Apple is Ending Support for Intel-Based Apps: Is Your Mac Ready?

Apple has announced that Rosetta will be retired with macOS 28. Rosetta is the translation technology that allows Intel-based applications to run on Apple Silicon Macs. When support ends, Intel-only applications that haven't been updated for Apple Silicon will no longer run on supported versions of macOS.

Fortunately, this change is unlikely to affect most users. Developers have known since Apple's transition to Apple Silicon in 2020 that Rosetta would eventually be removed, and most popular applications have already been updated to run natively on modern Macs.

In this guide, we'll show you how to identify any Intel-only applications on your Mac so you can determine whether they'll be affected when Rosetta support ends in fall 2027.

How To Tell Which Apps are Intel-Based

If you haven't noticed a pop-up notification on your Mac warning you that "Support for Intel-based Apps is ending", chances are that it won't affect you. However, if you want to get ahead of the curve and make sure your Mac is ready, you can manually check what type of apps you have installed.

Step one is to open your "System Settings" app. Navigate to "General" on the left hand panel and select "About" as the top option. Here you'll see lots of useful information about your Mac. What we need is at the very bottom. Scroll down and select "System Report...".

Don't be intimidated by all of the information on display here. We're only going to be looking at one particular place. The left hand side panel shows a lot of options. What we need is to click on "Applications" under the "Software" heading. This should bring up a list on the right that shows every application on your computer; even ones you wouldn't typically be able to see.

Now we're going to narrow our focus down again. Looking at the list you should see five different columns. The one furthest to the right labeled "Kind" is the only one we care about. Simply scroll through your list and keep an eye on that column. Anything marked as "Universal" or "Apple Silicon" is good to go. What you need to keep an eye out for is anything labeled as "Intel" in the Kind column. That means it is not going to be compatible once this update comes out. It also means that it probably isn't optimized even now.

What to Do About It

Once you have your list of Intel-based apps you have a few options of what to do about it. If you got that app from the App Store, you can search for it on the App Store again to see if there are any updates available. If you downloaded this app from the internet a good method to find the updated version would be to do a Google search for the name of the app followed by Apple Silicon or Mac ARM.

If you still aren't finding a version of the app that will work on Apple Silicon you can attempt to reach out directly to the developer, or look into alternative applications that have made the jump.

The sooner you identify any Intel-only applications, the more time you'll have to find updates or alternatives before Rosetta support disappears. Most users will discover that they're already prepared, but checking now can help you avoid surprises later.

We're Here to Help

Don't want to have to spend the time to figure this all out on your own? We're happy to help! Schedule some one-on-one time to sit down with one of our Apple experts and who will go through your apps with you and help you decide on the best course of action for each one.

Prefer a more hands off approach? Drop your Mac off for a tune-up and let us know that you'd like us to go through and check for intel-based apps. We'll take care of it for you! If there are any applications that need to be replaced we'll let you know and suggest a replacement. Members of our Advantage Total Care or White Glove plans get free tune-ups every 90 days so make sure to take Advantage of your savings by scheduling your service soon!

You can find out more about our service plans here: https://www.macmanstore.com/advantage-for-mac

Why is Apple Doing This?

While it may feel like Apple is moving on from older software, this change has been years in the making. Since the launch of Apple Silicon in 2020, developers have known that Rosetta 2 was a temporary bridge designed to help Intel-based applications through the transition.

Just as Apple eventually ended support for 32-bit apps in 2019, the company is now focusing its attention on technologies built specifically for Apple Silicon. Removing older compatibility layers allows Apple to streamline macOS and focus on delivering better performance, improved efficiency, stronger security, and new features that take full advantage of modern Mac hardware. The good news is that most Mac users won't notice any difference, as the vast majority of popular applications have already been updated to run natively on Apple Silicon Macs.

This is a good reminder that Apple Silicon Macs are now the primary focus of Apple's development efforts. If you're still using an Intel-based Mac, or any Mac made before 2020, now is an excellent time to consider upgrading.

While many Intel Macs are still serving their owners well today, support for older hardware will continue to shrink in the years ahead. As that happens, trade-in values are rapidly shrinking, reducing the value you can put toward a newer Mac. Upgrading before that happens can help you get more for your current computer while taking advantage of the performance, battery life, and longevity benefits of Apple Silicon. Stop by and we'll be happy to help you find the right option for your needs.

As always, thank you for making MacMan a part of your life and allowing us to help you make technology easy!