What is OnyX?
OnyX is a free maintenance utility for macOS from Titanium Software that puts a graphical interface over tasks otherwise typed at the command line: verifying the structure of system files, deleting caches, rebuilding databases and indexes, running maintenance tasks, uninstalling applications and changing hidden Finder, Dock and Safari settings. The single most important thing to know is that Titanium Software builds a separate OnyX for each major macOS version, so you must download the build that matches your system rather than the newest one. The current release, 5.1.0, is built for macOS Golden Gate 27 and requires an Apple-silicon Mac; Intel Macs are supported only through older builds, the newest being 5.0.6 for macOS Tahoe 26. It is donationware — free to use and to distribute unmodified, with no registration.
Verified product facts
- Type
- system maintenance utilityEditorially reviewed
- Platform
- macOS
- Apple Silicon
- Yes
- Pricing
- FreeDeveloper-stated
- Developer
- Titanium SoftwareDeveloper-stated
- Relationship to Nuanyue
- Third-party product — not published by NuanyueEditorially reviewed
- Licence
- Donationware (freeware); may be copied and distributed at no charge, but not modified for distribution
- Current version
- 5.1.0Developer-stated
- Official website
- www.titanium-software.fr/en/onyx.html
Last updated . Facts marked developer-stated come from the developer and are not independently confirmed; editorially reviewed marks a Nuanyue judgement.
Key features
What OnyX does at a glance.
Verification of the structure of system files
Cleaning of caches and removal of problematic folders and files
Rebuilding of databases and indexes
Maintenance tasks and system cleanup
Application uninstallation
Configuration of Finder, Dock, Safari and some Apple app parameters
What you can use OnyX for
- Clearing caches and removing problematic files
- Verifying the structure of system files
- Rebuilding databases and indexes
- Uninstalling applications with their related files
- Changing hidden Finder, Dock and Safari settings
Who is OnyX for?
- Mac users who are willing to run administrator-level maintenance tasks themselves
- People who want command-line maintenance jobs behind a graphical interface
- Users on a current macOS version who want a free utility with no registration
Who is OnyX not for?
- Intel Mac users on the newest macOS — the current release requires an Apple-silicon Mac
- Anyone who wants an automated cleaner that decides what to remove for them
- Users who want a disk-usage visualiser rather than a maintenance tool
Limitations
- You must download the build matching your major macOS version; a version intended for an earlier system should not be used
- Older builds remain downloadable but are no longer developed or updated
- It only opens from an administrator account
Strengths and trade-offs
What OnyX does well, and what to weigh before choosing it. Points marked developer-stated come from the developer’s own material and have not been independently confirmed.
Strengths
- Free donationware: no registration and no paid tier, and it may be used, copied and distributed at no charge.
- Puts a clean interface over maintenance tasks that would otherwise require command-line commands, such as verifying system files and rebuilding databases and indexes.Developer-stated
- A specific build is published for each major macOS version, and older builds remain downloadable for older systems.
Trade-offs
- Because each build targets one major macOS version, you must download the one matching your system; Titanium Software warns not to use a version intended for an earlier operating system, and it has discontinued developing the old versions.
- The current release 5.1.0 requires an Apple-silicon Mac, so Intel Macs are limited to older builds — the newest Intel-capable build is 5.0.6 for macOS Tahoe 26.
First-use experience
What the app asks of you when you set it up. Only established facts appear here; anything we could not confirm is left out rather than guessed at.
- Installation
- Download the .dmg for your macOS version from titanium-software.fr and drag OnyX to Applications; each major macOS version has its own build.
- First launch Developer-stated
- No first-run wizard is described; OnyX is an administrator-level utility and Titanium Software's notes state that it only opens from an administrator account.
- System integration Developer-stated
- Provides a GUI over tasks otherwise performed in the command line — verifying system files, deleting caches, rebuilding databases and indexes, and changing Finder, Dock and Safari parameters.
- Apple Silicon
- Supported
What it does
OnyX is a maintenance utility for macOS from Titanium Software. It collects, behind a graphical interface, a set of tasks that would otherwise be typed at the command line: verifying the structure of system files, deleting caches, removing problematic folders and files, rebuilding databases and indexes, running maintenance tasks, uninstalling applications, and changing hidden parameters in the Finder, Dock, Safari and some Apple applications.
One build per macOS version
Titanium Software’s own warning is blunt: “There’s a specific version of OnyX for each major operating system version. Use the correct version, and don’t try to use a version intended for an earlier operating system.”
