Onyx: A Free Tool for Maintaining and Tweaking macOS

Mac users, meet Onyx – a free and powerful utility that helps you optimize and maintain your system. Often overshadowed by its paid counterparts, Onyx offers a surprising array of features to keep your Mac running smoothly.

Highlights

• Onyx provides various maintenance tasks, including disk verification, system cleaning, and cache management.
• You can access hidden macOS settings and customize system behavior for a more personalized experience.
• You can also schedule regular maintenance tasks, making it easy to keep your system running smoothly with minimal effort.
• Onyx is completely free, and the developer regularly updates it to ensure compatibility with the latest macOS versions, including macOS Sequoia.
• While Onyx is great for maintenance, it doesn’t include a backup option, and some advanced features may be confusing for new users.

TheSweetBits review

We’ve taken Onyx for a spin to see what it can really do, and here’s what OnyX has to offer:

Installation

Installing OnyX is straightforward: download the specific version compatible with your macOS, provide it with disk access, and you’re ready to go. The app even guides you through setting up Full Disk Access so you can start optimizing right away.

Interface & Customization

OnyX’s interface is minimalistic—its primary focus is on functionality. The toolbar gives you quick access to various features, and you can customize it by selecting View > Customize Toolbar. Unlike apps that clutter the UI with excess features, OnyX is refreshingly direct.

Our Take: It may not look modern, but OnyX’s no-frills approach prioritizes usability, making it easier to dive into essential maintenance tasks.

Maintenance and Cleaning

Under the Maintenance tab, you’ll find options for cleaning and verifying system integrity. Here’s what you can do:

• Verify Filesystem Structure: Diagnose disk issues and even delete APFS snapshots to speed up the process.
• System Cleanup: Clear caches, run maintenance scripts, delete unnecessary files, and free up space.
• Application Cleanup: Clean app caches, saved states, and archived files.

Our Take: These tasks can take time, especially without a progress indicator, but OnyX does a thorough job at maintaining your Mac’s health.

Advanced Utilities

OnyX’s Utilities tab offers deeper insights into your Mac:

• Filesystem Check: Quickly verify file structure without needing to restart.
• APFS Snapshots: Create or delete snapshots to manage system backups and data states.
• Process Accounting: Track commands and system activity, useful for auditing and monitoring.
• macOS Shortcuts: OnyX also provides shortcuts to built-in tools like Wireless Diagnostics, Directory Utility, and Display Calibration.

Our Take: Casual users might not need these tools, but for developers or IT professionals, OnyX offers a wealth of options that make Terminal commands more accessible.

File Management for Advanced Users

The Files tab lets advanced users manipulate files and directories that are often hidden. You can:

• Change File Visibility: Access hard-to-reach files or hide specific directories.
• Checksum Calculations: Compare files or locate packages by checksums.
• Permanent Deletion: Safely and permanently erase files beyond recovery.

Our Take: These powerful tools are ideal for developers or tech-savvy users who need quick access to file management without Terminal commands.

Security

OnyX includes a Security tab to manage and monitor basic security features:

• Check Security Settings: See the status of System Integrity Protection, Gatekeeper, and other macOS protections.
• Enable/Disable Features: Quickly toggle Gatekeeper or security response settings with ease.

Our Take: While limited, these options offer developers or advanced users a quicker alternative to command-line security adjustments.

File & System Search

The Find tab lets you use graphical alternatives to Terminal commands, ideal for users familiar with Terminal but wanting a simpler experience:

• Locate Database: Once set up, use the locate command to search your Mac for specific files.
• Spotlight Alternative: Use mdfind to refine searches based on Spotlight-like parameters.
• Quick File Search: For finding specific files in large directories, OnyX’s tools make the process more efficient.

Our Take: If Spotlight isn’t enough, OnyX’s search options can help find elusive files without diving into the Terminal.

Personalization with Parameters

The Parameters tab lets users customize macOS behaviors, including:

• Screenshot Format and Location: Save screenshots in different formats or customize their save location.
• Finder, Dock, and Safari Tweaks: Show hidden files, alter animations, and adjust application settings with ease.

Our Take: This section is particularly appealing for users who want to personalize macOS settings that Apple keeps locked down by default.

System Info and Monitoring

In the Info tab, OnyX provides detailed system statistics beyond what macOS’s built-in System Information shows:

• Memory & Volume Use: Check memory, swap usage, and more.
• Purge Swap File: Free up space by purging the swap file if needed.

Our Take: Most users may not need this, but it’s useful for those who like more granular control over their system’s memory and volume usage.

What users say?

“I’ve been using Onyx for many years, even before I started my privacy journey. I trust the developers of Onyx and have donated to them a few times. You’ve done the research, so you can decide for yourself if you trust them or you could first also check for some alternatives that might be even open-source for example.” – Yahhas

“I set all maintenance options to on except for browser history, saved forms and cookies. That’s all you need for a cleanup. It’s essentially a GUI for existing macOS functions that would otherwise require Terminal to use.” – Dry

Is Onyx safe?

Yes, Onyx is a safe tool for Mac. The app has been developed by Titanium Software, a well-respected name in the Mac utility space. It’s been around for many years, and its developer regularly updates the tool to stay compatible with the latest macOS versions. Onyx works by providing users with the ability to clean up junk files and tweak system settings, all of which can be done safely when used correctly. However, as with any tool that alters system settings, it’s important to read the instructions and use caution, especially when making more advanced changes.

Things to keep in mind:

While Onyx is generally safe to use, it’s always a good practice to back up your data before making any major system changes. For beginners, we recommend starting with the basic cleaning and optimization options and exploring the advanced features cautiously.

How OnyX compares to alternatives

OnyX faces stiff competition from other Mac cleaning and maintenance utilities like CleanMyMac and DaisyDisk. While these tools also offer powerful cleaning and optimization features, they come with a price tag. OnyX stands out because it provides the same functionality as paid alternatives—without any cost. However, it does lack the advanced real-time monitoring features found in CleanMyMac.

Is Onyx for Mac any good?

Despite being a free tool, Onyx offers a surprising array of features for optimizing and maintaining your Mac. We found it particularly useful for cleaning up clutter, managing storage space, and fine-tuning specific system settings.

Pros

• Completely Free: No subscriptions or hidden fees.
• Comprehensive Tools: Full suite of system maintenance and optimization tools.
• In-depth Customization: Change macOS settings usually restricted by Apple.
• Regular Updates: Frequent updates keep the program in sync with macOS improvements.

Cons

• Challenging for Novices: OnyX is built for users comfortable with system maintenance.
• Potential for Misconfiguration: Mishandling certain settings can lead to stability issues.
• Sparse Support: Limited resources for troubleshooting or beginner support.

Onyx may not be suitable for everyone—especially those who prefer simpler apps for basic maintenance tasks—but for users who enjoy customizing their Macs or need a tool for regular upkeep, Onyx is definitely worth a try.

Download Onyx: https://www.titanium-software.fr/en/onyx.html