How Storage Studio deletes things

When Storage Studio removes your files for you, it puts them somewhere you can get them back from: the Recycle Vault or, if that isn't possible, the macOS Trash. The exceptions are clutter that rebuilds itself, such as caches, old items already in the Trash, and the few permanent actions you confirm by typing a word.

%% caption: Where something goes when Storage Studio removes it
flowchart TD
  A[Storage Studio removes an item] --> B{Is it rebuildable clutter like a cache?}
  B -->|Yes| C[Cleared, apps rebuild it]
  B -->|No| D{Can the Recycle Vault take it?}
  D -->|Yes| E[Kept in the Recycle Vault]
  D -->|No| F{Can it go to the Trash?}
  F -->|Yes| G[Moved to the Trash]
  F -->|No| H[Nothing is removed]

The Recycle Vault comes first

Duplicate clean-ups, app uninstalls and files that Emergency Space clears all go through one route: the Recycle Vault. Each item keeps its original location, so Restore puts it back where it was. Items stay recoverable for about six months. If the vault can't take an item, it goes to the Trash instead. If neither is possible, nothing is removed and you're told why. See Restoring something from the Recycle Vault.

Rules that delete use the Trash

A rule that deletes old files moves them to the Trash on the same drive, so they're still in Finder if you change your mind. A rule pointed at a whole system folder or your home folder itself is refused.

If you'd rather nothing personal is ever deleted, turn on Never delete personal files — only move them in Preferences → Rules. It skips every delete rule and stops old Trash items being emptied. App-cache cleaning still runs, because caches regenerate.

What is cleared outright

• App and developer caches, logs and similar clutter. Apps rebuild these when they need them. Storage Studio clears only well-known cache folders, not whole app folders. See Clearing app caches safely.
• Old items already in the Trash. Smart Care can empty items that have sat in the Trash for 30 days or more, unless the setting above is on. See The Trash and the space it holds.

Only from places it's allowed to

Storage Studio deletes only inside places it has been told are safe:

• When it uninstalls an app, it removes only items in your Applications folders and your Library whose names match that app.
• When it clears up its own copies, it works only inside the Storage Studio folder on your external drive and its own settings folder.
• A delete rule is refused if it points at a system folder or at your home folder itself.

These checks run right before anything is removed.

Type the word for permanent actions

A plain OK is easy to click without reading. So for actions that can't be undone, replace something already there, or cover many items at once, the button stays greyed out until you type the action word.

Capitals don't matter, and pasting is allowed. Each sheet says plainly what will happen and whether it can be undone.

See also: How Storage Studio keeps every change reversible · The Recycle Vault · Uninstalling an app completely · Privacy: what stays on your Mac