MacPaw Survey Finds 70 Percent of Mac Users Would Clean Cloud Storage More Often With Environmental Awareness
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CleanMyMac by MacPaw Report: 7 in 10 Mac Users Would Clean Cloud Storage More Often If They Knew Its Environmental Cost.
MacPaw has released its Earth Day 2026 report examining how Mac users manage digital files and whether understanding the environmental cost of cloud storage could change cleanup behavior. The report, based on a survey of 1,000 US Mac users, frames digital clutter as both an emotional and environmental issue.
The survey revealed that 71.7 percent of Mac users who store files in the cloud would clean old files more often if they understood the environmental cost. Additionally, 84.3 percent said impact information would be useful when deciding what to keep or delete, while 31.1 percent said they would clean much more often with this knowledge.
Emotional Weight of Digital Clutter
"What this report makes clear is that digital clutter does not feel physical, even though it has a real-world footprint," said Yuliia Chuzha, Head of Brand Marketing at MacPaw. "For many users, cleanup only becomes urgent when storage runs low. But our findings suggest that environmental awareness could create that motivation earlier, before digital clutter becomes a bigger burden for users and a heavier load on the systems that store it."
The report documents the emotional dimension of digital storage management. More than three in five surveyed Mac users, or 61.1 percent, said they feel stressed or concerned when their storage starts running low. At the same time, 81 percent said cleaning up their digital space brings relief and mental clarity.
Common Behaviors and Barriers
Digital clutter often accumulates through ordinary behavior. More than half of respondents said they leave many browser tabs open, save files to the desktop for later, or take screenshots they rarely revisit. When asked about cleanup barriers, 39.2 percent said they keep unnecessary files because they might need them someday, while 29 percent pointed to fear of deleting something important as their main obstacle.
The survey found that 96.1 percent of Mac users store files in the cloud at least sometimes. The report provides context for this behavior by noting that storing one terabyte of data in the cloud for a year uses roughly 40 to 70 kilowatt-hours of electricity, and data centers globally consume hundreds of terawatt-hours annually.
Opportunity for Behavioral Change
The findings point to an opportunity around Earth Day messaging and digital maintenance habits. When asked what they would choose for a 20-minute reset, 55.5 percent of respondents selected a digital cleanup task if it were easy and streamlined.
The report positions CleanMyMac's approach to digital maintenance as connecting device care with everyday behavior, peace of mind, and more conscious digital habits. By highlighting the environmental footprint of cloud storage, MacPaw aims to provide users with an additional motivator for regular cleanup beyond the immediate need for storage space.
Environmental Impact Context
The electricity consumption figures cited in the report underscore the physical infrastructure required to maintain cloud storage systems. Data centers require continuous power for servers, cooling systems, and related operations. As cloud storage adoption continues to grow, the cumulative energy consumption represents a measurable environmental impact.
The survey suggests that many users may not connect their cloud storage habits with energy consumption and environmental effects. The gap between awareness and behavior represents an opportunity for software companies and cloud storage providers to educate users about the environmental costs associated with digital file retention.
About MacPaw
MacPaw is a global technology company founded in Kyiv, Ukraine, with offices in Boston and the European Union. The company creates a digital ecosystem for Mac users, combining system care, cybersecurity, app discovery, and related capabilities. Through Eney, an AI-powered assistant and ecosystem interface, MacPaw aims to help users and developers within their workflows.
The full Earth Day report is available at MacPaw's website.