Questions and answers

No. Everything it clears goes to the Trash, where you can see it and put it back. There's no delete command in the app. Space is freed when you empty the Trash yourself.

No. It only offers folders your tools generate and can rebuild, like node_modules, .venv or Rust's target. Right before each move it checks the folder again, and skips it if it holds a .git folder, project files, .env files or lockfiles. Nothing moves until you review the list and confirm.

Open Cleanup History, select the item and choose Show in Trash. Finder opens with it selected; choose File > Put Back. Once you empty the Trash, it's gone, and the project's package manager or build makes it again.

Time Machine keeps local snapshots of your disk for about a day, and a snapshot holds on to files deleted after it was taken. macOS removes snapshots on its own when it needs the space, so the space comes back without you doing anything. Some apps also report free space that counts snapshot space as available, which is why two of them can disagree.

Yes. Turn on dry run in Settings → General → Cleanup Safety. A cleanup then runs every safety check but moves nothing, so you see exactly what it would take.

The folder contains files committed to your Git repository. Clearing it is still safe to undo, but the files will show up as deleted in git status until you rebuild or put them back.

Node, Python, Xcode & Swift, Rust, Java & Kotlin, .NET, Go, Dart & Flutter, C & C++, Ruby, PHP, Unity, Godot, Elixir and Terraform. You can switch rules off per ecosystem in Settings → Cleanup Rules.

Folders with generic names like dist, build, out or vendor can hold anything, including files you can't regenerate, so Shavings leaves them alone on purpose. It does clear specific build folders it can prove were generated, such as a CMake build folder.

Macs with Apple silicon (M1 or later) running macOS 15 Sequoia or later. Intel Macs aren't supported.

macOS protects some folders, like Desktop, Documents and Downloads, and asks before any app reads them. You'll only see this if one of your scan locations is or contains such a folder. If you say no, Shavings skips that folder. You can change your answer later in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Files and Folders.

Not at the moment. Shavings scans folders on your Mac's own disk, and never crosses into another drive, even through a folder that leads there. External drives, network shares and folders synced with iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive can't be added as scan locations.

Quit Shavings and move it from Applications to the Trash. To remove its settings and history too, delete ~/Library/Application Support/Shavings.

No. There's no account, and the app doesn't upload your file names, paths or scan results. The only request it makes itself is the update check, which asks shavings.app for the latest version and needs an internet connection. Links like Changelog open in your browser. See the privacy policy.

Soon. Leave your email on the home page and you'll get one email, on the day it launches.

Choose Shavings → Check for Updates…, or turn on automatic checks in Settings → General. Shavings shows what's new and installs an update only if it's signed by us. Checking needs an internet connection.

$9.99 plus tax, paid once. The checkout shows the price in your currency with any tax for your country. There's no subscription, and every update to Shavings 1 is free. A future Shavings 2 may be a paid upgrade.

Moving items to the Trash needs a license. Scanning, dry runs, Cleanup History and putting items back keep working without one, so nothing you moved is ever stuck in the Trash.

It arrives by email from licenses@shavings.app a minute or so after you pay. In Shavings, choose Shavings → License… and paste the whole key. The app checks it on your Mac, without going online.

Any Mac you own or use. A license is personal: it's for one person, so everyone on a team needs a license of their own. See the terms.

Yes. A personal license covers your own projects and your work. To buy licenses for a team or company, email support@shavings.app for volume pricing.

Yes. Ask within 14 days of buying and you'll get one, no questions asked. Email support@shavings.app or contact Paddle, which handles payment.

Check your spam folder first. Then email support@shavings.app from the address you bought with, or include your Paddle receipt, and we'll send it again.