{
  "schema": "https://storagestudio.us/schema/wiki-page.v1",
  "title": "Auto Rules",
  "slug": "auto-rules",
  "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/auto-rules",
  "markdown_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/auto-rules.md",
  "category": "Freeing up space",
  "category_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/freeing-up-space/",
  "tags": [
    "auto rules",
    "rules",
    "caches",
    "free up space"
  ],
  "summary": "Auto Rules are clean-up rules Storage Studio writes for your particular Mac. It looks for caches and clutter that are actually there, applies only the safest automatically, and asks you about the rest.",
  "published_at": "2026-10-01T05:53:24.000Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-01T05:34:52.000Z",
  "headings": [
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "How a rule is chosen",
      "id": "how-a-rule-is-chosen"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "The window",
      "id": "the-window"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "What Auto Rules never does",
      "id": "what-auto-rules-never-does"
    }
  ],
  "links_out": [
    {
      "slug": "free-up-space",
      "label": "Free Up Space",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/free-up-space"
    },
    {
      "slug": "background-activity",
      "label": "Job Insights",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/background-activity"
    },
    {
      "slug": "developer-storage",
      "label": "Developer caches and build folders",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/developer-storage"
    },
    {
      "slug": "app-caches",
      "label": "Clearing app caches safely",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/app-caches"
    },
    {
      "slug": "rules-and-automatic-moves",
      "label": "Rules: moving folders automatically",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/rules-and-automatic-moves"
    },
    {
      "slug": "smart-care",
      "label": "Smart Care",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/smart-care"
    }
  ],
  "links_in": [
    {
      "slug": "dry-run-shows-unwanted-files",
      "title": "A dry run shows files I don't want moved",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/dry-run-shows-unwanted-files"
    },
    {
      "slug": "app-caches",
      "title": "Clearing app caches safely",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/app-caches"
    },
    {
      "slug": "developer-storage",
      "title": "Developer caches and build folders",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/developer-storage"
    },
    {
      "slug": "free-up-space",
      "title": "Free Up Space",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/free-up-space"
    },
    {
      "slug": "reviewing-a-clear-up",
      "title": "Reviewing, stopping and checking a clear-up",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/reviewing-a-clear-up"
    },
    {
      "slug": "rules-and-automatic-moves",
      "title": "Rules: moving folders automatically",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/rules-and-automatic-moves"
    },
    {
      "slug": "the-home-screen",
      "title": "The Home screen",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-home-screen"
    },
    {
      "slug": "preferences-window",
      "title": "The Preferences window",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/preferences-window"
    },
    {
      "slug": "where-to-start",
      "title": "Where to start: pick your goal",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/where-to-start"
    }
  ],
  "diagrams": [
    {
      "kind": "flowchart",
      "caption": "How Auto Rules decides what to do with each thing it finds",
      "outline": "- Something found on your Mac\n  - leads to How safe is it?\n- How safe is it?\n  - Level 1: a cache that rebuilds itself: leads to Is Suggest only on?\n  - Level 2 or 3: probably safe, or your own files: leads to Suggested - needs your approval\n  - Level 4: external or system location: leads to Never made into a rule\n- Is Suggest only on?\n  - No: leads to Applied automatically\n  - Yes: leads to Suggested - needs your approval\n- Suggested - needs your approval\n  - Approve: leads to Applied\n  - Dismiss: leads to Dismissed - reclaim anytime\n",
      "source": "%% caption: How Auto Rules decides what to do with each thing it finds\nflowchart TD\n  A[Something found on your Mac] --> B{How safe is it?}\n  B -->|Level 1: a cache that rebuilds itself| C{Is Suggest only on?}\n  C -->|No| D[Applied automatically]\n  C -->|Yes| E[Suggested - needs your approval]\n  B -->|Level 2 or 3: probably safe, or your own files| E\n  B -->|Level 4: external or system location| F[Never made into a rule]\n  E -->|Approve| G[Applied]\n  E -->|Dismiss| H[Dismissed - reclaim anytime]"
    }
  ],
  "images": [],
  "screenshots_pending": [
    {
      "alt": "The Auto Rules window in Demo Mode with the \"Suggested — needs your approval\" section showing two rules with Approve and Dismiss buttons, and the \"Applied automatically\" section below",
      "caption": "The Auto Rules window"
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [
    {
      "question": "What's the best app to free up space on a Mac?",
      "answer": "If you want space back without losing files, the best approach is \"move, don't delete.\" Storage Studio relocates big apps and folders to an external drive (with a shortcut left in place so they still open), reclaims space macOS is holding in old snapshots, and keeps cloud files online-only — all…",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    },
    {
      "question": "How do I free up space on my Mac?",
      "answer": "Empty the Trash, clear app caches, remove old downloads, and move large apps and folders you rarely use to an external drive. Storage Studio does all of this in one tap with Tuhi — it clears caches and rarely-used files, reclaims old local backups, and keeps cloud files online-only, previewed…",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    },
