Short answer: Apple says macOS 27 is the last release with general Rosetta support on Apple silicon Macs. Starting with macOS 28, most Intel-only Mac apps will no longer run through Rosetta. Apple says a limited version will remain for certain older games that have not been updated and still depend on Intel frameworks.
This is not a reason to panic or skip every macOS update. It is a reason to check whether an app you rely on, or a plug-in it uses, still depends on Intel code before you move to macOS 28.
What is Rosetta, and what is changing?
Rosetta 2 is Apple’s translation layer for running many apps written for Intel-based Macs on Macs with Apple silicon. It has helped people keep using older software while developers moved their apps to Apple silicon or made them universal, meaning one app includes code for both Intel and Apple silicon.
Apple’s current guidance says Rosetta remains available through macOS 27. In macOS 28, the general-purpose translation layer goes away. The exception is limited support for some older, unmaintained games that rely on Intel frameworks. That exception should not be read as a promise that every old game will work.
Which apps are most likely to be affected?
The clearest case is an app that is still Intel-only and has no Apple silicon or universal version. If its developer has not updated it by the time you install macOS 28, it may not open.
There is a less obvious case: the main app may be universal, but a plug-in or helper it loads may still be Intel-only. This can matter with older audio plug-ins, creative app extensions, add-ons, utilities that launch in the background, and components bundled with an app. Updating the main app alone may not update those pieces.
Some universal apps also have an “Open using Rosetta” option. People sometimes use it because a workflow depends on an older Intel plug-in. That setup deserves a check too: the app appearing as universal does not prove every component it uses is ready for Apple silicon.
Rosetta is for running Intel apps on Apple silicon. This change is not about an Intel Mac needing Rosetta to run its native Intel apps. Also, Rosetta does not translate every kind of Intel software, such as kernel extensions, so a driver or low-level system component may have separate compatibility requirements.
How to check for Intel-only apps on your Mac
Check an app in Finder
- Open Applications in Finder and select an app.
- Choose File > Get Info, or press Command-I.
- Look at the Kind field. “Application (Intel)” means it is Intel-only. “Application (Universal)” means it includes Intel and Apple silicon code. “Application (Apple silicon)” means it is built for Apple silicon.
Review Apple’s Intel Apps list
On macOS 27, open System Settings, choose General, then About. Select Details beside Intel-based Apps to review apps macOS has identified as Intel-based. Apple notes that this list covers apps recently used or installed in common locations, so it may not reveal every plug-in, background helper, or component tucked inside another app.
What to do before upgrading to macOS 28
- Update the app first. Check the App Store, the developer’s website, and the app’s own updater. Look for an Apple silicon or universal release.
- Check add-ons separately. Visit the developers of audio plug-ins, extensions, templates, drivers, and other components you depend on. A compatible main app does not guarantee a compatible plug-in.
- Ask the developer about macOS 28. “Works on Apple silicon” is not quite the same as confirmation that the app and all its components work on the next macOS release.
- Find a replacement for abandoned software. If the developer has stopped maintaining an Intel-only app, identify an alternative and test your files or workflow before upgrading.
- Keep a backup and a list of essentials. Note the app version, plug-ins, license details, and any installers you may need. A current Mac backup gives you a recovery option if an upgrade disrupts your setup.
If an Intel-only app is important to your work, do not rely on the limited game exception. Confirm its macOS 28 plans with the developer and wait for compatibility information before upgrading that Mac.
The takeaway
Rosetta’s general support is ending with macOS 27, not disappearing from the current release overnight. The people most likely to notice the macOS 28 change are Apple silicon Mac users who still depend on an Intel-only app, an old plug-in, or a helper component that has not been updated. Finder and System Settings can help you make an initial list, but checking with the developers is the safer final step.
