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Onyx is a useful tool not just for cleaning and maintenance, but also for troubleshooting and customization. It is a utility suite that optimizes and fine-tunes your Mac, it is easy to use, and, most importantly, it is free. That’s why we think that any Mac user should give it a try.
Because computers get to run slower for so many reasons, one of the "must have" Mac utilities we consider worthy of your attention is Onyx, from Titanium Software. Onyx is a really useful maintenance solution for your Mac and, best of all, it is completely free.
Onyx was developed in 2003 by a French developer and since its creation, it has been regularly updated to fit each of the released Mac OS versions. It is important to know that Onyx will only perform properly if it is used accordingly: each Onyx version goes only with a certain Mac OS and can’t be used on a different Mac OS version. For example: Onyx version 3.1.9 it is designed for OS X 10.11 El Capitan. Onyx 3.2.7 goes with OS 10.12 Sierra and so on.
Onyx can be used free of charge for an unlimited period of time. The software packs in multiple functions: it allows you to verify the startup disk or the structure of the system files, do simple maintenance tasks, clean your system and more.
Here are some of Onyx's features:
One other cool thing about Onyx is the fact that it is translated into several languages by volunteer translators.
If you are just getting started with Onyx, you should be pleased to know that this software doesn’t require you to register and it is a certified solution. You simply download the wanted version from their website and take it from there. When you first run the software, it will ask to verify your startup disk, but you are not forced to go through this annoying process each and every time; you can just hit the “Cancel” button and be done with it. The verifying process takes just a couple of minutes.
You can then choose between different functions offered by this program: Cleaning, Automation, Utilities, Maintenance, Parameters, Info, Logs. A lot of the features included by Onyx can be found in other apps or are integrated in your Mac OS. However, the utility of Onyx consists in gathering them all together in this all-in-one suite. Moreover, some of the tasks that can be performed by Onyx are easier to execute than if you choose to do them in Terminal, because in the latter, you have to remember command lines that may sometimes give you real headaches and that you can’t afford to screw up without consequences.
After you choose your preferred function, you simply hit the dedicated button, wait for Onyx to do its job and then restart your Mac. If there were any issues to be solved, you will notice an improvement in your system’s speed and functionality, right after restart.
The Automation feature can be pretty useful because it can save you the trouble of manually executing several tasks one by one. With this option you can add a single task that contains all of them together. The only drawback would be the fact that it can’t allow you to create multiple such tasks, just one.
Onyx also allows you to access apps and features that are normally hidden on your Mac: Wireless Diagnostics, Screen Sharing and others.
The Info section lets you see useful data about your system, such as your hard drive and RAM, free up inactive memory or check for possible malware. Info gives you access to data related to Hardware, Memory, Disk, Software, Profile, Protection and Misc.
What we noticed to be missing from Onyx is the ability to perform mail, iTunes or photo cleanup, which is something a lot of apps are capable to do (for example CleanMyMac). But then again, considering that Onyx is completely free, we think it offers plenty of other useful tools.
One of the aspects that make Onyx such a popular choice in terms of Mac optimization software is the fact that it’s a freeware. That means you can get it for free, it won’t cost you a dime. If you do want to give something back, you can always donate something on the “Donate” section of the official website.
Given that Onyx was initially developed just for addressing its creator’s personal needs and remained free of charge since it was first released, you shouldn’t have high expectations when it comes to direct customer support. The official website doesn’t provide any phone number that you can call to. However, there are some useful self-help resources such as the Help menu of the application, the FAQ section on their website, a “Known Issues” section and a “Useful Links” one.
Our editorial staff evaluates products and services independently, but Best Review Guide may earn money when you click on links. Read our advertising disclosure.
By: Cristina | Last updated August 29, 2017 
