process (Posting for friend with no reddit account) I am creating a Leetcode companion app. It is not a Saturday and therefore will not go into details on features but what you need to know is that there are Leetcode problems stored in my database that are recommended to the user based on their usages/goals and […]
New report explains how Apple will solve the iPhone Fold’s crease problem Macworld
Later this year, according to multiple sources, Apple will finally enter the foldables market with a device called either the iPhone Fold or the iPhone Ultra. And there may be a good reason why the company has waited this long: it wants to get foldables right first time.
One of the biggest issues with folding phones is the visible “crease” which can commonly be seen, or which starts to appear after prolonged use, up the middle of the screen. Fixing this problem is central to Apple’s planning: last summer it was reported that the company intended to use crease-free displays from Samsung, based on laser-drilled metal plates which “distribute and control bending stress.” But while important, this measure alone may not be enough to meet Apple’s exacting standards.
A new report published this week outlines further details of Apple’s plan to combat the crease. According to TrendForce, two elements will be key to the iPhone Fold’s success: ultra-thin glass (UTG), and optically clear adhesive (OCA).
UTG has appeared in smartphone displays before now, but as the analysts note, it serves principally as a protective top layer. Based on Apple patent activity, however, UTG will be promoted to a more structural role in the iPhone Fold. “A variable thickness design combined with chemical strengthening [will allow] the folding area to be locally thinned at the bending axis to improve bendability,” TrendForce predicts. Non-bending areas of the screen will remain thicker for impact resistance.
A more important role, however, will be played by OCA. It isn’t merely a glue to hold things together; rather, the material’s unusual physical properties are perfectly suited to the peculiar demands of a folding device.
“OCA,” the report explains, “now exhibits pronounced viscoelastic properties through optimized modulus design and material composition… An optimized OCA enables dynamic modulation of the panel’s mechanical response. It remains soft during gradual bending to reduce fatigue stress, while under sudden external force, its modulus temporarily increases to provide localized structural support.”
Those without a background in materials science may struggle with some of the terminology, but the gist is that the presence of specifically optimised OCA reduces stress concentration during bending. The report adds that it also helps to fill micro-cracks created through long-term use and thereby prolongs the life of the device.
The iPhone Fold (or iPhone Ultra) is currently expected to launch in September, although some pundits have speculated about potential delays. To keep up with all the latest news and rumors, make sure to bookmark our regularly updated iPhone Fold superguide.
Best Mac Cleaner Apps 2026: Tested & Compared Macworld
If your Mac is slowing down, freezing, running out of RAM or storage, and just not behaving like it used to, a good Mac cleaner app can help.
This article will guide you in choosing a safe and reliable Mac cleaner for everyday tasks like reclaiming storage, removing duplicate and leftover files, uninstalling apps cleanly, and handling light system maintenance. Our recommendations are based on hands-on testing, evaluating scan usefulness, cleanup safety, uninstall effectiveness, disk tools, and overall value.
While macOS includes built-in tools for basic upkeep, some readers may be better served by those options or a lighter utility. For others, a dedicated cleaner can be a safer alternative to manually digging through system folders, where deleting the wrong file could cause problems.
Later in this article, we explain how we test Mac cleaning software, whether Mac cleaners are safe, and what to check before using a Mac cleaner, and answer common questions.
PROMOTIONMake Your Mac Fly with CleanMyMac
CleanMyMac is the ultimate solution for a faster and cleaner Mac. It smartly identifies and removes junk, deletes unnecessary files, optimizes performance, and protects your Mac machine against common threats. Unleash your Mac’s full potential and enjoy a smoother experience with CleanMyMac.
Try 7 days Free
Best Mac Cleaner 2026
We like MacPaw’s CleanMyMac because there is the choice of a yearly subscription or a one time purchase price if you think you might want to keep it for the long haul. It’s also one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly Mac cleaners. Since our original roundup, CleanMyMac has added new features including a redesigned UI and expanded cleanup tools for cloud storage in 2025.
Another option we really like is Parallels Toolbox which offers a bundle of handy tools for just about everything. There are also some cheaper options including Cleaner One Pro and Nektony’s App Cleaner & Uninstaller and free options such as Onyx and CCleaner.
Ultimately, the best cleaner is one that fits your budget and requirements. For a comprehensive, all-in-one solution, CleanMyMac is a top contender, while Cleaner One Pro offers great value. For those who want deep, technical control, MacCleaner Pro is a strong choice.
Below you can read about the Mac Cleaners we have reviewed. Read on to find out why we rate these options so highly.
1. MacPaw CleanMyMac – Best Mac cleaner for ease of use
Pros
Very easy to use
Comprehensive all-in-one toolkit
Fast, effective cleaning results
Cons
Expensive compared to rivals
Duplicates macOS built-in tools
Occasionally flags needed files
Price When Reviewed:
Basic (1 Mac): $9.95 per month; $47.50 per year; $119.95 one time fee. Plus (1 Mac): $15.95 per month; $71.40 annually; $195.95 one time fee
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
MacPaw (Basic: annual, 1 device)
$47.40
View Deal
MacPaw (Basic) One Time Purchase
$119.95
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Who CleanMyMac is best for: CleanMyMac is a good option for everyday Mac users and beginners who want simple, all-in-one maintenance without technical knowledge. Power users can still dig deeper, but it’s designed for convenience.
Why we like CleanMyMac: We like CleanMyMac X because it makes complex Mac maintenance simple, fast, and accessible in one polished app.
CleanMyMac’s main strength lies in combining multiple tools into one package. It offers cleaning, optimisation, and maintenance features through a very user-friendly interface with clear summaries. Users can quickly reclaim storage, manage apps, and visualise files using tools like Space Lens, which provides an intuitive overview of disk usage.
