# What the NotchStar Disk scan finds

> The Overview scan finds app caches, logs, Xcode build data and downloads untouched for 90 days. It lists them and removes nothing until you choose.

Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/help/what-notchstar-disk-scan-finds/
Last updated: 2026-11-04

Published 2026-11-04.

When you press **Scan** in the Overview section of the Disk tab, NotchStar looks in four places inside your home folder and lists what it finds, largest first. It removes nothing. You choose what goes to the Trash.

## The four places

| Group | Where it looks | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| App caches | `~/Library/Caches` | Files apps rebuild when needed |
| Logs | `~/Library/Logs` | Diagnostic logs |
| Xcode build data | `~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData` and `iOS DeviceSupport` | Build output and device symbols |
| Old downloads | `~/Downloads` | Items not modified for more than 90 days |

Each group lists the folders or files directly inside that location, with the size of each. Sizes are the space actually allocated on disk, and symbolic links are never followed.

## Other things the tab finds

The Overview scan is only one part. The other sections look for different things, each on its own button:

- **Space** ranks the folders in your home folder by size. See [how to find the biggest folders](https://www.notchstar.com/help/find-biggest-folders-notchstar/).
- **Duplicates** finds identical copies. See [how duplicates are found](https://www.notchstar.com/help/find-duplicate-files-notchstar/).
- **Apps** lists apps with the files they leave behind. See [app leftovers](https://www.notchstar.com/help/remove-app-leftovers-notchstar/).
- **Compress** finds large photos and videos to shrink. See [compressing large videos](https://www.notchstar.com/help/compress-large-videos-notchstar/).

## What it will not find

It does not look at System Data, other users' folders, or system locations. It is also not a full map of the disk. For the question of what is safe in each place, read [is NotchStar Disk cleanup safe](https://www.notchstar.com/help/is-notchstar-disk-cleanup-safe/). The [Disk feature page](https://www.notchstar.com/features/disk/) has the full list of sections.

## Quick answers.

### Does the scan run on its own?

No. It starts when you press Scan, and nothing is removed until you tick items and press the move to Trash button.

## Keep reading.

- [Disk space, duplicates, apps and cleanup](https://www.notchstar.com/features/disk/): See free space, find big folders, duplicates and app leftovers, compress media and clean caches from your Mac notch. Everything goes to the Trash.
- [Is NotchStar Disk cleanup safe?](https://www.notchstar.com/help/is-notchstar-disk-cleanup-safe/): Disk only moves things to the Trash, only inside your home folder and app bundles in /Applications. It refuses the home folder itself and system paths.
- [How to find the biggest folders on your Mac with NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/find-biggest-folders-notchstar/): The Space section measures your home folder and ranks folders by size. Click one to look inside, show it in Finder, or move it to the Trash.
- [How NotchStar finds duplicate files](https://www.notchstar.com/help/find-duplicate-files-notchstar/): Duplicates compares file contents, not names, across six folders. It skips files under 1 MB and hard links, and keeps the oldest copy of each set.
- [How to find what is filling your Mac, and free space safely](https://www.notchstar.com/blog/free-up-space-on-your-mac-without-a-cleaner/): Find what fills your Mac with Finder and Terminal, learn which folders are safe to clear, and what to leave alone. Commands tested, with a 20 minute routine.

## More in Disk and storage.

- [Is NotchStar Disk cleanup safe?](https://www.notchstar.com/help/is-notchstar-disk-cleanup-safe/): Disk only moves things to the Trash, only inside your home folder and app bundles in /Applications. It refuses the home folder itself and system paths.
- [How the NotchStar Disk Trash step works](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-disk-trash-not-permanent-delete/): Disk moves items to the Trash and never deletes for good. Space only comes back when you empty the Trash yourself in Finder.
- [How NotchStar finds duplicate files](https://www.notchstar.com/help/find-duplicate-files-notchstar/): Duplicates compares file contents, not names, across six folders. It skips files under 1 MB and hard links, and keeps the oldest copy of each set.
- [How to remove an app and its leftovers in NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/remove-app-leftovers-notchstar/): The Apps section lists apps with the caches, preferences and logs they leave in Library. Remove sends the app and those files to the Trash.
- [How to compress large videos with NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/compress-large-videos-notchstar/): Compress finds photos over 2 MB and videos over 50 MB, recompresses them, and keeps the result only if it is under 90 percent of the original size.
- [Why a NotchStar Disk scan can be slow](https://www.notchstar.com/help/why-notchstar-disk-scan-is-slow/): Scans read real files: sizing folders, hashing duplicates and recompressing media all take time on big libraries. Here is what each one does.