Guide

Then the originals are removed and the run is recorded in the history, where you can undo it.

DeskSweep copies files to the destination and checks that their contents, structure, and attributes match before removing them from their original location. This differs from a copy-style backup that leaves the same files in place.

Tidying installers, duplicates, and old backups (Pro) only moves files to the Trash and never deletes them permanently. Swept files can be put back from the history at any time.

NoteDeskSweep doesn't sync to the cloud or restore your whole Mac. Keep a separate backup of important data, such as with Time Machine.

The window you use when DeskSweep runs as a standard app. In menu bar mode, open it with Open Main Window… (メイン画面を開く…) in the broom icon's menu.

TipIf something is missing — no destination, or folder access not granted — it is shown here, and Preview… (プレビュー…) and Back Up Now (今すぐバックアップ) are disabled. Follow the message to set it up.

In menu bar mode, use the broom icon at the top right of the screen. It isn't shown when DeskSweep runs as a standard app.

• Open Main Window… (メイン画面を開く…)
• Switch profiles (when you have several in Pro)
• Folder checkboxes, and Allow Access… (アクセスを許可…) for folders not yet allowed
• Destination, current status, and the last result
• Back Up Now (今すぐバックアップ) / Preview… (プレビュー…) / Undo Last Backup (直前のバックアップを元に戻す)
• History… (履歴…) / Settings… (設定…) / Quit DeskSweep (DeskSweep を終了)

TipIf a sweep was interrupted, Recover Interrupted Operation… (中断した処理を復旧…) appears at the top.

At the top are the destination name, the number and size of items to back up, items to move to the Trash (Pro tidying features), and items to exclude. Use Show (表示) to switch between Back Up (バックアップ), To Trash (ゴミ箱へ), Excluded (除外), and All (すべて), and check each item's name, location, size, and action.

1. Check the list. If a file you want to keep is marked Back Up (バックアップ), close with Cancel (キャンセル) and review your exclusion rules.
2. After changing rules, click Rescan (再スキャン) to update the list.
3. If everything looks right, click Move Files (移動を実行).

Each run shows the saved name, the date, profile, and what triggered it, and the item count. The folder button shows the destination in Finder, and Undo (元に戻す) puts the swept files back.

• Undone (元に戻し済み): this run has already been undone
• Auto-pruned (自動整理済み): this backup was moved to the Trash by auto-pruning (Pro)
• The free version shows the last 5 runs. Earlier records can be viewed and restored in Pro

Settings has the tabs General (一般), Folders (フォルダ), Exclusion Rules (除外ルール), Organize (整理), Automation (自動実行), and Pro (Pro). Changes are saved automatically; close with Done (完了). While Settings is open, the main window and other windows are paused, but a sweep that has already started keeps going.

The “?” next to each heading explains the steps and caveats for that setting. Settings marked PRO are available after you buy Pro; their explanations can be read before buying.

RelatedSee all settings

On first launch, choose Standard app (in the Dock) (通常のアプリ（Dockに表示）) or Stay in the menu bar (メニューバーに常駐), then click Start with This Mode (この表示方法で始める). You can change it later in Settings (設定) → General (一般) → Launch Mode (起動時の表示).

1. In Settings (設定) → Folders (フォルダ) → Backup Sources (バックアップ元), click Allow Access… (アクセスを許可…) for Desktop and Downloads and select each folder.
2. Choose a destination with Change… (変更…) under Backup Destination (バックアップ先).
3. In Settings (設定) → Exclusion Rules (除外ルール), decide what to keep (tags, recent days, in-progress downloads).
4. Turn on Preview before running (実行前にプレビューで確認する) in Settings (設定) → General (一般).
5. Click Preview… (プレビュー…) in the main window, check the list, and click Move Files (移動を実行).
6. Open History (履歴) and the destination to check the result.

TipFor your first try, use a folder with few files, or sweep only the desktop.

1. In Finder, add a tag such as “Important” to files you want to keep.
2. In Settings (設定) → Exclusion Rules (除外ルール) → Tags (タグ), choose Exclude all tagged files (タグ付きをすべて除外), or Exclude only specified tags (指定したタグのみ除外) and register the tags.
3. Set a number of days (for example, 7) in Basic Rules (基本ルール) to keep recently added or modified files too.
4. Check which files are kept, and why, under Excluded (除外) in the preview.

RelatedKeep files by tagKeep recent filesKeep by extension, name, or size (Pro)

1. Open History (履歴) from the main window's toolbar (or History… (履歴…) in the menu bar).
2. Click Undo (元に戻す) for the run you want to reverse.
3. Check that the files are back in place. Zipped runs are extracted and Finder tags restored.

TipFor the last run only, you can also use Undo Last Backup (直前のバックアップを元に戻す) in the menu bar.

NoteIf you move or delete files at the destination, undo may not be possible. For an external drive, connect it first.

1. Connect the external drive.
2. Click Change… (変更…) in Settings (設定) → Folders (フォルダ) → Backup Destination (バックアップ先) and select a folder on the drive.
3. Check the preview, then run.
4. With Pro, turn on Settings (設定) → Automation (自動実行) → External Drive (外付けドライブ) so that connecting the drive starts a sweep from then on.

