Apple has confirmed that Rosetta 2, the translation layer that allows Intel-based Mac apps to run on Apple silicon, will lose support for general applications after macOS 27. Starting with macOS 28, expected in autumn 2027, Intel apps will no longer run on Mac. Here is exactly what that means, which apps are affected, and what you need to do before the deadline.
What is changing in macOS 28?
Since 2020, Macs with Apple silicon have been able to run Intel-based apps through Rosetta 2. The process is almost transparent — you open an app, macOS translates it in the background, and it runs. Most users have never needed to think about it.
macOS 28 ends that. Apple's own support article, Using Intel-based apps on a Mac with Apple silicon, confirms that Rosetta will remain available throughout macOS 27 and that starting with macOS 28, Rosetta functionality will only be available for certain older, unmaintained games that rely on Intel-based frameworks. For everything else — productivity apps, creative tools, utilities, drivers, professional software — if there is no native Apple silicon version available, the app will not launch on macOS 28.
Which apps are affected?
Any app whose binary is Intel-only will stop working. Apps that are Universal (containing both Intel and Apple silicon code) are not affected — they run natively and will continue to do so.
The Rosetta Check app directory currently tracks over 2,300 Intel-only Mac apps reported from real-world Mac fleets. The most commonly reported categories include:
Printer and scanner drivers are the largest single category of stubborn Intel holdouts. Epson, Canon, HP, and Brother all have significant numbers of Intel-only driver components that are slow to receive native updates, particularly for older hardware models that manufacturers are no longer actively supporting.
Older Adobe components including legacy installers, licensing helpers, and uninstall tools frequently appear as Intel-only even when the main creative applications themselves have been updated.
Navigation and device sync software including Garmin Express, TomTom MyDrive Connect, and similar tools remain on Intel for some users.
Legacy office software such as older versions of Microsoft Office, older versions of LibreOffice, and OpenOffice still appear in inventories where organisations haven't updated to current releases.
Steam and gaming software including the Steam client itself shows up in Intel-only form on some systems, though Valve has been actively updating this.
Niche utilities and older commercial software represent the long tail — apps from smaller developers that may simply never be updated.
What happens if you don't act?
If you upgrade to macOS 28 with Intel-only apps installed, those apps will fail to open. You'll see an error message telling you the app is not compatible with your version of macOS. The apps themselves will still be present on your Mac, but they won't run.
For most consumer users, this will affect a handful of peripheral drivers and older utilities. For organisations with bespoke or legacy software in their workflows, the impact could be significantly greater.
How to find out which of your apps are affected
The fastest way is to run Rosetta Check, which scans your Mac using Spotlight and identifies every Intel-only app in seconds. For each app, it shows an impact score, the last time the app was used, whether it came from the App Store, and AI-generated suggestions for native replacements.
You can also browse the community database to search for specific apps by name or bundle ID and see how many other Macs have reported the same app, whether a native version has been spotted, and what replacement options the community has suggested.
What to do about affected apps
Check for updates first. Many apps have already released native Apple silicon versions that simply haven't been pushed as automatic updates. Checking the Mac App Store and the developer's website directly is the first step for every affected app.
Contact your software vendors. For business-critical software, reach out to vendors now to ask about their Apple silicon roadmap. Most enterprise software vendors have been working on this for years, but timelines vary. Getting a clear answer now gives you time to plan around gaps.
Find native replacements. For apps that have no credible path to a native update, start evaluating alternatives. The Rosetta Check app provides AI-generated replacement suggestions for each Intel app it finds, and the community database surfaces user-vetted alternatives.
Plan for hardware-dependent software. Printer and scanner drivers are the trickiest category because support depends on both the software developer and the hardware manufacturer. For older peripherals, the manufacturer may have stopped releasing driver updates entirely. In those cases, the options are finding a compatible native driver, using macOS's built-in AirPrint or driverless scanning support where available, or replacing the hardware.
For organisations: start now. Fleet-wide migrations of this complexity typically take six to twelve months when done properly. See the IT admin fleet audit guide for a structured approach using MDM tooling.
The timeline at a glance
| Release | Expected | Rosetta status |
|---|---|---|
| macOS 26 Tahoe | Available now | Full Rosetta 2 support. Intel Mac warning notifications added in 26.4. |
| macOS 27 | Autumn 2026 | Full Rosetta 2 support. Last version for Intel Macs. |
| macOS 28 | Autumn 2027 | Rosetta limited to specific older games only. Intel apps will not run. |
Frequently asked questions
Will my Intel Mac be affected by the macOS 28 Rosetta cutoff?
Intel Macs cannot run macOS 27 or later, so the macOS 28 Rosetta cutoff does not apply to Intel hardware directly. Intel Macs running macOS 26 will continue to run Intel apps normally. The issue is that macOS 26 will eventually stop receiving security updates, leaving Intel hardware increasingly exposed over time.
What about Universal apps?
Universal apps contain both Intel and Apple silicon code. They run natively on Apple silicon and will not be affected by the Rosetta cutoff. Only apps that are Intel-only binaries are at risk.
Can I run macOS 27 in a virtual machine to keep using Intel apps?
Running macOS in a virtual machine on Apple silicon has limitations. Rosetta inside a virtual machine is not guaranteed to work the same way as on a native install, and Apple's licensing terms for macOS virtualisation restrict this to specific use cases. This is not a reliable long-term solution for general consumer use.
What if I just don't upgrade to macOS 28?
Staying on macOS 27 will preserve Rosetta 2 support indefinitely for as long as you use that OS version. However, macOS 27 will eventually stop receiving security updates, and app developers will progressively drop support for older macOS versions as they build for newer releases. Remaining on an unsupported macOS version is not recommended for security-sensitive environments.