CleanCatThe CleanCat field guide
A few things worth knowing before your first clean-up. Start small. Keep a backup. Stay in control.
Your first pass
Grant Photos access, then choose photos, screenshots, or videos to review. Limited access means CleanCat can only work with the items you select. Change that selection or revoke permission in iOS Settings whenever you need to.
Suggestions aren't decisions
Similarity grouping and text-based categories help narrow your review, but can make mistakes. Check each item yourself. System intelligence features also depend on compatible hardware, language, and system settings.
Understand the two storage locations
An in-app archive is separate from your system photo library. Confirm that an archive is complete before removing an original. Items deleted from Apple Photos normally go to Recently Deleted under Apple's retention rules; don't assume deletion from an in-app archive has the same recovery path.
Apple's photo deletion guideWhen a network connection matters
On-device review is not a promise of an offline-only app. Fetching iCloud Photos originals can require a connection. With sync enabled, archived media, extracted text, analysis, review state, and settings sync through your private CloudKit database. Turning sync off doesn't erase existing cloud records.
Purchases follow your Apple account
Use the same Apple account to restore eligible purchases. The purchase sheet defines current prices, trial eligibility, and renewal periods. Deleting CleanCat does not cancel a subscription; manage it in Settings under your Apple account, then Subscriptions.
Manage an Apple subscription