The app includes a wide range of tools: Smart Scan (which combines cleanup, malware checks, and optimisation), system junk and cache removal, an app uninstaller and updater, large and old file finder, malware and privacy tools, and performance optimisation features such as RAM management and maintenance scripts. Space Lens stands out as a particularly useful visual feature.
CleanMyMac is very beginner-friendly, offering one-click cleaning alongside more detailed file review options for greater control. Scans are fast and effective, often freeing up gigabytes of space by removing junk, unused apps, and leftover files. It is generally accurate and safe to use.
In terms of performance, it can improve responsiveness and free up storage, particularly on slower Macs. Compared to similar apps, it is more polished and easier to use.
However, there are some drawbacks. Certain features overlap with built-in macOS tools, and the software carries a premium price compared to competitors. It can also occasionally flag files that users may want to keep, meaning some manual checking is advisable. There is no built-in duplicate finder and the antivirus capabilities, though a nice addition, are not best-in-class like some of the options in our Best Antivirus for Mac round-up.
A free trial is available, but cleaning is limited to a maximum of 500MB. You can purchase from MacPaw’s website or via the Mac App Store – though that version lacks some features due to Apple restrictions. MacPaw is running a 30% discount for students – submit your university email address and receive a download code here.
You can get CleanMyMac here.
Read our full
CleanMyMac review
2. Parallels Toolbox – Best all-in-one toolkit
Pros
Huge tool variety
Very easy to use
Handy everyday utilities
Cons
Annual subscription required
Many tools unnecessary
Price When Reviewed:
$24.99 per year
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
Parallels Toolbox Free 14-day Trial
Free
View Deal
Parallels (1 year, 1 Mac)
$24.99
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Who Parallels Toolbox is best for: Parallels Toolbox is good for Mac (and Windows) users who want a wide range of simple utilities in one place – especially beginners or casual users who prefer convenience over deep control.
Why we like Parallels Toolbox: We like it because it combines dozens of genuinely useful everyday tools into one simple, polished app without overwhelming the user.
Parallels Toolbox brings together more than 50 tools – including cleaning, media, and system utilities – into a single, easy-to-access app with a clean interface and menu bar integration. Useful features such as Clipboard History, video downloading, duplicate finding, screen recording, and app uninstalling make it a practical everyday toolkit.
The main strength of Parallels Toolbox is its breadth and simplicity. It offers a broad mix of tools across system, file, and media categories, all designed to be quick and lightweight. Tools launch almost instantly and require little to no setup, making the software highly beginner-friendly. However, this simplicity comes at the cost of limited advanced control, which may frustrate more experienced users.
Its cleaning capabilities are solid for basic maintenance, allowing users to remove cache files, duplicates, and unnecessary data, as well as uninstall apps with leftover file cleanup. It is generally accurate, focusing on obvious junk files and avoiding risky deletions.
While it can help free up storage and slightly improve system responsiveness, it is not a deep optimisation tool.
On the downside, many of the included tools may feel unnecessary for some users. Additionally, the software is subscription-based, which may not appeal to everyone.
Compared to specialist apps like CleanMyMac, Parallels Toolbox is less powerful in individual areas but stands out as a versatile, all-in-one utility suite.
Parallel’s Toolbox is included free of charge along with Parallels Desktop but you can also purchase it as a standalone product for both Mac and Windows, with an annual subscription fee. There’s also a free 7-day trial that will actually delete files, free memory and do all those other useful things without you buying the app.
You can get Parallels Toolbox here.
Read our full
Parallels Toolbox review
3. Cleaner One Pro for Mac – Simple and fast Mac cleaner
Pros
Fast, stable, responsive performance
Clean, easy-to-use interface
Useful duplicate and cloud cleanup
Cons
Interface could use refinement
Lacks advanced/security features
Slightly less thorough cleaning
Price When Reviewed:
$19.99 a year for 1 device (usually $24.99)
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
Trend Micro (1 year, 1 Mac)
$19.99
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Who Cleaner One Pro is best for: Cleaner One Pro for Mac is a good option for Mac users who want a simple, reliable cleanup tool without complexity or all-in-one bloat.
Why we like Cleaner One Pro: It’s a well-balanced, fast, and easy-to-use cleaner that delivers reliable results without overwhelming users.
Cleaner One Pro delivers fast, stable performance with smooth navigation, making it particularly appealing for everyday users who value simplicity and efficiency.
The interface is well designed, easy to customise, and highly beginner-friendly, with guided scans that make it clear what’s safe to remove while still offering enough control for more confident users.
The app includes a solid set of core tools: a junk file cleaner, duplicate file finder, large file scanner with disk map, app manager for removing leftover files, startup manager, system monitoring tools, and a standout Dropbox scanner for identifying unnecessary cloud-based files. This Dropbox integration is relatively rare among competitors and adds useful functionality for users managing both local and cloud storage.
In terms of performance, Cleaner One Pro is quick to scan and responsive in use. It effectively removes junk files, duplicates, and app leftovers, helping to free up storage and improve system responsiveness. It is also generally accurate, avoiding overly aggressive file flagging, which reduces the risk of deleting important data. Its lightweight design means it has minimal impact on system performance while running.
However, it does have limitations. Some interface elements could be refined, and it lacks broader features such as antivirus protection or bundled extras like VPNs. Compared to more comprehensive competitors, its cleaning can be slightly less thorough, and it is not as feature-rich overall.
Despite this, Cleaner One Pro holds its own with competitive pricing, strong core functionality, and a more focused, less bloated experience than many alternatives, making it a solid choice for users who prioritise ease of use and speed over advanced features.
Cleaner One Pro offers is available on subscription. There is also a free version with basic scanning and no usage limits, making it easy to try without payment details. It’s also available on the Mac App Store and there’s also an iOS version on the iOS App Store.
