In short
- Downloads Cleanup, in the sidebar after a scan, lists files in Downloads that already did their job.
- Three kinds: installers of apps that are already installed, archives already extracted next to them, and files downloaded twice.
- Remove them one by one, or all at once with Add All (Pro). Everything goes to the Trash, with Undo.
How to clean up Downloads
- Scan a place that includes Downloads Scan My Mac or Home Folder. With Scan Without Full Access, Downloads is skipped: grant Full Disk Access first.
- Open Downloads Cleanup Click Downloads Cleanup in the sidebar. The size next to it is what MoreRoom found.
- Check each file Each row says why the file is no longer needed. Click the magnifier to reveal it in Finder.
- Remove Click the trash button of a file, or Add All (Pro) and then Review & Free Up in the Collector pill.
What MoreRoom looks for
Downloads Cleanup looks only at your Downloads folder and lists three kinds of files:
| Group | Example | Why it’s listed |
|---|---|---|
| Installers of apps you already installed | Figma.dmg |
The app is already in Applications. The row says “App is already installed”. |
| Archives already extracted | photos.zip next to the photos folder |
Its contents are already there. The row says “Already extracted to “folder””. |
| Downloaded twice | report (1).pdf |
It’s the same file as another one. The row says “Same as “file””. |
If nothing qualifies, the screen says Downloads look tidy.
Remove the files
- One at a time (Free and Pro): click the trash button on the right of a row and confirm.
- All at once (Pro): click Add All, then Review & Free Up in the Collector pill at the bottom, check the list, and click Free Up.
Everything goes to the Trash first. Press ⌘Z or use History to put files back.
Nothing listed?
- Downloads Cleanup appears in the sidebar only after a scan that includes your Downloads folder: Scan My Mac or Home Folder.
- Without Full Disk Access, macOS protects Downloads and MoreRoom skips it. See Grant Full Disk Access.
- Folders you added to Settings › Exclusions are never looked at.