mTTCleaner - Cross-Platform Browser Cache and Database Cleanup Tool

Overview

mTTCleaner is a comprehensive PowerShell 7+ based browser maintenance tool designed to keep your browsers running smoothly by cleaning caches, compacting databases, and removing unnecessary metrics files. It supports 28 browsers across Windows, macOS, and Linux with modern interactive UI, active browser detection, and enterprise-grade logging.

Features

• Cross-Platform Support: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux with PowerShell 7+
• 28 Browser Support: Supports 28 browsers including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, Safari, and more
• Modern Interactive TUI: Spectre.Console-based UI with browser selection menu and operation options
• Active Browser Detection: Automatically detects installed browsers using platform-specific methods
• Cache Cleanup: Removes browser cache files to free up disk space
• Database Compaction: Uses SQLite VACUUM to compact browser databases and reclaim space
• Automatic SQLite3 Installation: Automatically downloads and installs SQLite3 on Windows (v2.1.1+)
• Metrics Removal: Deletes telemetry and metrics files
• Process Management: Automatically closes browser processes before cleanup
• Windows Event Log Integration: Enterprise monitoring via Windows Event Log (Windows only)
• Cross-Platform Shortcuts: Creates shortcuts on Desktop and Start Menu/Applications (all platforms)
• Cross-Platform Scheduling: Sets up monthly automated maintenance via Task Scheduler/launchd/cron (all platforms)
• Parallel Processing: Optional parallel browser processing for improved performance (PowerShell 7+)
• Enhanced Logging: myTech.Today logging module with markdown format and monthly archiving
• Safe Operation: Optional elevation with user confirmation
• -WhatIf Support: Test mode to preview changes without making them

Supported Browsers

mTTCleaner supports 28 browsers across Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms.

Chromium-Based Browsers

• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Edge
• Brave Browser
• Vivaldi
• Opera
• Opera GX
• Chromium
• Ungoogled Chromium
• Midori Browser
• Min Browser
• DuckDuckGo Browser
• SRWare Iron
• Maxthon Browser
• Slimjet Browser
• Orion Browser (macOS only)
• Arc Browser (macOS only)
• SigmaOS (macOS only)

Firefox-Based Browsers

• Mozilla Firefox
• LibreWolf
• Waterfox
• Pale Moon
• Tor Browser
• SeaMonkey

WebKit-Based Browsers

• Safari (macOS only)
• iCab (macOS only)
• Epiphany/GNOME Web (Linux only)

Other Browsers

• Falkon Browser
• Konqueror (Linux only)

Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 10/11, macOS 10.13+, or Linux (any modern distribution)
• PowerShell: Version 7.0 or later (PowerShell Core/7+)
• Privileges: Administrator/root rights recommended but optional
• Optional: SQLite3 for database compaction (script will skip if not available)

Installing PowerShell 7+

Windows:

# Using winget
winget install Microsoft.PowerShell

# Or download from: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases

macOS:

# Using Homebrew
brew install powershell/tap/powershell

# Or download from: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases

Linux:

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y powershell

# Fedora/RHEL/CentOS
sudo dnf install -y powershell

# Or follow instructions at: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/install/installing-powershell-on-linux

SQLite3 for Database Compaction

SQLite3 is required for database compaction.

Windows:

• Automatic Installation: The script automatically downloads and installs SQLite3 on first run (v2.1.1+)
• No manual installation required!
• SQLite3 is installed to: %LOCALAPPDATA%\myTech.Today\mTTCleaner\sqlite3\

macOS:

brew install sqlite3

Linux:

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install sqlite3

# Fedora/RHEL/CentOS
sudo yum install sqlite

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S sqlite

Installation

Quick Install (All Platforms)

1. Download the script files to a temporary location
2. Open PowerShell 7+ (elevated/sudo recommended but optional)
3. Execute the script:

Windows:

pwsh -File .\mTTCleaner.ps1

macOS/Linux:

pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1

The script will automatically:

• Detect your operating system
• Copy itself to the platform-specific installation directory
• Copy README files to the installation directory
• Re-launch from the installation location

Platform-Specific Installation Paths

Windows:

• Install: %LOCALAPPDATA%\myTech.Today\mTTCleaner
• Logs: %LOCALAPPDATA%\myTech.Today\mTTCleaner\logs

macOS:

• Install: ~/Library/Application Support/myTech.Today/mTTCleaner
• Logs: ~/Library/Logs/myTech.Today/mTTCleaner

Linux:

• Install: ~/.local/share/myTech.Today/mTTCleaner
• Logs: ~/.local/state/myTech.Today/mTTCleaner/logs

Usage

Basic Usage

Run cleanup for all installed browsers:

Windows:

pwsh -File .\mTTCleaner.ps1

macOS/Linux:

pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1

Clean Specific Browser

Clean only Google Chrome:

pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1 -Browser Chrome

Test Mode (-WhatIf)

Preview what would be cleaned without making changes:

pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1 -WhatIf

Skip Confirmation

Run without user confirmation prompt:

pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1 -SkipConfirmation

Skip Database Compaction

Clean cache and metrics but skip database compaction:

pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1 -SkipDatabaseCompaction

Create Shortcuts (Cross-Platform)

