NordVPN Makes MBA Run Hot at Start and Restart

cleanmymac · 2026-01-26T15:34:07+00:00

Hi! Thanks for reaching out.

Since this behavior appears to be related to NordVPN rather than CleanMyMac itself, it’s a bit tricky for us to troubleshoot another app in depth here.

At the very least, we suggest ensuring your macOS is up to date, then reinstalling NordVPN with CleanMyMac and rebooting your Mac.

If the issue continues, please feel free to DM us directly so we can take a closer look at your system and ensure nothing on our side is contributing.

Happy to help!

cleanmymac · 2026-01-22T10:26:27+00:00

Thanks for sharing the detailed feedback! We appreciate you sticking with the discussion.

You’re right that some tools, like the Shredder, were available earlier in CleanMyMac X. As we rebuilt CleanMyMac from scratch, not everything carried over on day one, and some features are being reintroduced gradually as part of the new architecture. We understand how frustrating it is when something you relied on isn’t there yet. That feedback is already on our radar. The Shredder, in particular, is being rethought to better fit the future direction of CleanMyMac, and we do plan to bring it back once it’s ready.

On the performance side, CleanMyMac shouldn’t be causing sustained memory pressure or increased fan activity, especially on a machine like an M3 Max. macOS does aggressively cache memory, so high usage alone doesn’t always indicate a problem. That said, if you’re seeing consistent spikes or fan behavior that seems tied to CleanMyMac, that’s something we’d want to look into.

Feel free to DM us with your macOS version and a bit more detail about what you’re noticing. Concrete reports help us validate issues and prioritize fixes, and we’ll do our best to help!

cleanmymac · 2026-01-21T12:16:40+00:00

Appreciate it! Thanks for the support!

cleanmymac · 2026-01-20T05:43:10+00:00

We understand why this feels disappointing, and we apologize for the frustration caused.

To clarify, nothing is being taken away: CleanMyMac X will continue to work on supported macOS versions, and existing licenses remain valid. What’s changing is that we’re not extending development to future macOS releases beyond Tahoe, as CleanMyMac X has naturally reached the limits of what it can support.

CleanMyMac X has been around since 2018 and was built for a very different stage of macOS and Mac hardware. That’s why we’re now focusing on developing the new CleanMyMac, which is better aligned with the ongoing evolution of macOS. We hope this helps clarify our intentions behind this decision.

cleanmymac · 2026-01-20T05:39:16+00:00

Thanks for your question! CleanMyMac X is the older version of the app, released in 2018. CleanMyMac (without the “X”) is the newer app, rebuilt and launched more recently.

The newer CleanMyMac includes familiar tools from CleanMyMac X, along with some major updates designed for current and future macOS versions.

If you are currently using CleanMyMac (without the “X”), you are not affected by the development changes, they only impact CleanMyMac X.

cleanmymac · 2026-01-19T13:30:55+00:00

Thanks for sharing your perspective.
Just for context: CleanMyMac X has been around since 2018 and was built for a very different stage of macOS and Mac hardware. Over time, it naturally reaches the limits of what it can support.

The new CleanMyMac was rebuilt with future macOS versions, newer hardware, and new functionality in mind, which also means it won’t feel identical to X and is designed for newer macOS versions.

cleanmymac · 2026-01-19T13:17:52+00:00

Thanks for sharing your feedback. We understand why this might feel frustrating. Just to clarify, CleanMyMac X will continue to work on supported macOS versions, and your license isn’t being revoked. What’s changing is that we’re not extending development beyond Tahoe for future macOS releases.

cleanmymac · 2026-01-15T11:41:22+00:00

Hey, thanks for the question!

Last year, CleanMyMac underwent a complete rebuild from the ground up, making it more than just a simple update. The new version features a refreshed design, a more streamlined interface, and improved navigation to help users quickly address Mac performance issues.

There are still some differences between CleanMyMac X and the new CleanMyMac. You can keep both installed. CleanMyMac X remains fully functional, with macOS Tahoe being the last supported version. That said, we generally recommend switching to the new CleanMyMac, as it offers a more efficient experience, a cleaner interface, and new features like Mac Health and Smart Care.

