macOS Golden Gate: Check Which Mac Apps Will Stop Working
▼ Summary
– Apple is ending support for Rosetta 2, which lets Intel apps run on Apple silicon Macs, with most apps ceasing to function in macOS 28.
– macOS Golden Gate adds a warning system that alerts users every time they restart or open an Intel app, plus a list of affected apps in Settings > General > About.
– macOS Golden Gate does not install Rosetta automatically, requiring a short installation when opening an Intel app for the first time, and pre-login utilities needing Rosetta will not load.
– Apple designed Rosetta to ease the transition from Intel to Apple silicon, but the last Intel-based Mac was phased out years ago.
– macOS Tahoe was the final macOS version supporting Intel Macs, while macOS Golden Gate requires an Apple silicon chip.
Apple is officially winding down support for Rosetta 2, the translation layer that lets Intel-based apps run on Apple silicon Macs. With the upcoming macOS 28, most apps relying on Rosetta will cease to function entirely, marking a definitive end to the Intel compatibility era.
The company first alerted users and enterprises to this shift with macOS Tahoe, but the warnings grow more urgent in macOS Golden Gate. Now, every time you restart your Mac or launch an Intel-based app, a notification will appear. More importantly, Golden Gate introduces a dedicated list where you can see exactly which apps are doomed to stop working.
To find this list, navigate to Settings > General > About > Intel-Based apps, then click the “Details” option. The interface displays every app that will fail under the new system, giving you time to contact developers or search for native Apple silicon alternatives.
Unlike earlier versions, macOS Golden Gate does not install Rosetta automatically. If you still have outdated Intel apps, you will face a brief installation process the first time you open one after upgrading. Worse, authentication plugins and other pre-login utilities that depend on Rosetta will fail to load entirely in Golden Gate due to this restriction.
Apple created Rosetta to ease the transition from Intel to its own chips, but the company stopped selling Intel-based Macs years ago. Today, Apple only sells Apple silicon Macs, and it is gradually phasing out support for older Intel models. macOS Tahoe was the last version available for Intel Macs, and macOS Golden Gate requires an Apple silicon chip to run.
(Source: MacRumors)