Create desktop and start menu/applications shortcuts:

Windows:

pwsh -File .\mTTCleaner.ps1 -CreateShortcuts

macOS/Linux:

pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1 -CreateShortcuts

Create Scheduled Task (Cross-Platform)

Set up monthly automated maintenance:

Windows:

pwsh -File .\mTTCleaner.ps1 -CreateScheduledTask

macOS/Linux:

pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1 -CreateScheduledTask

Automated Mode

Run in automated mode (for scheduled tasks):

pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1 -Automated

Combined Options

Create shortcuts, scheduled task, and run cleanup (Windows):

pwsh -File .\mTTCleaner.ps1 -CreateShortcuts -CreateScheduledTask

Parameters

Scheduled Task Details

Windows (Task Scheduler)

When you create a scheduled task using -CreateScheduledTask on Windows, the following task is created:

• Name: mTTCleaner
• Location: \myTech.Today\
• Schedule: Monthly on the 15th at 1:00 PM
• User: Current logged-in user
• Privileges: Runs with highest privileges (Administrator)
• Conditions:
  • Requires AC power
  • Wakes computer to run
• Settings:
  • Execution time limit: 2 hours
  • Auto-restart on failure (up to 3 times, every 10 minutes)

macOS (launchd)

The script automatically creates a launchd plist file at ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.mytech.today.mttcleaner.plist with the following configuration:

• Label: com.mytech.today.mttcleaner
• Schedule: Monthly on the 15th at 1:00 PM
• Logs: ~/Library/Logs/mTTCleaner.log and mTTCleaner.error.log

The plist is automatically loaded after creation. To manually manage:

# Load the plist
launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.mytech.today.mttcleaner.plist

# Unload the plist
launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.mytech.today.mttcleaner.plist

Linux (cron)

The script automatically adds a cron entry to your crontab:

# Run mTTCleaner on the 15th of each month at 1:00 PM
0 13 15 * * /usr/bin/pwsh ~/.local/share/myTech.Today/mTTCleaner/mTTCleaner.ps1 -Automated

To manually manage:

# Edit crontab
crontab -e

# View current crontab
crontab -l

Logging

All operations are logged to platform-specific locations:

Windows:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\myTech.Today\mTTCleaner\logs\mTTCleaner.log

macOS:

~/Library/Logs/myTech.Today/mTTCleaner/mTTCleaner.log

Linux:

~/.local/state/myTech.Today/mTTCleaner/logs/mTTCleaner.log

Logs include:

• Script start/end times
• Platform and elevation status
• Browser processes stopped
• Cache sizes cleared
• Database compaction results
• Metrics files removed
• Errors and warnings
• Summary statistics

Windows Event Log (Windows only):

• Events are logged to: Applications and Services Logs → myTech.Today → mTTCleaner
• Enhanced event messages with Problem/Context/Solution format
• Monthly log archiving with YYYY-MM naming
• Cyclical logging with 10MB size limit

What Gets Cleaned

Cache Files

• Chromium Browsers: Cache, Code Cache, GPU Cache, Service Worker Cache
• Firefox Browsers: cache2, startupCache, OfflineCache

Databases (Compacted)

• Chromium Browsers: History, Cookies, Web Data, Login Data
• Firefox Browsers: places.sqlite, favicons.sqlite, cookies.sqlite, formhistory.sqlite

Metrics/Telemetry Files

• Files matching patterns: *metrics*, *telemetry*, datareporting, saved-telemetry-pings

Safety Features

1. Cross-Platform Privilege Detection: Detects elevation status on Windows, macOS, and Linux
2. User Confirmation: Prompts for 'Yes' confirmation before proceeding (unless -Automated or -SkipConfirmation)
3. -WhatIf Support: Test mode to preview changes without making them
4. Process Termination: Safely closes browser processes before cleanup
5. Error Handling: Comprehensive try-catch blocks prevent script crashes
6. Logging: All operations logged for audit trail
7. Selective Cleanup: Can target specific browsers or skip certain operations
8. Platform Detection: Automatically detects OS and uses appropriate paths

Troubleshooting

Script Won't Run

Windows:

• Ensure you're running PowerShell 7+ (pwsh.exe, not powershell.exe)
• Check execution policy: Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process

macOS/Linux:

• Ensure PowerShell 7+ is installed: pwsh --version
• Make script executable: chmod +x mTTCleaner.ps1
• Run with: pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1

Database Compaction Skipped

Install SQLite3 for your platform (see Requirements section above), or use -SkipDatabaseCompaction to skip this step.