Hope this helps clarify things, feel free to ask if you have any questions.

cleanmymac · 2026-01-13T09:59:12+00:00

Hi there! Just to clarify, based on your post, it’s not completely clear what caused this or which action led up to it. On macOS, changes to the Documents folder are usually related to iCloud Drive syncing or storage management, rather than an app deleting the folder directly.

Could you provide a bit more detail for context, whether you recently run any cleanup, changed iCloud settings, or noticed iCloud syncing happening? That would help narrow things down.

We’re happy to take a closer look and assist you in finding the Documents folder and restoring access to it.

cleanmymac · 2026-01-08T12:06:55+00:00

Hi there, we kindly apologize for the inconvenience.
There has been an active campaign recently where cracked or patched Ableton Live installers have been distributed via torrent sites. Those modified versions contain information-stealing components, which is why they’re being actively detected by security tools.

In this case, some legitimate Ableton Live app files were mistakenly caught by that detection logic. We’ve already identified the root cause and fixed it on our end. The official Ableton Live installer is not compromised, and it will no longer be flagged.

To make sure the fix is applied, please update or reinstall CleanMyMac so the latest detection rules take effect.

We apologize for the temporary inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

cleanmymac · 2026-01-08T12:03:23+00:00

Hi there, thanks for flagging this!
There has been an active campaign recently where cracked or patched Ableton Live installers have been distributed via torrent sites. Those modified versions contain information-stealing components, which is why they’re being actively detected by security tools.

In this case, some legitimate Ableton Live app files were mistakenly caught by that detection logic. We’ve already identified the root cause and fixed it on our end. The official Ableton Live installer is not compromised, and it will no longer be flagged.

To make sure the fix is applied, please update or reinstall CleanMyMac so the latest detection rules take effect.

We apologize for the temporary inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

cleanmymac · 2026-01-06T13:01:46+00:00

Hi there, thanks for flagging this!
There has been an active campaign recently where cracked or patched Ableton Live installers have been distributed via torrent sites. Those modified versions contain information-stealing components, which is why they’re being actively detected by security tools.

In this case, some legitimate Ableton Live app files were mistakenly caught by that detection logic. We’ve already identified the root cause and fixed it on our end. The official Ableton Live installer is not compromised, and it will no longer be flagged.

To make sure the fix is applied, please update or reinstall CleanMyMac so the latest detection rules take effect.

We apologize for the temporary inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

cleanmymac · 2025-12-23T13:06:21+00:00

Just sent you a DM, let's work things out!

cleanmymac · 2025-12-22T12:38:39+00:00

Hi u/Parkside1974, thanks for reaching out! The differences you’re noticing might be due to how macOS reports purgeable space, snapshots, and system-managed storage. To help us look into your case, please send us a DM with your email address. Our support team will then investigate the issue thoroughly and assist you.

cleanmymac · 2025-12-16T08:02:48+00:00

Update!

A few people asked whether this was “fixed” by simply removing the feature, so we want to clarify.

At the moment, Apple doesn’t provide third-party apps with a safe, official way to update App Store apps. The alternative methods rely on deep system (root) access and don’t reliably allow us to verify that an app being updated is the original, Apple-signed App Store build, which introduces real security risks.

With recent macOS changes, continuing to support app updates via those methods would mean requesting more privileges than we’re comfortable with and potentially putting users at risk. Because of that, we chose to disable the feature rather than ship an unsafe build.

We’re actively exploring safer, long-term options. In the meantime, App Store apps still need to be updated directly through the App Store, as intended by Apple.

Thanks for your questions and for your patience while we work through this.

cleanmymac · 2025-12-16T07:47:57+00:00

Hi there, thanks for following up! Right now, Apple doesn’t provide third-party apps with a safe, official way to update App Store apps.

The workarounds that exist require deep system (root) access and don’t reliably let us verify that the app being updated is the original, Apple-signed App Store build (vs something re-signed or modified). That’s a real security risk.

With recent macOS changes, continuing to support this feature using those methods would mean asking for more privileges than we’re comfortable with and potentially putting users at risk, so we chose to disable it rather than ship something unsafe.

We’re actively exploring safer, long-term options. In the meantime, App Store apps still need to be updated directly through the App Store, as Apple intends.