That is the fact that decides which file you download. Each build targets one macOS version and is not the right one for another:
| macOS | OnyX build | Architecture |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Gate 27 | 5.1.0 | Apple silicon |
| Tahoe 26 | 5.0.6 | Intel or Apple silicon |
| Sequoia 15 | 4.8.5 | Intel or Apple silicon |
| Sonoma 14 | 4.6.2 | Intel or Apple silicon |
| Ventura 13 | 4.4.7 | Intel or Apple silicon |
| Monterey 12 | 4.2.7 | Intel or Apple silicon |
| Big Sur 11 | 4.0.2 | Intel or Apple silicon |
Older builds remain downloadable, but Titanium Software has discontinued developing them and no longer updates them.
Free, donationware, no registration
OnyX is free. The developer’s licence agreement calls it donationware (freeware): “You may use them for as long as you want to do so. You may copy and distribute them at no charge; however, you may not modify the software for distribution.” There is no registration and no paid tier; donations are optional.
What it is and is not
OnyX is not an automated cleaner that decides what to remove for you, and it is not a disk-usage visualiser. It exposes maintenance operations and system settings and lets you run them. Uninstalling applications is one of its functions, but it is a broad maintenance tool rather than a dedicated uninstaller.
Apple Silicon
The current build, 5.1.0, explicitly requires an Apple-silicon Mac — Titanium Software lists its requirement as “Mac with Apple silicon using macOS Golden Gate 27.” Intel Macs are not abandoned by the product line, only by the newest build: every build from macOS Tahoe 26 (5.0.6) back to Big Sur 11 (4.0.2) is listed for “Intel-based Mac or Mac with Apple silicon.”
Release history
Dated releases recorded for OnyX, newest first, each with the source it was read from.
5.1.0
Current release, developed for macOS Golden Gate 27 and requiring an Apple-silicon Mac; the download is about 7.9 MB.
Source: Official website
Questions about OnyX
Is OnyX free?
Yes. Titanium Software describes OnyX as donationware (freeware): you may use it as long as you want and copy and distribute it at no charge, but you may not modify it for distribution. No registration is required and there is no paid tier.
Which version of OnyX should I download?
The one that matches your major macOS version. Titanium Software publishes a separate OnyX for each major release and warns against using a version intended for an earlier system. The current build, 5.1.0, is for macOS Golden Gate 27.
Does OnyX run on Intel Macs?
Only older builds do. OnyX 5.1.0 for macOS Golden Gate 27 requires an Apple-silicon Mac; the macOS Tahoe 26 build (5.0.6) is listed for an Intel-based Mac or a Mac with Apple silicon, as are the Sequoia 15, Sonoma 14, Ventura 13, Monterey 12 and Big Sur 11 builds.
What is the latest OnyX version?
5.1.0, released 15 September 2026 for macOS Golden Gate 27. Titanium Software's release-notes page also lists 5.1.1 as in progress but does not date it.
What can OnyX do?
It verifies the structure of system files, performs cleaning and maintenance tasks, uninstalls applications, deletes caches, removes problematic folders and files, rebuilds databases and indexes, and configures parameters in the Finder, Dock, Safari and some Apple applications.
Alternatives to OnyX
Apps that could replace this one — the same job, a different trade-off.
OmniDiskSweeper
Scans files by size so you can quickly find space hogs.
Both are free Mac utilities, but OmniDiskSweeper only scans files by size, while OnyX covers verification, cleanup and hidden settings.
Compared with
Head-to-head comparisons Nuanyue has published.
CleanMyMac
Mac maintenance suite: cleanup, uninstall, malware scan.
Both are Mac maintenance tools, but OnyX is free donationware that exposes system settings and tasks, while CleanMyMac is a paid subscription suite that automates cleanup.
DaisyDisk
Visual disk usage analyser with a one-time licence.
Both help with a full disk, but DaisyDisk visualises usage and leaves deletion to you, while OnyX deletes caches and rebuilds indexes as maintenance tasks.
Similar apps
Related in purpose, but not a straight swap.
AppCleaner
Thoroughly uninstall apps.
Both can uninstall applications with their related files; AppCleaner is a free single-purpose uninstaller, while uninstalling is one of many OnyX functions.
Links
Sources
Facts on this page are checked against the sources below. Last updated .
- OnyX — official websiteGrade B
- Titanium Software — developer websiteGrade B
- OnyX — documentationGrade C
