System and the helper
Delete root-owned system caches, logs, sudo leftovers and local Time Machine snapshots on Mac with Reclaim's optional, locked-down helper.
Some caches, logs and leftovers belong to root, the system's administrator account. Reclaim can't delete them on its own; its optional helper can.
What the helper handles
- System caches in
/Library/Caches. - System logs in
/Library/Logsand/private/var/log. - Root-owned files in your home folder, such as those left by
sudo npm install. - Local Time Machine snapshots.
Items that need the helper show a lock until it is installed, and Safe ones are only ticked for you once it is.
Installing
Open System
Click System in the sidebar, then Install Helper….
Enter your password
macOS asks in its own dialog. Reclaim never sees it.
The helper is copied to /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools and started by macOS whenever Reclaim needs it. After that, deleting works as usual: anything Reclaim may not delete is passed to the helper automatically when deleting permanently. In Move to Trash mode, such items are left alone.
What keeps it safe
Fixed folders only
System cache and log folders and your own home folder, after resolving symlinks. Never a protected folder.
No path tricks
Paths with .. are refused, and so is a folder swapped for a link at the last moment.
One app only
Paired with the exact build of Reclaim that installed it. Any other program is refused.
Open source
The helper is small, and its rules are tested. Read it on GitHub.
After updating Reclaim
The pairing names one exact build, so after an update the helper refuses the new version. System then shows Pair Again…, which asks for your password once more. A paid Apple developer certificate would remove this step.
Local Time Machine snapshots
Time Machine keeps snapshots on your Mac's disk between backups, and they hold on to the space of files you deleted since. System lists them; with the helper installed you can tick and delete them. Backups on your backup disk are not affected, and macOS also removes local snapshots on its own when space runs low.
Removing the helper
Click Remove Helper… in System and enter your password. Everything else in Reclaim keeps working without it.
Docker and OrbStack
Free disk space used by Docker Desktop, OrbStack and Colima. Reclaim removes build cache, unused images, stopped containers and volumes with Docker's own commands.
Menu bar and schedules
Watch free space from the Mac menu bar, get low-space alerts, and run daily or weekly scans that can auto-clean Safe caches untouched for a day.