Read our full
Cleaner One Pro for Mac review
4. MacCleaner Pro – Impressive tools at a good price
Pros
Frees significant storage space
Wide range of utilities
Beginner and advanced modes
Cons
Split into multiple apps
Clunky interface
Price When Reviewed:
$29.95/a year for 1 Mac, or $74.95 for 1 Mac (one time purchase)
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
Nektony (1 year, 1 Mac)
$29.95
View Deal
Nektony (one time purchase, 1 Mac)
$74.95
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Who MacCleaner Pro is best for: MacCleaner Pro is a good option for Mac users who want an all-in-one cleanup toolkit that offers both simple and more advanced controls.
Why we like MacCleaner Pro: It offers powerful cleaning tools via an straightforward interface.
MacCleaner Pro from Nektony is a comprehensive Mac maintenance suite that combines a core cleaning app with several dedicated modules, including App Cleaner & Uninstaller, Disk Space Analyzer, Duplicate File Finder, Memory Cleaner, and Funter. Together, these tools provide a broad set of utilities in one package, helping users reclaim storage space and manage system performance without needing technical expertise.
The core app performs overall disk cleaning, while individual modules offer more targeted control. The App Cleaner & Uninstaller is particularly strong, allowing users to remove apps alongside all associated files, manage startup programs and extensions, and track down leftover files. Duplicate File Finder provides precise filtering by file type, while Memory Cleaner highlights RAM usage by apps and processes. Funter adds visibility into hidden files, rounding out a feature-rich toolkit.
Ease of use is a key strength. The interface is clear and beginner-friendly, with a “Fast Cleanup” option that quickly removes unnecessary files, while advanced users can access deeper controls. In testing, Fast Cleanup cleared 11.4GB of space, while Deep Cleanup reclaimed an impressive 65.4GB, demonstrating strong cleaning effectiveness. Scans are generally fast, though deeper operations can take longer and may require user input.
The software is accurate and safe to use, focusing on clearly removable files such as caches, duplicates, and leftovers, though some manual judgement may be required during deeper cleaning. It can improve available storage and overall responsiveness, although intensive scans may temporarily impact performance.
However, MacCleaner Pro has some drawbacks. Its multi-app structure can feel fragmented, and occasional UI quirks – such as unnecessary system prompts – can interrupt the experience. It also lacks built-in malware protection, a feature offered by some competitors like CleanMyMac.
A free trial version is available, offering full functionality for two days. The app can be purchased via subscription or as a one-time license, making it a flexible option for users seeking an effective, all-in-one Mac cleanup solution.
There is a free trial version that is fully functioning for two days. You can purchase MacCleaner Pro via a monthly or yearly subscription, or as a one-time purchase, making it a flexible option for users seeking an effective, all-in-one Mac cleanup solution.
Read our full
Nektony MacCleaner Pro review
5. Avast Cleanup Premium – Best for deep cleaning with customization
Pros
Fast performance
Good customization options
Wide range of tools
Cons
Can be overly aggressive
Promotional opt-ins enabled
Not very innovative
Price When Reviewed:
$29.88 a year for 1 Mac (usually $65.99)
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
Avast (first year, 1 device)
$29.88
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Who Avast Cleanup Premium is best for: Avast Cleanup Premium for Mac is best suited to general users who want an all-in-one, affordable Mac cleaning tool with some customization, rather than power users seeking highly advanced or specialised optimisation tools.
Why we like Avast Cleanup Premium: It combines strong cleaning performance with a broad set of tools and fast operation, making it a practical all-in-one maintenance utility.
Avast Cleanup Premium for Mac is a well-rounded cleaning tool offering a broad set of utilities, including Quick Clean, duplicate finder, photo analysis, app uninstaller, startup manager, and a detailed system monitor. Its standout features include hardware monitoring and granular duplicate sorting, though it doesn’t introduce anything particularly new compared to competitors.
It delivers fast performance and effective cleaning, capable of digging deeper into system files to remove clutter, reclaim storage, and improve overall responsiveness. However, its cleaning can be overly aggressive if left unchecked, meaning users should review settings and results carefully to avoid removing more than intended.
The app is easy to install and generally beginner-friendly, with a clear interface, but also offers a good level of control and customization within each module. This balance makes it accessible while still allowing more hands-on management if desired.
In terms of accuracy, it works well but relies on user oversight, as some items flagged for removal may not always be ideal to delete. There’s no noted negative performance impact—instead, it can help improve system speed by freeing up space.
Compared to similar apps, it’s a solid all-rounder rather than a standout leader, matching competitors in functionality without significantly surpassing them.
A 30-day free trial (sometimes as long as 60-days during promotions) unlocks full functionality, allowing users to test all features before committing to a subscription.
Read our full
Avast Cleanup Premium for Mac review
6. CCleaner Pro – Good cleaning control
Pros
Strong customization and control options
Effective at clearing storage clutter
Wide range of cleaning tools
Cons
Clunky and dated interface design
Less polished than competitors
Not for beginners
Price When Reviewed:
Free; Pro version: $39.95 a year
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
Piriform Software (annually)
$39.95
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Who CCleaner is best for: Piriform Software’s CCleaner for Mac is suited to intermediate to advanced users who want detailed control over cleaning and storage, rather than a fully automated, beginner-first experience.
Why we like CCleaner: It delivers effective Mac cleaning with a high level of control, making it reliable for users who want to manage exactly what gets removed.
CCleaner for Mac is a flexible cleaning tool aimed at users who want more control over how their system is managed. It offers a range of modular features, including Quick Clean, Clean Clutter, Clean Browser, Find Duplicates, Analyze Photos, Uninstall Apps, Startup Manager, System Monitor, and storage statistics, making it more than a simple one-click cleaner.
Its main strength is the level of customization available. Users can target specific files such as caches, duplicates, large files, and browser data, helping to free up storage effectively. The software provides a clear analysis before deletion, improving accuracy and giving users confidence in what is being removed. Overall, it performs well at cleaning and can improve system responsiveness by reducing clutter, without causing noticeable performance issues.
