Keeping Your Folders Clean
If you use a Mac, you’ve likely encountered .DS_Store files—those invisible Finder artifacts that pop up in directories after you view them.
They’re usually harmless, but for many users they quickly become an annoyance. Whether you’re sharing folders, working with external drives, collaborating via Git, or simply want to keep your directory structure pristine, DS_Store Cleaner is the perfect, no-nonsense solution.
What Are .DS_Store Files and Why Should You Remove Them?
macOS creates .DS_Store files (Desktop Services Store) in folders that you view with Finder. These files save custom view settings such as icon positions, window size, and sorting preferences. While this can make browsing smoother for you, it also leads to some well-known problems:
- Clutter:
.DS_Storefiles multiply across drives—internal, external, USB sticks, and network shares. - Version Control Issues: They generate meaningless diffs and merge conflicts in Git and other versioning systems.
- Unintentional Data Sharing: When you send folders to others, you might expose view preferences or folder metadata.
- Annoyance Factor: They simply don’t belong in archives, code repositories, or shared folders.
What Does DS_Store Cleaner Do?
DS_Store Cleaner is a free and ad-free macOS utility that does one thing perfectly: it finds and removes all .DS_Storefiles from the folders you select. With a focus on privacy, simplicity, and reliability, it’s the go-to tool for power users, developers, designers, and anyone who likes things tidy.
Key Features:
- Easy Folder Selection: Drag-and-drop any number of folders into the app, or use the standard macOS file picker.
- Deep Scan: The app searches recursively through every subfolder for
.DS_Storefiles. - Secure Deletion: Only
.DS_Storefiles are deleted—nothing else is touched. - Clear Results: Get a detailed summary of every file removed and any permission issues encountered.
No Ads. No Tracking. No In-App Purchases.
DS_Store Cleaner is and will always be 100% free. There’s no advertising, no registration, and no data collection of any kind.
Download and Get Started
You can download DS_Store Cleaner for free on the Mac App Store.
No hidden costs, no sign-ups, and no advertising. Just a simple, efficient tool that does what you need – so you can get back to work
How Does It Work?
- Step 1: Open DS_Store Cleaner.
- Step 2: Select one or more folders (by drag-and-drop or via the “Choose Folder” dialog).
- Step 3: Click „Clean“. The app scans all subfolders and lists all
.DS_Storefiles it finds. - Step 4: Confirm the deletion. The app securely removes the files and presents a full report.
The app never accesses any data outside the folders you select. No files other than .DS_Store are affected.
Why Use DS_Store Cleaner?
- For Developers: Keep code repositories clean and avoid spurious changes in Git.
- For Designers: Share design assets without Finder cruft.
- For IT Professionals: Distribute folders over the network or on external drives without hidden junk.
System Requirements
- macOS 13.5 or later
- App size: ~2.7 MB
- Language: English
What DS_Store Cleaner Does Not Do
- Does not run automatically or in the background: The app works only when you manually start it and select folders. There is no automatic scanning, background activity, or system monitoring.
- Does not prevent future .DS_Store files: Finder may create new
.DS_Storefiles when you open folders again. The app cannot stop this default macOS behavior. - Does not access or clean protected system folders: DS_Store Cleaner can only scan and clean folders for which you explicitly grant access. It cannot delete
.DS_Storefiles from protected macOS system directories such as/System,/Library, or other restricted areas. This is enforced by macOS security (App Sandbox, System Integrity Protection).
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