Purge is a Mac utility that shows what is consuming storage and provides tools for removing caches, large files, unused applications, leftover application data, and Apple Intelligence models. Its cleanup features can help recover space, although users should review items before deleting anything they may still need.
Finding space on a Mac
To get started, download Purge and install it. When you open the app, it displays what is taking up space on your Mac.
Purge marks certain items as trusted and safe to clean, but it is still worth reviewing its recommendations before proceeding. One place to start is the cache section, which lists cached files that can generally be deleted regularly.
Apple’s Aerial screen saver videos also appear in the list. The videos may look impressive, but they can occupy a substantial amount of storage. If you do not use the screen saver, removing those files could free up space.
Developer files and large items
Purge includes a section for developer tools that will not be relevant to most users. However, people who use Homebrew should not overlook it: the section offers a straightforward way to remove cached installation files that are no longer needed.
Another tool displays the largest files on the computer, which are likely to include videos and other large media files. Reviewing this list can reveal files that have been forgotten and may be better stored elsewhere or deleted.
Uninstalling apps and removing leftovers
Purge’s uninstaller removes more than the application itself. It also deletes associated files, including settings, caches, and content downloaded by the app. Simply deleting an application in the Finder does not necessarily remove these additional files, allowing them to remain on the Mac.
The app also includes a tool for finding residual data left behind by applications that have already been deleted. In the source account, this amounted to several gigabytes of data that was no longer being used. It is worth reviewing this section and removing large files only when you are certain they will not be needed again.
Removing Apple Intelligence models
Purge also provides an option for users who do not use Apple Intelligence. Apple’s latest operating system comes with offline AI models that support features such as notification summaries, suggestion generation, and the new AI-powered Siri. Users may find these features useful, but Apple removed a toggle in macOS 27 that previously allowed them to disable them completely.
Purge’s final tool can remove the Apple Intelligence models from the Mac. Selecting the tool displays the installed models above a removal button. According to the source, Purge removes the models and prevents macOS from reinstalling them.
These features make Purge useful for examining what is occupying storage and taking action to recover some of that space.
Source: www.wired.com