    {
      "question": "How do I get more storage on my Mac without deleting my files?",
      "answer": "Pair your Mac with an external SSD and offload what you don't need on the startup disk. Storage Studio moves large apps, folders, and media to the external drive and leaves a shortcut in the original spot, so you reclaim space while keeping every file — nothing is deleted.",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    },
    {
      "question": "Is it safe to clear the cache on a Mac?",
      "answer": "Yes — app caches rebuild automatically, so clearing them safely reclaims space; the only risk is deleting the wrong thing by hand. Storage Studio clears only known-safe caches and rarely-used files, shows a preview first, and never touches your personal files without asking.",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    }
  ],
  "text": "Auto Rules are clean-up rules that Storage Studio writes for your Mac in particular. Instead of one fixed list for everyone, it looks at what's actually on your Mac (app caches, developer caches, logs, big folders) and decides how safe each one is to clear. Only the safest kind is applied automatically. Everything else waits for you to approve it. Open the Auto Rules window by clicking Auto rules on the Home screen, or from Settings → Rules → Auto Rules → Review… . How a rule is chosen Storage Studio looks around your Mac and sorts each thing it finds into one of four safety levels. The levels are decided by fixed rules, not guessed. When Apple Intelligence is available, it only words the summary at the top of the window. How Auto Rules decides what to do with each thing it finds Flowchart outline: How Auto Rules decides what to do with each thing it finds Something found on your Mac leads to How safe is it? How safe is it? Level 1: a cache that rebuilds itself: leads to Is Suggest only on? Level 2 or 3: probably safe, or your own files: leads to Suggested - needs your approval Level 4: external or system location: leads to Never made into a rule Is Suggest only on? No: leads to Applied automatically Yes: leads to Suggested - needs your approval Suggested - needs your approval Approve: leads to Applied Dismiss: leads to Dismissed - reclaim anytime Level What it covers What happens 1 App caches and developer caches that rebuild on demand Applied automatically 2 Other cache folders, less-certain developer caches, and large developer data to move to your drive Suggested for your approval 3 Your personal files, and anything it can't categorise Only ever suggested; personal files are only ever moved, never deleted 4 Anything on an external drive or outside your home folder Never made into a rule Each row shows a plain reason, such as App cache — your apps rebuild it automatically, so it's safe to clear. Rules aren't created for tools you don't have, so a Mac without developer tools sees no developer rules. The window Suggested — needs your approval : click Approve to apply a rule or Dismiss to turn it down. Applied automatically : rules that are in use. Dismiss stops applying one. Dismissed — reclaim anytime : rules you turned down. Restore brings one back as a suggestion. Suggest only — never apply automatically : turn this on and nothing is applied without your approval. Open Rule Editor… goes to Settings → Rules , where you can change the age on any rule. When there's nothing to review, the window says You're all set . The refresh button at the top ( Re-scan now ) looks again straight away; otherwise Auto Rules reviews your Mac about once a day. What Auto Rules never does It never deletes anything itself. Approving a rule adds it to your rules. The rule then runs with Free Up Space under the same protections as every other rule: the hard floor that protects files changed in the last 7 days, the Never delete personal files — only move them switch, and skipping anything that's in use. It never deletes personal files. Folders like Documents, Desktop and Downloads are only ever suggested as moves to your external drive. It never touches external drives or system locations. It never overwrites your own rules. Rules you added yourself are kept, and Auto Rules doesn't create duplicates of them. Auto Rules shows up in Job Insights as Cleanup rules . Common questions What's the best app to free up space on a Mac? If you want space back without losing files, the best approach is \"move, don't delete.\" Storage Studio relocates big apps and folders to an external drive (with a shortcut left in place so they still open), reclaims space macOS is holding in old snapshots, and keeps cloud files online-only — all… How do I free up space on my Mac? Empty the Trash, clear app caches, remove old downloads, and move large apps and folders you rarely use to an external drive. Storage Studio does all of this in one tap with Tuhi — it clears caches and rarely-used files, reclaims old local backups, and keeps cloud files online-only, previewed… How do I get more storage on my Mac without deleting my files? Pair your Mac with an external SSD and offload what you don't need on the startup disk. Storage Studio moves large apps, folders, and media to the external drive and leaves a shortcut in the original spot, so you reclaim space while keeping every file — nothing is deleted. Is it safe to clear the cache on a Mac? Yes — app caches rebuild automatically, so clearing them safely reclaims space; the only risk is deleting the wrong thing by hand. Storage Studio clears only known-safe caches and rarely-used files, shows a preview first, and never touches your personal files without asking. See also: Developer caches and build folders · Clearing app caches safely · Rules: moving folders automatically · Smart Care",