However, the interface feels somewhat dated and less polished than competing apps. It lacks the visual refinement and automation found in alternatives like CleanMyMac or DaisyDisk, and achieving the best results often requires manual input. While installation and basic use are straightforward, the software leans toward a more hands-on approach, meaning advanced users will benefit most from its features.
In terms of performance, scans and analysis are reasonably quick, and cleaning speed depends on user selections. CCleaner stands out for its granular control and detailed tools, but falls short in offering a more modern, streamlined experience.
A free version is available with basic cleaning functionality, while more advanced features are locked behind the Pro version.
Read our full
CCleaner Pro review
7. Onyx – Excellent free option
Pros
Excellent utility
Good customization
Reliable bug fixes and updates
Cons
Scheduling feature needs refinement
Intimidating
Price When Reviewed:
Free
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
Titanium Software (Donationware)
Free
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Who OnyX is best for: Suited to users who want deep access to macOS system tools – particularly power users and more experienced Mac owners.
Why we like OnyX: This is. a long-standing free utility that provides powerful tools for macOS maintenance, cache cleaning, and running maintenance scripts.
OnyX provides easy access to the powerful underlying tools within macOS, allowing users to run advanced, customizable maintenance scripts for tasks such as checking volume structures, repairing permissions, cleaning system databases, and accessing low-level system specifications. It also simplifies access to complex system functions like security settings, login options, Display Calibrator, and Keychain Access, making it a highly capable utility.
The depth of functionality makes OnyX an indispensable tool for everyday and power users alike, but its real strength lies with those comfortable going beyond basic cleaning. Its extensive customization and ability to work with low-level system features appeal most to users who want control, understand system settings, or are willing to learn.
Our main criticism is that the Scheduling feature is a bit vague and seems to only function around specific days, hours, and minutes.
While capable everyday users can benefit, the lack of tutorials and slightly vague scheduling feature mean it can feel intimidating for beginners, and support responses may be slow. For that reason, OnyX is best suited to power users and technically confident Mac users, though others can benefit if they’re prepared to spend time learning its features.
Onyx is Donationware, with users asked to send along whatever they believe the program is worth.
Read our full
Onyx review
8. Daisy Disk – Nice one off price
Pros
Quickly scans storage and finds large files
Graphical representation
File name previews
Can check cloud storage
Cons
Some user-interface quirks
Price When Reviewed:
$9.99
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
Software Ambience (One time purchase)
$9.99
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Who DaisyDisk is best for: It’s best for users who want a simple, visual way to understand and manage their storage, rather than a full all-in-one cleaning suite.
Why we like DaisyDisk: It is a visually appealing disk analyzer that helps you understand what’s taking up space on your Mac.
Rather than a fully automated cleaning tool. DaisyDisk focuses on helping you clearly see what’s taking up space and gives you full control over what to delete.
At its core, the app uses a clean, engaging interface to visualize data across local, network, and even some cloud-based volumes, mapping out files so you can quickly identify large, space-hogging items. It supports a wide range of file systems, disk images, and network volumes, and can scan almost any accessible storage. Users can also connect services like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Box to track down old files, though there are some limitations – Google Drive access issues were noted, and iCloud Drive can only be scanned locally due to Apple restrictions. See our round-up of the best cloud backups for Mac.
DaisyDisk is well suited to those who prefer manual control and clarity over automation. It does one job very well: helping you find and remove large files efficiently. You can scan entire drives or specific folders, and deletions are entirely user-driven, with a short countdown window to prevent mistakes.
It’s also ideal for users who want a tool that’s easy and even enjoyable to use, thanks to its intuitive, visually appealing design, rather than something complex or overloaded with features. While it lacks the automation of some competitors, its focused approach and transparency make it highly effective for reclaiming storage space – often freeing up significant amounts of data in the process.
Unlike so many apps you don’t have to sign up for a subscription package: the app retails for a one off fee of $9.99/£9.99, which is excellent value.
Read our full
Daisy Disk review
9. Klarity Disk – Visual disk analysis
Pros
Clear and intuitive visual interface
Fast scanning and responsive performance
Simple, focused and lightweight tool
Cons
Limited features beyond disk analysis
Lacks automation and smart cleaning
Not as powerful as rivals
Price When Reviewed:
$6.99
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
Klarity
$6.99
View Deal
Mac App Store
6.99
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Who Klarity Disk is best for: Klarity Disk is suited to users who want a simple, visual disk analysis tool with a focus on understanding storage rather than full system cleaning.
Why we like Klarity Disk: It provides a clean, easy-to-understand way to visualise and manage disk space without unnecessary complexity.
Klarity Disk is a lightweight Mac utility designed to help users understand and manage storage through a clear, visual interface. It uses treemap-style graphics to map disk usage, making it easy to explore folders, identify large files, and navigate storage. Basic file management tools are included, allowing users to locate and manually delete unwanted files.
Its biggest strength is simplicity. The app provides a clear visual breakdown of storage, helping users quickly find large or unnecessary files. It’s lightweight, focused, and avoids unnecessary extras, offering good value.
Klarity is beginner-friendly, with an intuitive interface that’s easy to navigate. At the same time, it offers high manual control, as users decide what to delete. Scanning is fast and responsive, quickly highlighting problem areas without slowing the system.
In terms of cleaning, Klarity is effective at identifying large and unnecessary files and does allow file removal. However, it relies entirely on user decisions rather than automated suggestions, which contributes to its high accuracy and low risk of deleting important files. It can help free up storage and may improve responsiveness indirectly, with no noticeable performance impact.
However, it lacks the broader functionality of full system cleaners, with no automation, advanced cleanup tools, or deeper optimisation features.
