Ignore items during scanning

Not everything a scan finds is something you want to act on. A cache that keeps an app fast, a folder of similar-looking files you need, or an app you'd rather update yourself can show up in the results again and again.

CleanMyMac lets you add such items to an ignore list. Items on an ignore list don't appear in scan results, so you can focus on what you actually want to review.

CleanMyMac has a separate ignore list for each category that supports one. There's also the Other list that works across all modules and categories.

• Items on an ignore list stay out of scan results, including the results of Smart Care scans.

• Changes to an ignore list take effect after the next scan.

• Some lists include items by default.

You can manage all ignore lists in one place — the Ignore List tab in CleanMyMac Settings.

You can add items to an ignore list from scan results. For most categories, you can also add them from Settings.

Add items from scan results

1. Run a scan and open the results of a category, such as System Junk or Downloads.

2. Right-click the item you want to ignore.

   

3. Choose "Add [item] to Ignore List".

   In Duplicates and Similar, you can also right-click a group of files and choose the same option.

CleanMyMac adds that item or items to the ignore list.

Add items from Settings

1. Open CleanMyMac Settings.

2. Click Ignore List.

3. In the left pane, select a category.

4. Click Add (+) below the list.

   

5. In the dialog that opens, choose the item or items you want to ignore and confirm your choice.

   What you can add depends on the category. Mail Attachments, AI Clutter, and Malware Removal don't have the Add button (+), so you can add items to them only from scan results.

• System Junk — items you want to keep out of system junk cleanup. You can add items from scan results, and apps in Settings.

  By default, the list includes system language files for the languages you've added in macOS System Settings > General > Language & Region. You can't remove these items.

• Mail Attachments — email attachments you want to keep out of the scan results. You can add items only from scan results.

• AI Clutter — AI tool files you want to keep out of the scan results. You can add items only from scan results.

• Malware Removal — items you're sure are safe, so CleanMyMac doesn't flag them again. You can add items only from scan results.

• Uninstaller — apps you don't want CleanMyMac to suggest uninstalling, and app leftovers you don't want it to suggest removing. You can add apps from scan results or in Settings.

  By default, the "Ignore system applications" checkbox is selected, so macOS system apps stay out of Uninstaller.

• Updater — apps you don't want CleanMyMac to offer to update. You can add apps from scan results or in Settings.

• Downloads — files and folders from your Downloads folder that you want to keep out of the scan results. You can add files and folders from scan results or in Settings.

• Similar — images you don't want CleanMyMac to mark as similar, and folders you don't want it to check for similar images. You can add image files and folders from scan results or in Settings.

• Duplicates — files you don't want CleanMyMac to mark as duplicates, and folders you don't want it to check for duplicates. You can add files and folders from scan results or in Settings.

• Other — items you want CleanMyMac to ignore in all modules and categories. You can add anything you choose to this list only in Settings.

You can remove items from an ignore list only in Settings.

1. Open CleanMyMac Settings.

2. Click Ignore List.

3. In the left pane, choose a category.

4. In the list, select the item you want to remove.

5. Click Remove (−) below the list.

   CleanMyMac includes the item in scan results again after the next scan.

   

To clear the items you added and return a list to its initial state:

1. Open CleanMyMac Settings.

2. Click Ignore List.

3. Below the categories in the left pane, click the down arrow and choose what to reset.

   • Reset Selected Ignore List — resets only the ignore list for the category selected in the left pane.

   • Reset All Ignore Lists — resets ignore lists for all categories.

   

4. In the confirmation dialog, click Reset Ignore List.

When you upgrade from CleanMyMac X, CleanMyMac doesn't move your ignore lists to the new version. To keep ignoring the same items, add them to the ignore lists again.