  "markdown": "**Auto Rules** are clean-up rules that Storage Studio writes for your Mac in particular. Instead of one fixed list for everyone, it looks at what's actually on your Mac (app caches, developer caches, logs, big folders) and decides how safe each one is to clear. Only the safest kind is applied automatically. Everything else waits for you to approve it.\n\nOpen the **Auto Rules** window by clicking **Auto rules** on the Home screen, or from **Settings** → **Rules** → **Auto Rules** → **Review…**.\n\n## How a rule is chosen\n\nStorage Studio looks around your Mac and sorts each thing it finds into one of four safety levels. The levels are decided by fixed rules, not guessed. When Apple Intelligence is available, it only words the summary at the top of the window.\n\n```mermaid\n%% caption: How Auto Rules decides what to do with each thing it finds\nflowchart TD\n  A[Something found on your Mac] --> B{How safe is it?}\n  B -->|Level 1: a cache that rebuilds itself| C{Is Suggest only on?}\n  C -->|No| D[Applied automatically]\n  C -->|Yes| E[Suggested - needs your approval]\n  B -->|Level 2 or 3: probably safe, or your own files| E\n  B -->|Level 4: external or system location| F[Never made into a rule]\n  E -->|Approve| G[Applied]\n  E -->|Dismiss| H[Dismissed - reclaim anytime]\n```\n\n*Flowchart — How Auto Rules decides what to do with each thing it finds. Outline:*\n\n- Something found on your Mac\n  - leads to How safe is it?\n- How safe is it?\n  - Level 1: a cache that rebuilds itself: leads to Is Suggest only on?\n  - Level 2 or 3: probably safe, or your own files: leads to Suggested - needs your approval\n  - Level 4: external or system location: leads to Never made into a rule\n- Is Suggest only on?\n  - No: leads to Applied automatically\n  - Yes: leads to Suggested - needs your approval\n- Suggested - needs your approval\n  - Approve: leads to Applied\n  - Dismiss: leads to Dismissed - reclaim anytime\n\n| Level | What it covers | What happens |\n|---|---|---|\n| 1 | App caches and developer caches that rebuild on demand | Applied automatically |\n| 2 | Other cache folders, less-certain developer caches, and large developer data to move to your drive | Suggested for your approval |\n| 3 | Your personal files, and anything it can't categorise | Only ever suggested; personal files are only ever moved, never deleted |\n| 4 | Anything on an external drive or outside your home folder | Never made into a rule |\n\nEach row shows a plain reason, such as *App cache — your apps rebuild it automatically, so it's safe to clear.* Rules aren't created for tools you don't have, so a Mac without developer tools sees no developer rules.\n\n## The window\n\n- **Suggested — needs your approval**: click **Approve** to apply a rule or **Dismiss** to turn it down.\n- **Applied automatically**: rules that are in use. **Dismiss** stops applying one.\n- **Dismissed — reclaim anytime**: rules you turned down. **Restore** brings one back as a suggestion.\n- **Suggest only — never apply automatically**: turn this on and nothing is applied without your approval.\n- **Open Rule Editor…** goes to **Settings** → **Rules**, where you can change the age on any rule.\n\nWhen there's nothing to review, the window says *You're all set*. The refresh button at the top (**Re-scan now**) looks again straight away; otherwise Auto Rules reviews your Mac about once a day.\n\n## What Auto Rules never does\n\n- **It never deletes anything itself.** Approving a rule adds it to your rules. The rule then runs with [Free Up Space](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/free-up-space) under the same protections as every other rule: the hard floor that protects files changed in the last 7 days, the **Never delete personal files — only move them** switch, and skipping anything that's in use.\n- **It never deletes personal files.** Folders like Documents, Desktop and Downloads are only ever suggested as moves to your external drive.\n- **It never touches external drives or system locations.**\n- **It never overwrites your own rules.** Rules you added yourself are kept, and Auto Rules doesn't create duplicates of them.\n\nAuto Rules shows up in [Job Insights](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/background-activity) as **Cleanup rules**.\n\n- **What's the best app to free up space on a Mac?** If you want space back without losing files, the best approach is \"move, don't delete.\" Storage Studio relocates big apps and folders to an external drive (with a shortcut left in place so they still open), reclaims space macOS is holding in old snapshots, and keeps cloud files online-only — all… (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n- **How do I free up space on my Mac?** Empty the Trash, clear app caches, remove old downloads, and move large apps and folders you rarely use to an external drive. Storage Studio does all of this in one tap with Tuhi — it clears caches and rarely-used files, reclaims old local backups, and keeps cloud files online-only, previewed… (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n- **How do I get more storage on my Mac without deleting my files?** Pair your Mac with an external SSD and offload what you don't need on the startup disk. Storage Studio moves large apps, folders, and media to the external drive and leaves a shortcut in the original spot, so you reclaim space while keeping every file — nothing is deleted. (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n- **Is it safe to clear the cache on a Mac?** Yes — app caches rebuild automatically, so clearing them safely reclaims space; the only risk is deleting the wrong thing by hand. Storage Studio clears only known-safe caches and rarely-used files, shows a preview first, and never touches your personal files without asking. (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n\nSee also: [Developer caches and build folders](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/developer-storage) · [Clearing app caches safely](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/app-caches) · [Rules: moving folders automatically](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/rules-and-automatic-moves) · [Smart Care](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/smart-care)\n"
}