Compared to alternatives like DaisyDisk, it offers a similar visual approach but with fewer refinements. Against full-featured cleaners, it is more limited but also simpler and more focused.
It’s a paid app with a low one-time of $6.99/£6.99, available on the Mac App Store or from Klarity.
Read our full
Klarity Disk review
10. MacPaw Gemini – Dependable duplicate deleter
Pros
Capable of finding multiple duplicate types
Excellent search customization
Handy preferences and options
Cons
Lack of additional filters makes sorting located duplicates tedious
Needs a scheduling feature
Price When Reviewed:
From $19.95 for 1 Mac, annually
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
MacPaw (1 year, 1 Mac)
$19.95
View Deal
MacPaw (one time purchase, 1 Mac)
$44.95
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Why we like MacPaw Gemini: While not a comprehensive Mac cleaner that handles system junk or malware, it excels at its specific task of duplicate removal.
Though not strictly a Mac cleaner, like other apps in this round-up, MacPaw’s Gemini 2 can certainly help you get back some disc space. It is a duplicate removal tool that focuses specifically on reducing the thousands of duplicate photos in your Photos library. It also hunts down duplicate files within Apple Music and across the macOS operating system. The app is available through Apple’s App Store and MacPaw’s SetApp application, which grants access to Gemini and other apps for $9.99 (£7.60) a month. It is easy to install and offers a seven-day free trial in exchange for either your credit or debit card information.
The app includes scripts for easy scanning of the Photos library and your Music library, as well as custom folders and external volumes that can be chosen from a menu or dragged, dropped, and quickly scanned. Other features include Menu Bar elements, whitelists that can be created that are exempt from being scanned, and a Duplicate Monitor feature that helps compare files and heads off duplicates before they begin to pile up.
In testing, Gemini 2 quickly sought out duplicates, offered the option to remove them, and eradicated them from our hard drive. This also applies to music files and other document types, and the Duplicate Monitor warns you about possible duplicates that have been carried over to your hard drive.
However, there are some caveats, such as confusion about account registration and permissions after downloading and installing Gemini 2 from the App Store. MacPaw is urging its clients towards SetApp subscriptions, which offer full access to the company’s apps for a given rate per month.
While Gemini 2 runs well, a scheduling feature for folder or volume scans would not go amiss. An improved filter for locating duplicate items would be more helpful.
Despite some minor hurdles, Gemini 2 is well-written, sharp, helpful, fast, works well with all kinds of duplicates, and lends a good feature set to the macOS operating system without being overbearing. It hones in on its tasks and performs them well enough to earn the trust of users.
Read our full
MacPaw Gemini review
11. AVG TuneUp Premium
Pros
Good speed and performance
Great level of customization and ability to add whitelists as needed
Reasonable price point and (currently) good offer
Cons
Buggy – main window couldn’t be set to full screen or resized
The Uninstall Apps module required multiple authentications
Bad Photo feature in the Analyze Photos module functions on vague criteria
Price When Reviewed:
$65.99 per year for one device; currently $34.99 for 10 devices (usually $79.99)
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
AVG
$65.99
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Why we like AVG TuneUp Premium: This app works as advertised to reclaim disk space and offers a high level of customization. It suffers from some user interface bugs, such as a main window that cannot be resized.
AVG’s TuneUp Premium for Mac claims to reclaim lost space by removing junk data, duplicate files, and poor-quality photos, improving Mac performance.
The software is divided into modules: Quick Clean, Clean Clutter, Clean Browser, Find Duplicates, Analyse Photos, Uninstall Apps, Manage Startups, System Monitor, and Statistics. Each module runs quickly, has a user-friendly interface, and effectively removes common detritus, recovering gigabytes of lost drive space.
The modules work as advertised, with AVG adding customisation to filter files, folders, drives, and volumes. The Clean Browser module lets users create a Cookie Allowlist to avoid conflicts. The Find Duplicates application categorises found documents and allows adding folders or external drives for sorting.
Utilities like Uninstall Apps and Manage Startups also worked well. Manage Startups provides deeper insights into startup load than macOS Settings, with easy toggling of settings. The System Monitor module offers system information, including CPU/memory usage, sensors, disk usage, battery usage, and life, and is available from the Menu Bar.
However, there are issues. The Uninstall Apps module required two Touch ID authentications, which seems odd. The user interface is polished but doesn’t allow full-screen mode or resizing.
The Bad Photos feature in Analyse Photos is vague, and the few images it found didn’t seem damaged, blurry, or out of focus, but rather oddities that didn’t fit into the Photos Library.
AVG TuneUp Premium for Mac offers a good program with excellent customisation, allowing users to add exceptions and whitelists before applying large-scale filters and cleanup routines. The software focuses on its core tasks, such as antivirus protection, without attempting to do everything else. However, there’s room for improvement.
Read our full
AVG TuneUp review
12. Intego Washing Machine
Pros
Reclaim drive space and remove duplicate files
Good customization, filters, and settings
Cons
Annoying pop-ups
Installation difficult
Price When Reviewed:
$19.99 for one Mac for first year (usually $49.99)
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
Intego (1 year, 1 Mac, 60% off)
$19.99
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Why we like Intego Washing Machine X9: It’s a straightforward utility for reclaiming disk space and removing duplicates. While effective, it doesn’t offer groundbreaking features compared to its competitors and its “Organize” tool is seen as a superficial fix for messy folders.
Intego’s Washing Machine X9 is a handy cleaning utility for the Mac that focuses on reclaiming disk space via the Reclaim tool, removing duplicate files on your Mac’s hard drive with the Duplicates tool, and organizing folders using the Organize tool.
As is standard, the software (compatible with macOS 13 High Sierra or later) requires that you grant it full access to your hard drive though your Mac’s Privacy and Security settings. Less standard was that we had to locate the Intego Washing Machine X9 app in the Applications folder and drag it into Full Disk Access in Privacy and Security settings to get it to function. It is more common that an installer will add an easy icon that can be dragged into the macOS Full Disk Access pane to complete the installation.