Browser Still Running

• Close browser manually before running script
• Script will attempt to force-close processes
• On Linux, some browsers may have multiple process names (e.g., firefox vs firefox-bin)

Access Denied Errors

• Ensure no browser processes are running
• Check file permissions in browser profile directories
• Run with elevated privileges (Administrator/sudo) if needed

Scheduled Task Not Running (Windows)

• Verify task exists in Task Scheduler under \myTech.Today\ folder with task name mTTCleaner
• Check task history for errors
• Ensure computer is on AC power (task requires AC power)
• Verify task is using pwsh.exe not powershell.exe

Browser Not Found (macOS/Linux)

• Browser paths may vary by distribution
• Check if browser is installed: which chrome or which firefox
• Use -Verbose to see which paths are being checked

Examples

Example 1: First-Time Setup (Windows)

# Run with elevated privileges
pwsh -File .\mTTCleaner.ps1 -CreateShortcuts -CreateScheduledTask

# This will:
# 1. Install script to %LOCALAPPDATA%\myTech.Today\mTTCleaner\
# 2. Create desktop shortcut
# 3. Create start menu shortcut
# 4. Create monthly scheduled task
# 5. Run cleanup for all browsers

Example 2: First-Time Setup (macOS/Linux)

# Run the script
pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1

# Manually set up scheduling (see Scheduling sections above)

Example 3: Quick Cleanup (All Platforms)

# Clean all browsers without confirmation
pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1 -SkipConfirmation

Example 4: Test Mode

# Preview what would be cleaned
pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1 -WhatIf -Verbose

Example 5: Clean Specific Browser

# Clean only Firefox
pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1 -Browser Firefox -SkipConfirmation

Example 6: Cache Only

# Clean cache but skip database compaction
pwsh -File ./mTTCleaner.ps1 -SkipDatabaseCompaction

Performance

Typical cleanup results (varies by usage):

• Cache Cleared: 500 MB - 5 GB per browser
• Database Space Saved: 10 MB - 100 MB per browser
• Metrics Files Removed: 50 - 500 files per browser
• Execution Time: 2-5 minutes for all browsers

Uninstallation

Windows

# Delete the scheduled task
Unregister-ScheduledTask -TaskName "mTTCleaner" -TaskPath "\myTech.Today\" -Confirm:$false

# Delete shortcuts
Remove-Item "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\mTTCleaner.lnk" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Remove-Item "$env:APPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\myTech.Today\mTTCleaner.lnk" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

# Delete installation directory
Remove-Item "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\myTech.Today\mTTCleaner" -Recurse -Force

macOS

# Unload launchd job (if configured)
launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.mytech.today.mttcleaner.plist
rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.mytech.today.mttcleaner.plist

# Delete installation directory
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/myTech.Today/mTTCleaner
rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/myTech.Today/mTTCleaner

Linux

# Remove cron job (if configured)
crontab -e
# Remove the mTTCleaner line

# Delete installation directory
rm -rf ~/.local/share/myTech.Today/mTTCleaner
rm -rf ~/.local/state/myTech.Today/mTTCleaner

Version History

Version 2.1.1 (2025-12-16)

• Automatic SQLite3 Installation: Windows users no longer need to manually install SQLite3
• Zero Configuration: Database compaction works out-of-the-box on Windows
• Self-Contained: SQLite3 automatically downloaded and installed to script directory
• Improved UX: Eliminated manual SQLite3 installation step for Windows users

Version 2.1.0 (2025-12-16)

• 22 Browser Support: Added Safari, DuckDuckGo, SRWare Iron, Maxthon, SeaMonkey, Slimjet, Falkon
• Modern TUI: Interactive UI with Spectre.Console (browser selection, operation options)
• Active Browser Detection: Platform-specific detection via registry/mdfind/which/flatpak/snap
• Windows Event Log Integration: Enterprise monitoring via myTech.Today logging module
• Cross-Platform Shortcuts: Desktop and Start Menu/Applications shortcuts on all platforms
• Cross-Platform Scheduling: Task Scheduler/launchd/cron support on all platforms
• Parallel Processing: Framework for parallel browser processing (PowerShell 7+)
• Enhanced Logging: myTech.Today module with markdown format and monthly archiving

Version 2.0.0 (2025-12-16)

• Cross-Platform Support: Full support for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• PowerShell 7+ Required: Updated from PowerShell 5.1 to PowerShell 7.0+
• Platform Detection: Automatic OS detection and platform-specific path resolution
• -WhatIf Support: Added test mode to preview changes
• Enhanced Logging: Self-contained cross-platform logging system
• Progress Indicators: Shows current browser being processed
• Improved Error Handling: Better error messages and recovery

Version 1.0.0 (2025-01-23)

• Initial Windows-only release
• Support for 15 browsers
• Cache cleanup functionality
• Database compaction with SQLite VACUUM
• Metrics file removal
• Desktop and start menu shortcuts
• Monthly scheduled task
• Comprehensive logging
• myTech.Today standards compliance

See CHANGELOG.md for detailed changes.

License

Copyright (c) 2025 myTech.Today. All rights reserved.

Author

Kyle C. Rode myTech.Today Lake Zurich, IL

Support

For issues, questions, or feature requests:

• Visit: https://mytech.today
• Email: support@mytech.today

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Acknowledgments

• Follows myTech.Today PowerShell development standards
• Cross-platform support using PowerShell 7+
• SQLite database compaction requires sqlite3 (optional)

Note: This tool is designed for personal and professional use. Always ensure you have backups of important browser data before running cleanup operations.