Health dashboard
One full scan checks malware, updates, disk health, DNS and more, then gives your Mac a health score. Each area becomes a card you can tap to inspect or fix.
Apps · macOS utility
MacPulse
My first app. A check-up for your Mac in one window: a health score, a malware scan, a careful cleaner, an uninstaller that finds the leftovers, disk health, a DNS speed test and every update in one place. It all runs on your Mac. Nothing is uploaded anywhere.
- macOS 14 Sonoma or later
- Apple Silicon M1 or newer
- 741 KB zip
- Version 1.0.0
What's inside
Eleven tools, one window
The jobs you would normally need a cleaner, an uninstaller, a maintenance utility and a few Terminal commands for, with a plain-English explanation next to every button.
Malware & security
Checks your apps and launch items against a database of known macOS malware and adware like MacDefender, Flashback and CrossRider, plus code signatures. It flags unsigned apps, processes running from temp folders, cron jobs and listening ports, and tells you whether Gatekeeper, FileVault and the firewall are on.
Cleanup
Finds the caches, logs, cookies and temp files you can safely clear, including Safari, Chrome, Edge and Firefox data, and shows how much space you'll get back. Your Documents, Desktop and Pictures are never touched.
Uninstaller
Lists every app in /Applications along with the leftover files it scattered through your Library, then moves the app and its leftovers to the Trash together.
Storage
Shows where your disk space goes: folder sizes, and a list of your largest files over 1 GB.
Startup items
See what runs at login and in the background, plus any kernel and system extensions that are loaded. Anything starting from a temporary folder gets flagged.
Maintenance
The system fixes you'd normally reach for OnyX to do: rebuild the font cache, flush DNS, rebuild the Spotlight index, purge inactive memory and clear rotated system logs.
Disk health
Reads your drive's S.M.A.R.T. status, checks free space and runs the same verify-and-repair First Aid as Disk Utility, with a single admin prompt.
Network & DNS
Times real DNS lookups (three rounds) and ping for Google, Cloudflare, Quad9 and OpenDNS against your current setup, then switches you to the fastest with one click.
Updates
Checks macOS, your Mac App Store apps and Homebrew packages for updates and installs them from one screen.
System info
Hardware details, battery health, performance, and any app crashes from the last seven days.
Built to be careful
Careful by design
Cleaner apps have a reputation. MacPulse was built around a few simple rules, so nothing it cleans is gone for good.
- Local only. MacPulse checks your Mac on your Mac. Nothing is uploaded anywhere.
- Trash, not delete. Cleaned files and uninstalled apps go to the Trash, so you can put anything back.
- Hands off your stuff. It only removes temporary files, caches and cookies. Documents, Desktop, Pictures and your other personal folders are never touched.
- It asks first. Anything that needs admin rights shows a password prompt, and that access is remembered for 5 minutes at a time.
- Optional "Never Ask for Password". Adds a small, scoped entry so MacPulse's own commands run without a prompt. You can remove it any time.
Install
Up and running in a minute
Download and unzip
Download the zip, then double-click it. You'll get MacPulse.app.
Move it to Applications
Drag MacPulse into your Applications folder.
Open it the first time
MacPulse isn't notarized by Apple yet, so macOS stops it on first launch. On macOS 15 Sequoia or later, open System Settings › Privacy & Security, scroll down and click Open Anyway. On macOS 14 Sonoma, Control-click the app and choose Open. You only do this once.
Grant what you need
When asked, allow the permissions below. MacPulse remembers them, so it won't keep asking.
Permissions it may ask for
- Administrator password for system-level jobs like First Aid, maintenance and installing updates.
- Full Disk Access so it can clean browser data completely. Without it, some browser folders are skipped.
- Automation (System Events) so it can list and manage your login items.
Optional extras: to update Homebrew packages, install Homebrew (opens in a new tab). To update Mac App Store apps, MacPulse uses the free mas tool: brew install mas.
MacPulse-1.0.0.zip · SHA-256 193480df121a9d5a29e63257e6aa235223830d077ddb1a9e68808411f994f6e0
Questions
MacPulse FAQ
Does it work on Intel Macs?
Not this version. MacPulse 1.0.0 is built for Apple Silicon (M1 and newer) and needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Does MacPulse send my data anywhere?
No. MacPulse checks your Mac locally and nothing is uploaded anywhere. The DNS speed test and the update checks are the parts that need an internet connection.
Can it delete something I need?
MacPulse only removes temporary files, caches, logs and cookies, and it moves them to the Trash instead of erasing them. Cleaning browser data signs you out of websites, and it tells you that before you start.
Why does it ask for my password?
Some jobs need administrator rights: First Aid, rebuilding the font cache or Spotlight index, managing system startup items and installing updates. A password dialog appears each time, and the access lasts five minutes.
How do I turn off "Never Ask for Password"?
Switch it off in MacPulse and the entry is removed, so password prompts come back. Do this before you delete the app if you turned it on.
How do I remove MacPulse?
Quit it and drag MacPulse from Applications to the Trash. If you enabled "Never Ask for Password", turn that off first.
Found a bug or have an idea for version 1.1? Send me a message.