There’s a good level of customization. Like similar applications, the Reclaim tool can chase after caches, downloads, language files, logs, and trash files to help clean up disk space. The initial run cleared approximately 24GB of drive space from my M2 MacBook Pro’s SSD.
The Duplicates tool took about five hours to create an initial index for my 1TB SSD. It offered control over duplicates that can be selected and specific options and naming filters.
The Organize feature can help organize messy folders into a Snapshot folder for reorganization later. This tool can work with specific folders such as the ever-messy Desktop folder, your Home folder, and macOS’ Smart Folders, and help pull things into order. This Organize feature does feel like slapping a band-aid on the larger problem of a folder’s disorganization though.The Scheduling option only allows for a specific week or month to be chosen, and it would have been nice to be able to schedule a process for a few minutes from now, as is common with similar software.
While it’s nice to be able to reclaim a few dozen gigabytes of drive space and have control over the duplicate files on your Mac, Washing Machine offers nothing groundbreaking.
With the current discounts and its attractive user interface it’s worth a look though. Alternatively, Intego’s Washing Machine X9 is bundled with Intego’s larger security suite so you could take advantage of that and get a Mac Cleaner with Intego’s Antivirus solution. The Mac Premium Bundle includes VirusBarrier, NetBarrier, Content Barrier, and Personal Backup solutions.
Read our full
Intego Washing Machine X9 review
13. Nektony App Cleaner & Uninstaller
Pros
Friendly interface, good performance
Cheap option
Cons
Mediocre update utility
Problems with Remaining Files module
Price When Reviewed:
$14.95 a year for 1 Mac
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
Nektony (1 year, 1 Mac)
$14.95
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Why we like App Cleaner & Uninstaller: It offers a user-friendly interface and can dig deep into macOS to find and remove leftover files and unwanted extensions.
App Cleaner & Uninstaller simplifies the process of removing unwanted applications, startup programs, extensions, remaining files, and updates.
The Applications module indexes all applications and allows users to easily find and remove even the remnants of software. The Startup Programs module provides a convenient list of startup applications, categorised into All Programs, Active, and Disabled, and lets users select which to remove. The Extensions module categorises Mac extensions into Installation Files, Web Browser Extensions, Screen Savers, Settings Panes, Internet Plugins, and Widgets, making it easy to locate and remove specific extensions.
Unfortunately, App Cleaner & Uninstaller’s Remaining Files and Updater elements are problematic. The Remaining Files module, though useful, offers a generalised ‘Remove’ feature that can remove critical system elements like the App Store, affecting your Mac’s functionality.
During testing, it targeted Adobe Creative Cloud applications and files, removing file systems and requiring reinstallation of several Adobe applications. While a generalised cleanup is possible, the Remaining Files module should be used carefully to avoid removing critical elements. The Updates feature missed major updates like ff-Works, Slack, and Microsoft Office.
Read our full
Nektony App Cleaner & Uninstaller review
You may also like to consider:
Disk Doctor, $2.99/£2.99 a year.
Tuneup for Mac, $65.99/£54.99 a year.
We have also looked at MacBooster, find out why we don’t recommend it here: MacBooster Review: it’s no surprise people think it’s malware.
For more information about why a Mac cleaner app could be useful read: Why your Mac needs a cleaner app. We also discuss Tips for cleaning up your Mac.
What are the best free Mac Cleaner options?
If you prefer not to pay, several reliable free Mac cleaners exist, ranging from completely free utilities to limited free versions of premium software.
While macOS includes built-in storage management tools, they require more manual effort and carry the risk of deleting important system files if you’re not careful. You should only use macOS tools if you are confident that you are not deleting critical system files. While macOS includes protections to prevent you from easily damaging the operating system, manual deletion of certain folders can lead to application errors or system instability. Third-party apps often provide more automated ways to clear caches, logs, and unneeded system data.
The following are the most effective free options we have tested for maintaining a Mac.
OnyX: A long-standing, completely free utility that provides powerful tools for macOS maintenance, cache cleaning, and running maintenance scripts. Options like OnyX are suited to technical experts troubleshooting persistent system issues.
CCleaner: This well known tool offers a free version with useful cleaning features, though a professional version is also available.
Avira Free Security: While primarily an antivirus, it includes a Junk Cleaner module that can clear out gigabytes of unnecessary files, though many other features are behind a paywall.
Several premium cleaners offer trials that allow you to clean your Mac for free for a limited time or up to a certain data limit:
Nektony App Cleaner & Uninstaller: This software is available as a two-day free download. It excels at finding Remaining Files from previously deleted applications.
CleanMyMac: Is highly recommended for its user-friendly interface, which allows you to know what needs fixing without bombarding you with confusing information. It offers a free trial that shows how much space can be freed, though full cleaning may require a subscription.
DaisyDisk and MacCleaner Pro: Also offer free trials that provide a way to clean your system without immediate cost.
How to choose the best Mac Cleaner
Choosing the best Mac cleaner depends on your needs, budget, and comfort with system tools. Some apps focus purely on freeing up disk space, while others offer broader features like app uninstallation, RAM management, system optimisation, and even antivirus protection.
If you just want to reclaim storage – perhaps to install a macOS update – a simple, low-cost cleaner may be enough. These tools are usually easy to use and focused on quick results.
For many users, a standalone app uninstaller can be a smart middle ground. Leftover files from deleted apps are a common cause of clutter, and tools like Nektony’s App Cleaner can remove these without the complexity of a full suite.
If you want more comprehensive maintenance, including performance improvements, deeper system insights, and added security features, a full-featured cleaner is worth considering.
Ultimately, the best Mac cleaner is the one that fits your requirements and budget. Any app included in this roundup that matches your criteria comes recommended.