RelatedChoose a destinationRun when a drive connects (Pro)

1. First, preview and run manually to make sure the result is right.
2. In Settings (設定) → Automation (自動実行) → Schedule (スケジュール), choose Weekly (毎週) and set a weekday and time.
3. Check the plan under Next (次回).
4. Turn on Settings (設定) → General (一般) → Launch at login (ログイン時に起動) (sweeps won't run unless DeskSweep is running).

NoteAutomatic runs don't show the preview. If the time passes while the Mac is asleep, it runs once after waking.

1. Click Add Profile (プロファイルを追加) in Settings (設定) → General (一般) → Profiles (プロファイル) and give it a name such as “Work”.
2. Choose the profile to edit with the round selection button, then set up the Folders, Exclusion Rules, and Automation tabs.
3. Switch the profile to run from the main window or the menu bar.

TipInclude {profile} in the backup name to see which profile each sweep came from. Example: {profile}_{date}

1. In Settings (設定) → Organize (整理) → Installers (.dmg / .pkg) (インストーラ（.dmg / .pkg）), choose Move to Trash (ゴミ箱に入れる) or Leave in place (そのまま残す).
2. Turn on Duplicate Files (重複ファイル).
3. Check what goes to the Trash, and why, under To Trash (ゴミ箱へ) in the preview, then run.

NoteBefore moving files to the Trash, a safety copy is kept inside the backup. Check the result before emptying the Trash.

1. Turn on Settings (設定) → Organize (整理) → Auto-prune Old Backups (古いバックアップの自動整理).
2. Enable Backups to Keep (残す世代数) or Retention Period (保存期間) and set a value.

NoteThe most recent backup is always kept. If both are set, backups matching either condition go to the Trash.

1. Hotkey: click the button in Settings (設定) → General (一般) → Global Hotkey (グローバルホットキー) and press a combination that includes ⌘ or ⌥.
2. Shortcuts.app: add DeskSweep's Run Backup (バックアップを実行) action to a new shortcut, and specify a profile name if needed.

NoteBoth run without the preview. Check the result manually first.

1. In Settings (設定) → General (一般) → Launch Mode (起動時の表示), choose Stay in the menu bar (メニューバーに常駐). The change applies immediately.
2. Use the broom icon at the top right of the screen.
3. Turning on Launch at login (ログイン時に起動) keeps it available in the menu bar at all times.

1. Open Settings (設定) → Pro (Pro), check the price shown, and click Buy (購入).
2. Approve the purchase in Apple's dialog. Once confirmed, settings marked PRO become available.
3. On another Mac or after reinstalling, click Restore Purchases (購入を復元) with the same Apple Account.

TipIf product information doesn't appear, check your network connection and click Reload Product Information (製品情報を再読み込み).

RelatedFree vs. Pro

TipIf even one file in a folder matches a keep rule, the whole folder stays in place.

NoteAutomation works while DeskSweep is running and doesn't show the preview.

• Follow the message shown in the main window (for example, no destination set or folder access not granted).
• You can't run with no folder checked.
• If Recover Interrupted Operation… (中断した処理を復旧…) is shown, run the recovery first.
• It's disabled while a sweep or scan is in progress. Wait until it finishes.

This means the previous sweep stopped midway. Clicking it rolls back moves that weren't finalized, or verifies and finishes cleanup for those that were. Until recovery is complete, you can't start a new sweep or undo.

In Settings (設定) → Folders (フォルダ), click Allow Access… (アクセスを許可…) for that folder and select it again. Turning on the checkbox alone doesn't grant access. For an external drive, also check that it's connected.

DeskSweep checks free space at the destination before running and stops if there isn't enough. Choose a destination with more space, sweep fewer folders, or prune old backups before running. If items will go to the Trash, space for their safety copies is also needed.

• Check that DeskSweep is running (we recommend turning on Launch at login (ログイン時に起動)).
• In Settings (設定) → Automation (自動実行), check that it isn't set to Manual only (手動のみ), and check the plan under Next (次回).
• Drive-connection sweeps only work for settings whose destination is on that drive.
• Check that your Pro purchase is active (Settings (設定) → Pro (Pro)).

Check that Settings (設定) → General (一般) → Notify when finished (完了したら通知する) is on and that DeskSweep is allowed in System Settings → Notifications. Notifications may not appear while a Focus is on.

• The files at the destination must still exist and be accessible. Connect the external drive if you used one.
• The free version doesn't show records older than the last 5 runs.
• Runs marked Undone (元に戻し済み) have already been undone.
• You can't undo while recovery is needed.

In menu bar mode, DeskSweep has no Dock icon or window. Choose Open Main Window… (メイン画面を開く…) from the broom icon at the top right of the screen. If you can't find the broom icon either, launch DeskSweep again from the Applications folder.

Make sure you're signed in with the Apple Account you used to buy it, then click Restore Purchases (購入を復元) in Settings (設定) → Pro (Pro). If product information doesn't appear, check your connection and click Reload Product Information (製品情報を再読み込み).