Apple is phasing out support for Rosetta 2, the translation layer that allows Intel-based apps to run on Apple silicon Macs. In macOS Golden Gate, Rosetta will stop working for most apps, with a full end of support expected in macOS 28.
Apple has begun warning users about Rosetta's sunsetting with macOS Tahoe, but more prominent alerts appear in macOS Golden Gate. Users with Intel apps will receive a warning upon restart or when opening such an app.
What Changes in macOS Golden Gate
macOS Golden Gate introduces a list of affected apps at Settings > General > About > Intel-Based apps. This list shows which apps will stop working, allowing users to contact developers or find alternatives.
macOS Golden Gate does not install Rosetta automatically; a short installation occurs when first opening an affected Intel app. However, authentication plugins and pre-login utilities requiring Rosetta will fail to load in macOS Golden Gate.
The End of an Era
Apple designed Rosetta to ease the transition from Intel to Apple silicon; the last Intel Mac was phased out years ago. macOS Tahoe was the final version supporting Intel Macs, meaning macOS Golden Gate requires Apple silicon.
Key Takeaways
- Rosetta will stop working for most apps in macOS Golden Gate, with full support ending in macOS 28.
- Users are warned upon restart or when opening an Intel app, with a clear list of affected apps in System Settings.
- No automatic installation in macOS Golden Gate; a short manual installation occurs when first running an affected app.
- Authentication plugins and pre-login utilities that rely on Rosetta will not load.
- macOS Golden Gate is Apple silicon-only; macOS Tahoe was the last to support Intel Macs.