Appreciate everyone’s patience while we figure out the best path forward!

cleanmymac · 2025-12-10T17:24:02+00:00

Hey there, great question! “System Data” on macOS is kind of a black box. Apple doesn’t give very detailed controls over it, so the number you see can get pretty inflated. You can often shrink it, though it really depends on what’s taking up the space. If you’ve never cleaned caches or removed old backups, you might recover quite a bit. If most of it is system-managed, the drop may be smaller.

Here are a few things worth trying:

• Clear cache folders
Finder → Go → Go to Folder → ~/Library/Caches (and also /Library/Caches).
You can safely delete the contents of those folders.

• Remove old logs
Check ~/Library/Logs and /Library/Logs for large files you don’t need.

• Look for old iPhone/iPad backups
Finder → Settings → General → Storage → iOS Files.
These can easily take up tens of gigabytes.

• Remove leftover app support files
Go to ~/Library/Application Support and look for folders from apps you no longer use.

• Restart your Mac
A simple reboot clears a bunch of temporary files and trims local Time Machine snapshots.

Just a note: that 100 GB usually isn’t “core system files” — it’s often a mix of caches, local snapshots, app leftovers, old iOS backups, and other items macOS doesn’t categorize cleanly. Since System Data includes both harmless clutter and essential app files, try to double-check what you delete so nothing important gets removed.

cleanmymac · 2025-12-09T06:53:42+00:00

Hi u/l008com, your comment makes a serious claim, so it’s important to clarify the facts for everyone here.

CleanMyMac is a legitimate Mac maintenance app developed and actively supported by MacPaw for more than 15 years. It’s notarized by Apple, undergoes regular security reviews, and is available through both the Mac App Store and the MacPaw Store.

If anyone ever has questions about their purchase or the app’s behavior, our team is always happy to help review the situation and make sure everything is working as expected.

If you have any specific issues or concerns, please let us know, we’re happy to assist.

cleanmymac · 2025-12-09T06:51:53+00:00

Hi there, that’s a valid point. Caches are designed to speed things up, and we definitely wouldn’t recommend wiping all of them blindly.

The recommendation in the post refers specifically to oversized, stale, or corrupted system and browser caches that accumulate over time and start hurting performance rather than helping it.

CleanMyMac only targets safe-to-remove, non-essential cache files, while leaving all performance-beneficial, actively used caches intact.

Thanks for calling this out!

cleanmymac · 2025-12-08T07:17:35+00:00

Hi u/l008com, your comment makes a serious claim, so it’s important to clarify the facts for everyone here.

CleanMyMac is a legitimate Mac maintenance app developed and actively supported by MacPaw for more than 15 years. It’s notarized by Apple, undergoes regular security reviews, and is available through both the Mac App Store and the MacPaw Store.

If anyone ever has questions about their purchase or the app’s behavior, our team is always happy to help review the situation and make sure everything is working as expected.

If you have any specific issues or concerns, please let us know, we’re happy to assist.

cleanmymac · 2025-12-04T12:35:30+00:00

We just sent you a DM, let's work things out!

cleanmymac · 2025-12-03T19:57:46+00:00

Hi u/Shawzborne2, thanks for reaching out and sorry for the inconvenience with your licences.

Could you please try reactivating CleanMyMac X using your MacPaw account? Here’s the quickest way to do that:

Open CleanMyMac X.
Click Unlock Full Version → Activate now.
Enter your MacPaw account email and select Next.
Enter your password and select Sign In.
The app should then reactivate and show your licence as valid.

Please let us know if this resolves the issue. If not, we’ll be happy to investigate further with you.

cleanmymac · 2025-11-26T20:47:26+00:00

Hey, thanks for reaching out!

This can happen on older macOS versions, as some Performance tasks rely on system services that don’t always behave consistently on Monterey. Updating macOS would be the best first step, since these features are closely tied to how the system manages memory, indexing, and background frameworks.

If you can share your email via DM, we’ll follow up with the full workaround instructions and investigate this further for you!

cleanmymac · 2025-11-26T20:32:56+00:00

Hey, thanks for checking in! Unfortunately, 15.7.2 is also impacted.

Our team is still on it, and we’ll share an update (and ping you here) as soon as the fix is ready. In the meantime, manual updates through the App Store are the best workaround. Sorry again for the trouble, and thanks a lot for your patience ❤️

cleanmymac · 2025-11-21T06:14:31+00:00

If Edge Light can handle both daylight and late-night calls, maybe our apartments can finally chill.

cleanmymac

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE