Apple is preparing Mac users for a major software change, as Rosetta 2 support will stop working for most Intel-based apps in macOS 28. Rosetta 2 allows older Intel apps to run on Apple silicon Macs, but Apple now wants users and developers to move fully to native Apple silicon apps.
With macOS Golden Gate, Apple adds clearer warnings for users who still depend on Intel-based apps. If your Mac has apps that need Rosetta, you will see a warning when you restart your Mac or open an Intel app, which gives you enough time to check whether those apps have Apple silicon versions available.
Apple also adds a new section where users can see which apps will stop working in the future. This makes the change easier to understand because users no longer need to guess which apps still depend on Rosetta.
How to check Intel-based apps on macOS Golden Gate
- Open System Settings on your Mac.
- Go to General.
- Click About.
- Find Intel-Based Apps.
- Click Details to see the full list.
macOS Golden Gate also does not install Rosetta automatically, so users will see a short installation process when they open an Intel app for the first time after upgrading. However, pre-login tools and authentication plugins that need Rosetta will fail to load because of the new limitation.
Apple introduced Rosetta 2 to help users move from Intel Macs to Apple silicon Macs, and the company has now stopped selling Intel-based models. macOS Tahoe was the final macOS version for Intel Macs, while macOS Golden Gate requires an Apple silicon Mac.
Or you could download a free app called Rosetta Check from the app store.