Most Mac cleaners include tools such as:
Duplicate finding: Locate identical files to free up space.
Startup management: Disable apps that slow boot times.
Browser & privacy cleaning: Remove cookies and tracking data.
System monitoring: Track RAM, CPU, and overall performance.
How Macworld tests Mac Cleaning software
To test Mac cleaning software, Macworld’s experts run the applications on a test system and perform real-world evaluations to assess their performance in typical use cases . The review process focuses on several key criteria to determine the software’s effectiveness and value.
The primary steps and evaluation criteria include:
Scanning and File Removal: The software is first used to scan a test system for junk files, caches, and temporary files that can be deleted. Success is measured not just by the amount of space the app frees up, but also by ensuring the cleaning process doesn’t cause data loss or performance slowdowns.
Module Effectiveness: Beyond simple file cleaning, the evaluation extends to the various modules included in each app. This includes testing the efficiency of features like app uninstallers and RAM management tools.
User Experience and Value: Our reviewers also assess the software’s ease of use and overall value for money. For example, CleanMyMac is noted for simplifying its scan results into a series of tiles for a quick summary.
Features and Innovations: New and updated features are also a point of focus. For instance, a 2025 update to CleanMyMac introduced a “Purgeable Space” option to scan for old files and a “Space Lens” feature that provides a visual guide to storage usage, which were highlighted in its review.
Our goal is to provide unbiased recommendations based on real-world testing. Our approach is to use the products ourselves, running real-world tests to accurately assess how the software will perform in typical use.
Why you should trust Macworld
Macworld’s Mac cleaner app reviewer, Chris Barylick, is an Apple-Certified Macintosh Technician with more than twenty years of experience fixing Macs and in this time has seen just about every scenario that can be conceived of. You can trust the unbiassed recommendations and buying advice of Macworld’s team of experts because we use the products ourselves, running real-world tests to accurately assess how the software will perform in typical use.
FAQ
1.
Can you clean your Mac without using a Mac Cleaner?
macOS doesn’t have a built-in system cleaner, but with a little knowhow you can do the job yourself.
It is possible to clean your Mac for free, however there are risks involved. There’s a reason why Apple doesn’t let you access the contents of System Data: if you delete the wrong thing it could bring down your whole Mac! However you can follow the steps in this tutorial to free up space without spending anything: How to delete System Data on a Mac.
2.
Is it worth paying for a Mac Cleaner or can I clean my Mac for free?
There are several options available that offer free trials or are completely free.
Free Trials: Some Mac cleaner apps, such as CleanMyMac, DaisyDisk, Parallels ToolBox and MacCleaner Pro featured above, offer free trial versions that allow users to clean their Mac for free for a limited period.
Free Versions: CCleaner has a free version with useful cleaning features. OnyX is a free utility that provides access to powerful tools for cleaning and maintenance of the macOS operating system
Some of these trials will merely show you how much space you can free up, but several are essentially free Mac Cleaners that will allow you to clean your Mac for free, albeit for a limited period. While some of these options may have limitations or time restrictions, they provide a way to clean your Mac without immediate cost.
3.
Is there a totally free Mac cleaner?
CCleaner and OnyX are the best options if you are looking for a free Mac cleaner. Alternatively you can use Apple’s built in tools to help you find ways to make more space and delete data you don’t need. See: How to check a Mac’s free hard drive space and How to clear disk space on a Mac and How to find and delete duplicate files on Mac.
4.
Why use a Mac cleaner
Using a Mac cleaner application can be beneficial for system maintenance and performance, especially if a Mac is slowing down, freezing, or frequently running out of RAM.
One of the primary reasons to use a cleaner is to identify and remove “cruft” – unnecessary files that accumulate over time and consume significant disk space. These apps are particularly effective at targeting “System Data” (formerly “Other” storage), which includes large caches, logs, and temporary files that are often difficult to locate manually.
By using these tools, users can safely clear gigabytes of data, such as:
Application Leftovers: Files remaining after an app is dragged to the Trash.
Duplicate Files: Identical documents, photos, or downloads that waste space.
Language Files: Unused localization data for languages the user does not speak.
Large/Old Files: Scanners that visually map out storage to highlight forgotten space-hogs.
Beyond just freeing up space, Mac cleaners can improve overall responsiveness by optimizing how the system handles resources. Many suites include performance-specific modules that allow users to:
Manage Startup Items: Disable unnecessary background apps and “launch agents” that slow down boot times.
Free Up RAM: Identify and shut down memory-intensive processes to reduce freezing.
Maintenance Scripts: Run routine tasks like clearing DNS caches or re-indexing Spotlight to speed up search results.
While macOS includes some built-in tools for basic upkeep, dedicated cleaning software often provides a more comprehensive and user-friendly way to handle deep system maintenance without requiring technical expertise.
5.
Who should use a Mac cleaner?
Mac cleaners are best for users who want to maintain their system without technical knowledge. They provide a simple, all-in-one way to manage storage and performance.
Non-technical users: Ideal for those unfamiliar with manual maintenance, as they simplify complex tasks.
Limited storage users: Disk analysis tools help identify large files, duplicates, and clutter to free up space.
Frequent app installers: Dedicated uninstallers remove leftover files that standard deletion misses.
Pre-update users: Useful for clearing clutter before major macOS upgrades.
6.
Who should not use a Mac cleaner?
For some users, Mac cleaners are unnecessary or not the best option.
Power users: Those comfortable with Terminal or manual file management can do similar tasks for free.
Budget-conscious users: Many top tools are paid, while free options like OnyX or CCleaner may suffice.
Security-conscious users: Avoid cleaners found via suspicious ads, which may lead to malware.
Users with basic needs: macOS already includes built-in protections, and some cleaners offer limited security features compared to dedicated antivirus tools.
7.
What should you do before using a Mac cleaner?
