A new beta version of BleachBit, the free system cleaner application, has been released, introducing several key features aimed at improving user experience and safety. The latest release, version 5.1.0, now includes selective cookie deletion, support for cleaning additional applications, and enhanced safety measures.
One of the most significant updates is the introduction of a new expert mode. This mode can be toggled in the app’s Preferences and is designed to prevent users from inadvertently causing problems or deleting critical files. When expert mode is disabled, users will still see warnings for potential cleaning or modification options, but these can only be previewed and not executed. The option to add custom paths to the deletion list has also been restricted.
Additionally, the new cookie manager feature allows users to select specific cookies to retain before cleaning their browsers, such as Chromium and Firefox. However, it’s important to note that localStorage management is not yet available, although users can safeguard those files in the Preferences menu.
BleachBit 5.1.0 has expanded its cleaning capabilities to include the Zen browser and Chromium Flatpak versions, as well as some new cache types for Chromium. The app has also updated its terminology, replacing “whitelist” with “allowlist” and renaming the “overwrite free space” option to “wipe empty space” for greater clarity.
In terms of usability, the user interface has undergone improvements, including replacing modal dialogs with less intrusive info bars. A significant bug fix addresses a hard link issue from previous builds that could allow data to be lost when shredding files linked elsewhere.
As a beta release, users should proceed with caution, as issues such as data loss could occur. The latest beta build for both Windows and Linux is available for download, along with official packages for Ubuntu 25.10 and Fedora 43, which are now signed with the maintainer’s GPG key.
For more information and to download BleachBit 5.1.0 beta, visit the official BleachBit downloads page.