Mac Fixes

Clean Up Option Not Showing in Mac

Have you ever experienced the frustration of a sluggish and cluttered Mac, only to find that the clean-up option has mysteriously disappeared? If so, you’ll know how irritating it can be when you desperately need to clean up your device but the all-important clean-up option has gone awol.

 

Clean Up option not showing in Mac is a common problem that Apple users can experience, causing a range of issues, from slowed-down performance to a shortage of storage space. Your once-speedy MacBook computer can feel like it's stuck in a never-ending traffic jam, unable to function at its best.

 

Regularly cleaning up your Mac is important to ensure:

  • Your device isn’t burdened with clutter, which can cause simple tasks to take longer
  • Files dont pile up and eat at your storage space, leaving little room for new downloads
  • Your device avoids an accumulation of digital debris that can trigger software glitches.

Before we start:

 

Ready to unlock the potential of your Mac by cleaning up those hidden digital cobwebs? Ever wished for a tool that not only declutters your Mac automatically, but also guarantees its optimal performance? Enter MacKeeper's Safe Cleanup and say goodbye to the frustrations of a sluggish Mac and the mystery of the missing clean up option.

 

To use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup:

  1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac
  2. Launch the app, choose Safe Cleanup from the left sidebar, and click Scan
  3. After the scan has been completed, you can review the results and select any unnecessary logs, cache, trash, languages, or mail attachments that you want to remove
  4. Then click on Clean Junk Files and let MacKeeper tidy and free up your device automatically.

Why a Clean Up option is missing on Mac

The clean-up option on your Mac device can sometimes appear to be missing when it's greyed out and not clickable. If you face your Mac clean-up selection not working, it means the macOS has automatically enabled folder arrangements causing the clean-up option temporarily unavailable. To get the clean-up option back, you need to manually change your folder arrangements.

 

However, the clean-up option may also be unavailable on your device for one of the following reasons:

  • Third-party apps interfere with macOS built-in system features. The solution here is to ensure your software is up-to-date and compatible with your macOS version
  • Insufficient permissions or access to a folder/directory. Probably, you're trying to clean up the file that leads to the option being greyed out. To fix this, check and adjust folder permissions in the Get Info window
  • Incorrect view settings. If you notice an Icon view instead of a List view, it can affect the visibility of the clean-up option as well. In this case, you need to adjust your view settings to the appropriate mode for the option to become active.

How to restore a Clean Up option on a Mac

If the clean-up option is greyed out and unclickable, it's likely because your Mac's Finder is using auto-arrangement methods to automatically organize all of your folders. To resolve this issue, readjust your Folder arrangements through View > Arrange By > None. That way, the clean-up option should be clickable again.

 

Here’s the full instructions on how to regain access to the Clean Up option:

  1. Go to your Dock and click on the Finder icon to open a Finder window
  2. Scroll across the top menu bar and hover over the View menu in your Finder
  3. Navigate down the sub-menu and select the Sort By option
  4. Then choose None from the dropdown menu to disable the auto-arrangement feature. By this, you now make the clean-up option accessible for organizing your files and folders.
Open a Finder window in your Mac's operating system to access the Clean Up option if it's not showing on your Mac device.
Step 1. Click and open a Finder window
Access the View menu from the Finder window in order to be able to restore the clean-up option on Mac.
Step 2. Scroll across the menu bar to the View menu
Navigate to the Sort By sub-menu in the Finder system in order to automatically enable the clean-up option on your Apple Mac device.
Step 3. Navigate down the sub-menu and select the Sort By option
To enable the Clean Up option, you now need to select None from the dropdown menu in your Mac's Finder folder, restoring its functionality.
Step 4. Choose None from the dropdown to make the clean-up option accessible

Hint from our team: 

 

MacKeeper’s experts do recommend you keep your Mac optimized by regularly cleaning your computer's hard drive and removing junk files that could slow down its performance. Check on how to clean junk files on Mac and start implementing our tips today.

How to keep the Clean Up option from disappearing on Mac

If you want to bid farewell to the disappearing clean-up option once and for all, follow these steps:

  1. Go into a folder on your Mac
  2. Right-click within the folder
  3. Click on Show View Options
  4. Find the Sort By drop-down menu and select None
  5. If you want this change to apply everywhere, select Use as Default.
To keep the clean-up option from disappearing on Mac, begin by navigating to a specific Folder on your Mac to change or remove any pre-selected folder arrangements.
Step 1. Go into a Folder on your Mac
To enable the clean-up option, you will need to right-click within your chosen folder to begin the new folder arrangements that might be stopping the clean-up option from showing in your Mac.
Step 2. Right-click within the folder to bring up a sub-menu
You will now need to scroll down the sub-menu until you see the Show View Options, which will allow you to make specific arrangements for your Mac folders.
Step 3. Scroll down and click on Show View Options
 Make sure that you select the option None in the sort by drop-down menu to enable enhanced file organization through clean-up.
Step 4. Find the Sort By drop-down menu and select None
To apply these arrangements across your Mac folders, you can select the option Use as Default at the bottom of the sub-menu to make sure no folders are excluded from the clean-up option for future file organisation.
Step 5. To apply this arrangement to all folders, select Use as Default

Also, you might be interested in learning how to declutter Mac. If so, take our additional tips to make the clean-up option properly work on your Mac.

Optimize your Mac experience with accessible clean-up

As we wrap up today’s guide, let's say that a missing or greyed-out clean-up option on a Mac device can be easily preventable. Once you understand how to change the folder arrangements pre-made automatically by macOS, the clean-up option should not disappear again.

 

If you want to take your Mac's performance and organization to the next level, use the error-proof tool that can optimize your device’s work in seconds. MacKeeper's Safe Cleanup can enhance your Mac's efficiency by safely eliminating any unnecessary files and freeing up valuable storage space for you.

 

Need more support on cleaning? Then check how to clean up Mac effectively and make your daily tasks more efficient. Say goodbye to the frustration of missing clean-up options and hello to a device that runs smoothly.

Use your Mac to the fullest! Sign up and get:
Effective tips on how to fix Mac issues
Reliable advice on how to stay safe online
Mac-world news and updates

Thank you!

You’ll love exploring your Mac with us.

Oops, something went wrong.

Try again or reload a page.

Here’s another sign you need to upgrade your macOS ASAP:

30% off your MacKeeper subscription

Сopy the code now and use it in the MacKeeper checkout after the upgrade.

Copy Code

Please be aware that this code cannot be combined with any other discounts, offers, or promotions.

Need tech expert advice?

Contact our dedicated specialists for instant help.

Support

Contents

Unlocked
PC

MacKeeper - your all-in-one solution for more space and maximum security.

Try Now

Read more

App Store Not Working on Mac
App Store Not Working on Mac
Mac Command Not Found
Mac Command Not Found
arrow

Run Application

step_1

Click Continue

step_2

Click Install

step_1

Your macOS version is lower than OS 10.11. We’d like to offer you MacKeeper 4 to solve the cleaning, privacy, and security issues of your macOS.