Need help? Email manhpv151090@gmail.com. Please include your operating system version (for example Windows 11 24H2 or macOS 15), the Sweepback version (on Windows: Settings > Apps > Installed apps; on macOS: Sweepback > About Sweepback) and the steps that led to the problem.
Frequently asked questions
Is cleaning safe?
Sweepback never deletes what you clean straight away. Every file or folder you clean is moved into Cleanup Recovery on the same drive, with its original path, size and (for files up to 512 MB) a SHA-256 checksum. Before anything is moved it is checked again: links, junctions, files with several hard links, files in use by another app, your Protected Collections and your exclusions are always skipped. Items stay in Cleanup Recovery for the number of days set in Preferences (30 by default), up to the size limit you choose.
How do I get something back?
Open Recovery Hub, select the items and click Restore. Each item goes back to its original path. If a file with the same name is there now, Sweepback keeps both (the restored one gets a "(restored)" name), skips it, or stops, as you choose. Nothing is ever overwritten.
Why didn't my free space go up right after cleaning?
Items in Cleanup Recovery still use space on the same drive. The space is freed when they expire, or right away when you select them in Recovery Hub and choose Delete Permanently.
Why were some items skipped?
The cleanup result lists the reason for each one. Common reasons: the file is open in another app, it changed since the scan, it is protected or excluded, it is on a different drive than Cleanup Recovery, or Cleanup Recovery reached its size limit.
Will the Developer Workspace Map break my projects?
It only lists build output that sits next to its project file: node_modules next to package.json, Rust
target next to Cargo.toml, Python virtual environments, Gradle build, .NET bin / obj, CMake builds,
Flutter .dart_tool / build and Composer vendor. Source code and .git folders are never touched. Rebuild
with the command shown on each row (npm install, cargo build, …) or restore the folder from Recovery Hub.
Browser cleaning says to close the browser
Browser data can only be moved while the browser is completely closed, so it cannot corrupt its own files. Passwords, bookmarks and extensions are never touched. Removing cookies signs you out of websites. Firefox keeps history and bookmarks in one database, so Sweepback does not remove Firefox history; use Firefox's own Clear History instead.
(Windows) How does uninstalling work?
Sweepback starts the uninstaller that the app's publisher registered with Windows. Windows may ask for administrator permission; if you cancel, nothing changes. Finish the uninstall in the publisher's window.
(Windows) Turning a startup app off
Sweepback uses the same on/off setting as Task Manager's Startup apps page, so you can turn an app back on from either place. Machine-wide entries need Sweepback to run as Administrator, which the Microsoft Store version does not do.
(Windows) What does a scheduled scan do?
It runs in the background at the time you chose, scans the default categories and writes the result to Audit History. It never cleans anything. Scheduled scans are not available in the Microsoft Store version.
Why are some screens missing on macOS?
Recycle Bin, Apps & Startup and Schedules use Windows features and are only shown on Windows.
Removing Sweepback
Uninstall it like any other app. Its data (settings, history and anything still in Cleanup Recovery) stays in
%LOCALAPPDATA%\com.manhpham.sweepback on Windows or
~/Library/Application Support/com.manhpham.sweepback on macOS. Restore anything you still need first,
then delete that folder.