There are a few things you should do before you use a Mac cleaner to make any changes to your Mac.
Make a backup: Whether you use a Mac Cleaner, or try to delete things like caches and system files yourself, we strongly recommend that you make a backup first. Things can go wrong and you will be glad to be able to ‘undo’ what you did should a problem arise.
Do some housekeeping: Before you use a Mac Cleaner, see if you can clear some space with a little bit of a tidy up. Delete old downloads from your downloads folder; open the finder and delete any largest files you don’t need; empty your trash.
Check Apple’s recommendations: Also take a look at Apple’s own suggestions of ways to free up space in Settings > Storage, these are likely to include using iCloud and deleting things like Messages and Mail with large attachments.
Get advice: Read our guidance on How to clear disk space on a Mac and How to delete System Data on a Mac.
8.
Is it safe to use a Mac Cleaner
Using a Mac cleaner is generally safe – and often helpful for maintaining performance – provided you choose reputable software and use it carefully. While macOS already includes built-in protections, third-party cleaners can help reclaim disk space and remove files that are difficult to locate manually.
However, not all Mac cleaners are trustworthy. You should avoid tools discovered through suspicious ads, especially those posing as “how-to” guides that encourage you to run Terminal commands. These can sometimes install malware or give attackers remote access to your system.
Even legitimate cleaners come with some risk. Most require Full Disk Access, which gives them deep access to your files. This is necessary for functionality, but it also means you should only install apps from trusted developers.
There are a few key things to watch out for:
System integrity risks: Some advanced cleaning modules can remove important files if not configured properly, potentially affecting macOS features or apps.
Malicious ads and fake tools: Be cautious of deceptive search ads that redirect to fake support pages or unsafe downloads.
Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs): Some cleaners have poor reputations for aggressive behaviour or misleading prompts.
To stay safe, always download software from official websites or the Mac App Store, and avoid granting permissions unless you trust the app. It’s also strongly recommended to back up your Mac before running any cleaning tool, as certain actions can be difficult to reverse.
Used responsibly, a good Mac cleaner can be a safe and effective way to free up space and keep your system running smoothly.
Related Articles
How to clear cache on a Mac
How to clear RAM on a Mac
How to speed up a slow Mac
How to clean install macOS on your Mac
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Purple – G1EU0LL/A – $1,609.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Purple
– G1EU0LL/A
$1,609.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
16GB unified memory
1TB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Purple – G1EU0LL/A – $1,609.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Purple
– G1EU0LL/A
$1,609.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
16GB unified memory
1TB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Purple – G1EU0LL/A – $1,609.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Purple
– G1EU0LL/A
$1,609.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
16GB unified memory
1TB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Orange – FWV83LL/A – $1,269.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Orange
– FWV83LL/A
$1,269.00
$1,499.00 −15%
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
16GB unified memory
256GB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Silver – G1EH2LL/A – $1,609.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass - Silver
– G1EH2LL/A
$1,609.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
24GB unified memory
256GB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green – G1K34LL/A – $1,779.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green
– G1K34LL/A
$1,779.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
32GB unified memory
512GB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Apple AirPods Max on sale for $120 off MSRP, only $429.99 Walmart has AirPods Max headphones on sale for $429.99, $120 off Apple's MSRP. Sale price for online orders only, in-store price may vary. Order online, and choose free shipping or free local store pickup (if available).
It's the lowest price available for these AirPods among the retailers we track.
Keep an eye on our AirPods Price Tracker for the latest prices and deals, updated daily.
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Blue – G1K57LL/A – $1,779.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass - Blue
– G1K57LL/A
$1,779.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
24GB unified memory
512GB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Silver – G1EJ4LL/A – $2,119.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass - Silver
– G1EJ4LL/A
$2,119.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
16GB unified memory
2TB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Green – G1K37LL/A – $1,779.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass - Green
– G1K37LL/A
$1,779.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
24GB unified memory
512GB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green – G1K30LL/A – $1,779.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green
– G1K30LL/A
$1,779.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
24GB unified memory
1TB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Apple M4 Mac Mini w/ Apple 27″ Studio Display (2026) for Preorder from $2,099 + free shipping Bundle your choice of Apple M4 Mac Mini with the brand-new Apple 27″ Studio Display with Standard Glass and Tilt-Adjustable Stand to save an extra $100 – making it one of the few places to get an early savings on the Studio Display.The Studio Display is expected to release on March 11. Buy Now at […]
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – G1K64LL/A – $1,779.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink
– G1K64LL/A
$1,779.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
32GB unified memory
512GB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Silver – G1K1ALL/A – $1,949.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass - Silver
– G1K1ALL/A
$1,949.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
32GB unified memory
512GB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Yellow – G1K22LL/A – $2,459.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass - Yellow
– G1K22LL/A
$2,459.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
32GB unified memory
2TB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Silver – G1K13LL/A – $2,119.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Silver
– G1K13LL/A
$2,119.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
24GB unified memory
2TB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Green – G1K31LL/A – $2,119.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass - Green
– G1K31LL/A
$2,119.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
32GB unified memory
1TB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Purple – G1K70LL/A – $1,779.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Purple
– G1K70LL/A
$1,779.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
24GB unified memory
1TB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green – G1K36LL/A – $2,289.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Green
– G1K36LL/A
$2,289.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
32GB unified memory
2TB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass – Yellow – G1K21LL/A – $2,119.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet, Nano-texture glass - Yellow
– G1K21LL/A
$2,119.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
32GB unified memory
1TB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…
Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink – G1K66LL/A – $2,289.00 Refurbished 24-inch iMac Apple M4 Chip with 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU, Gigabit Ethernet- Pink
– G1K66LL/A
$2,289.00
Originally released October 2024
24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
32GB unified memory
2TB SSD¹
12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Gigabit Ethernet
Product page on the Apple Store…