Disk health checks
Spot trouble before a drive fails. Cocktail reads disk status and verifies your boot volume on demand.
- Check S.M.A.R.T. status
- Verify the boot volume
- Repair user permissions
Golden Gate Edition v20.2.1
Cocktail Mac CleanerClean, Repair, Optimize.
Cocktail clears caches, fixes disks and opens up hundreds of hidden macOS settings. Hit one button in Pilot mode and your Mac gets a full tune-up.
For macOS 27. Running Tahoe or Sequoia? Grab your edition.
$19
Single license, all editions
5
Free trial launches
400K+
Macs running Cocktail
macOS 15+
Sequoia, Tahoe, Golden Gate
Everything your Mac hides, in one clean window
Cocktail for Mac groups its tools into five tabs: Disks, System, Files, Network and Interface. Pilot sits on top and runs the essentials for you, which is why people call it the Swiss army knife of Mac cleaners.
Deep file cleanup
Clear the clutter macOS piles up quietly. Pick exactly which caches and logs go, then reclaim the space.
- System, user and browser caches
- Unused language files
- Corrupted preference files
Pilot mode
The one-click routine. Pilot cleans, repairs and optimizes the system in a single pass while you grab a coffee.
- Full maintenance in one run
- No settings to memorize
- Safe defaults picked by Maintain
Scheduled maintenance
Set it once and forget it. Cocktail can clear caches and logs on a timetable you choose.
- Recurring cache clearing
- Automatic log cleanup
- Critical security updates
Hidden interface tweaks
Change the look and feel of Finder, Dock and the login window. No Terminal commands needed.
- Finder and Dock options
- Safari, Music and Photos extras
- Network speed and MTU tuning
Safe by design
Every task stays in your hands. Cocktail runs the same routines macOS ships with and never touches files you skip.
- You choose each task
- One-click uninstall restores defaults
- Built by Maintain since 2004
Terminal installation
Advanced users can install Cocktail for Mac with a single command.
$brew install --cask cocktail
Homebrew picks the edition for your macOS. On Apple Silicon run softwareupdate --install-rosetta first.
How to open Terminal on Mac
- Press ⌘ + Space to bring up Spotlight.
- Type Terminal in the search field.
- Hit Return and a new shell window appears.
Installation via Terminal command
- Click Copy above to grab the brew command.
- Paste it with ⌘ + V, then press Return.
- Cocktail lands in Applications. Launch it from Launchpad.
No Homebrew? Install it from brew.sh, or grab the DMG straight from Maintain.
Download DMGHow Cocktail works on your Mac
Three habits cover almost everything. Start broad with Pilot and go deeper only when something feels off.
Run Pilot for a full tune-up
Open Cocktail, switch to Pilot and press Start. Caches clear, databases rebuild and the system gets optimized in one go.
~ a few minutesFix one problem by tab
Spotlight slow? Head to System. Mail search broken? Rebuild its Envelope Index. Each tab targets one part of macOS.
Disks / System / FilesSchedule it and move on
Set weekly cache and log cleanup plus critical security updates. Your Mac stays tidy without a reminder.
set onceWhat Mac users say about Cocktail
Real feedback from people who keep their Macs running with Cocktail.
I have run Cocktail for Mac on my iMac for years. Twice a year I open Pilot, press start and walk away. The machine always feels snappier afterwards.
Hannah P.
Spotlight stopped finding my files after a macOS upgrade. Cocktail erased the index and rebuilt it in minutes. Saved me a call to Apple support.
Omar S.
A solid cocktail mac cleaner with a huge toolbox. One star off because every big macOS release needs a new edition. Still worth the money for what it covers.
Lena V.
Local Time Machine snapshots were eating 60 GB on my MacBook Pro. Cocktail thinned them out and I never had to touch tmutil.
Tomás R.
The Interface tab is my favorite part. I showed hidden files in Finder and tweaked the Dock with two clicks instead of hunting for defaults commands.
Priya N.
I look after twelve Macs at a small studio. Scheduled cache and log clearing runs every week and I stopped thinking about it.
George H.
Mail search broke on me out of nowhere. Rebuilding the Envelope Index from Cocktail fixed it on the first try.
Mei L.
Tried a few flashy cleaners before this one. Cocktail for Mac feels like a pro tool with no scare popups and no upsells. You run only the tasks you pick.
Rafael D.
Checked the S.M.A.R.T. status of an old drive and caught a failing disk before it died. That alone paid for the license.
Sofia B.
Cocktail for Mac FAQ
Straight answers about pricing, editions and setup.
Is Cocktail for Mac free?
No. The download is free and runs in demo mode for five launches. A Single User License costs $19 (regular price $29) and covers one computer. The Family License costs $39 and covers up to five Macs in one household.
Which Cocktail edition should I download?
Pick the edition that matches your macOS. Golden Gate Edition 20.2.1 runs on macOS 27, Tahoe Edition 19.10.1 runs on macOS 26 and Sequoia Edition 18.9 runs on macOS 15. One license works for all current editions, and Maintain hosts older editions on its website.
Does Cocktail run on Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes, through Rosetta 2. Cocktail currently ships as an Intel build. Maintain says native Apple silicon support is in progress and should arrive before macOS 28 ends general Rosetta support. You can ignore compatibility messages macOS shows in the meantime.
Is Cocktail a safe Mac cleaner?
Cocktail runs the maintenance routines macOS already includes and puts them behind a clear interface. You choose every task yourself. The Uninstall Cocktail option in the app menu removes the app and restores default macOS settings.
How do I install Cocktail via Terminal?
Run brew install --cask cocktail in Terminal. Homebrew picks the edition that matches your macOS version automatically. Apple Silicon Macs also need Rosetta 2, which you can install with softwareupdate --install-rosetta.
What does Pilot mode do in Cocktail?
Pilot performs essential system maintenance with one click. It cleans, repairs and optimizes your Mac in a single pass. Pilot can also schedule cache clearing, log cleanup and critical security updates.
Cocktail is stuck on Preparing. How do I fix it?
Download RemoveCocktailPrefs and run it. Restart your Mac, open Cocktail and choose Uninstall Cocktail from the Cocktail menu without selecting any options. Then install the latest edition again.
How do I uninstall Cocktail from my Mac?
Open Cocktail and choose Uninstall Cocktail from the Cocktail menu. If you installed with Homebrew, run brew uninstall --zap --cask cocktail to remove the app plus its preference and log files.
Give your Mac a proper tune-up
Try Cocktail free for five launches. If it earns a spot on your Mac, one license covers every current edition.
Older macOS? Get Tahoe Edition 19.10.1 for macOS 26 or Sequoia Edition 18.9 for macOS 15.