Software
AppSweep app icon

Free for Mac

AppSweep

A tidy Dock, without thinking about it.

Switch away from an app and AppSweep starts a countdown. If you do not come back in time, the app is closed, so a day of open apps stops piling up in your Dock and using memory in the background.

Download for Mac View source

Version 1.1 · macOS 13 or later · Apple silicon and Intel

AppSweep settings in dark mode: a list of enabled apps with Calendar selected and set to quit after 30 seconds, counting down with 23 seconds left.

How it works

  • You choose the apps

    Every app starts switched off. Nothing is closed until you turn it on for that app.

  • You set the wait

    Switch away and a countdown starts; come back and it is cancelled. Anything from 1 second to 24 hours, per app.

  • You set how firmly it quits

    A normal quit lets the app show its save prompt. Force quit options are there for stubborn apps, and each one asks you to confirm first.

  • Pause any time

    From the menu bar. Timers also stop while your Mac sleeps.

  • Protected apps

    Finder, the Dock and essential parts of macOS are never closed.

  • Light or dark

    Follow your Mac, or choose Light or Dark from the settings window or the menu bar.

Install

  1. Download the disk image and open it.
  2. Drag AppSweep into Applications.
  3. Open AppSweep. It is not yet notarised by Apple, so the first time macOS shows a warning. On macOS 15 or later, choose Open Anyway in System Settings › Privacy & Security. On earlier versions, right-click AppSweep in Applications and choose Open. You only need to do this once.

Good to know

Force quitting can lose unsaved work.
Use a normal quit for anything with documents.
Private.
No accounts, no analytics, no network connections and no special permissions. Your settings stay on your Mac.
Pinned Dock icons stay.
Quitting removes the Dock icon only for apps that are not pinned.

Made by Simon Appleton of Pocket Giant. Read the source on GitHub.