How do I automatically delete old files on Mac?

AutoShelf lets you create a rule that watches any folder and trashes or moves files older than a number of days you choose. Set it once and old files get cleaned up automatically.

Can I delete files based on when they were last opened on Mac?

Yes. AutoShelf supports the Last Opened Older Than condition. Files that haven't been opened in, say, 30 days can be automatically moved to the Trash or to an archive folder.

What's the difference between Date Added, Last Modified, and Last Opened?

Date Added is when a file arrived in the folder. Last Modified is when the file's contents were last changed. Last Opened is when you last accessed the file. AutoShelf lets you use any of these as a condition for your rules, so you can target old files precisely.

Can I combine age rules with file type or size on Mac?

Yes. With AutoShelf Pro you can stack multiple conditions. For example, trash files older than 14 days that are also larger than 100 MB, or move old PDFs to an archive. The free tier gives you one rule with a single condition.

// old file cleanup

Auto-Delete Old Files on Mac

Files sit in Downloads for months. Old installers, forgotten PDFs, stale screenshots. AutoShelf watches your folders and moves or trashes files older than a number of days you choose. No manual cleanup needed.

Download from App Store Free with one rule. Unlock everything for $19.99 one-time. macOS 13+

// the problem

Old files pile up and eat disk space

You download a file, use it once, and forget about it. Months later your Downloads folder is full of stale content you'll never open again.
Manually sorting through hundreds of files to figure out which ones are old is tedious and error-prone. You might delete something you still need.
Finder offers no way to automatically act on files based on age. Smart folders can find old files, but they can't move or delete them.
Old files accumulate across Downloads, Desktop, and Documents. By the time you notice, you've lost gigabytes of space.
Automator and Hazel require setup time and technical know-how. There should be a simpler way.

// how it works

Set it once. Never think about it again.

Create an age rule

Choose a condition like Date Added Older Than, Last Modified Older Than, or Last Opened Older Than. Set the number of days.

Choose your folder and action

Pick Downloads, Desktop, or any folder. Then choose whether to trash old files or move them to an archive folder.

Forget about it

AutoShelf runs in the background. Old files get moved or trashed automatically every time the condition is met.

// age conditions

Three ways to define "old"

Date Added Older Than

Target files based on when they arrived in the folder. Great for cleaning up Downloads where files arrive and are never touched again.

Last Modified Older Than

Act on files that haven't been edited in a while. Ideal for Documents folders where project files go stale after the work is done.

Last Opened Older Than

The most precise condition. Targets files you haven't actually opened in X days, so you never accidentally delete something you're still using.

Combine age with type or size

With Pro, stack multiple conditions. Trash files older than 30 days that are also larger than 100 MB, or move old PDFs to an archive. The free tier gives you one rule with a single condition.

// faq

Frequently asked questions

How do I automatically delete old files on Mac?

AutoShelf lets you create a rule that watches any folder and trashes or moves files older than a number of days you choose. Set it once and old files get cleaned up automatically.
Can I delete files based on when they were last opened on Mac?

Yes. AutoShelf supports the Last Opened Older Than condition. Files that haven't been opened in, say, 30 days can be automatically moved to the Trash or to an archive folder.
What's the difference between Date Added, Last Modified, and Last Opened?

Date Added is when a file arrived in the folder. Last Modified is when the file's contents were last changed. Last Opened is when you last accessed the file. AutoShelf lets you use any of these as a condition for your rules, so you can target old files precisely.
Can I combine age rules with file type or size on Mac?

Yes. With AutoShelf Pro you can stack multiple conditions. For example, trash files older than 14 days that are also larger than 100 MB, or move old PDFs to an archive. The free tier gives you one rule with a single condition.