Complete Guide to DiskCleanKit Automation: Scheduled Scans, Alerts & URL Schemes

What is Automation Support?

New in DiskCleanKit v4.0, Automation Support lets you set up your Mac cleaning on autopilot. With scheduled scans, low disk space alerts, and auto startup, you'll never have to worry about manually cleaning your Mac again.

Built-in Automation Features

1. Low Disk Space Alerts

Get notified before you run out of space! Set a threshold and DiskCleanKit will alert you when disk space falls below that level.

How to set up:

1. Open DiskCleanKit → Preferences → Automation

2. Enable "Low Disk Space Alert"

3. Set your threshold (e.g., 10GB, 20GB, 50GB)

4. You'll receive a notification when space runs low

Recommended thresholds:

• 10GB - For smaller SSDs (256GB or less)
• 20GB - For medium SSDs (512GB)
• 50GB - For larger SSDs (1TB+)

2. Auto Startup

Launch DiskCleanKit automatically when your Mac starts. Perfect for always-on monitoring.

How to enable:

1. Open DiskCleanKit → Preferences → Automation

2. Enable "Launch at Startup"

3. DiskCleanKit will now start when you log in

This pairs great with the Menu Bar Widget - DiskCleanKit monitors your disk space silently in the background.

3. Scheduled Scans & Cleaning

Set up automatic scans on your preferred schedule:

How to configure:

1. Open DiskCleanKit → Preferences → Automation

2. Enable "Scheduled Scan"

3. Choose frequency: Daily, Weekly, 2 Weekly, or Monthly

4. Select scan type: Quick Clean, Deep Scan, or One-Touch

5. (Optional) Enable "Auto Clean After Scan" for hands-free operation

4. Auto Clean After Scan

Enable automatic cleaning after scheduled scans - zero manual intervention required!

Important: Before enabling, review what DiskCleanKit typically finds in manual scans. Set up exclusion rules in Preferences → Exclusions for any files you want to keep.

URL Schemes (For Power Users)

For advanced automation beyond the built-in options, use URL schemes to control DiskCleanKit from Terminal, AppleScript, macOS Shortcuts, or third-party tools.

Available URL Schemes

URL Parameters

Terminal Examples

# Just open One-Touch mode
open "diskcleankit://onetouch"

# Full automation: scan AND clean
open "diskcleankit://onetouch?autoscan=true&autoclean=true"

# Quick Clean with full automation
open "diskcleankit://quickclean?autoscan=true&autoclean=true"

# Deep Scan with full automation
open "diskcleankit://deepscan?autoscan=true&autoclean=true"

AppleScript Example

-- Automated Mac Cleanup
display notification "Starting Mac cleanup..." with title "DiskCleanKit"
do shell script "open 'diskcleankit://onetouch?autoscan=true&autoclean=true'"

macOS Shortcuts Integration

1. Open Shortcuts app

2. Click + to create new shortcut

3. Search for Run Shell Script action

4. Enter: open "diskcleankit://onetouch?autoscan=true&autoclean=true"

5. Name your shortcut (e.g., "Clean My Mac")

Add Automation Trigger:

1. Go to Automation tab

2. Create Personal Automation

3. Choose trigger: Time of Day, When app opens, etc.

4. Add your DiskCleanKit shortcut

5. Toggle off "Ask Before Running"

Best Practices

For Most Users

1. Enable Auto Startup to keep DiskCleanKit running

2. Set Low Disk Space Alert to 20GB

3. Configure Daily Scheduled Scan with Quick Clean

4. Enable Auto Clean after reviewing typical scan results

For Power Users

1. Use built-in scheduling for regular maintenance

2. Add URL schemes to Alfred/Raycast for quick access

3. Use cron jobs for custom schedules not covered by built-in options

4. Create Shortcuts with specific triggers (e.g., when closing Xcode)

For Light Users

1. Enable Low Disk Space Alert only

2. Set Weekly or Monthly scheduled scan

3. Keep Auto Clean disabled, review before cleaning

Troubleshooting

Scheduled Scan Not Running

• Ensure DiskCleanKit has permission to run in background
• Check that your Mac doesn't sleep during scheduled time
• Verify the schedule is enabled in Preferences → Automation

Not Receiving Alerts

• Check notification permissions in System Settings → Notifications → DiskCleanKit
• Ensure alert threshold hasn't been reached yet
• Try lowering the threshold temporarily to test

URL Scheme Not Working

• Ensure DiskCleanKit v4.0+ is installed
• Check that DiskCleanKit is not already running a scan
• Test in Terminal first before adding to scripts

Available Now in v4.0

Automation Support is a major feature in DiskCleanKit v4.0, making Mac maintenance truly hands-free. Combined with Finder Integration, v4.0 is the most powerful DiskCleanKit release yet! Update now from the Mac App Store to enjoy all these features.