**Apple Phases Out Rosetta 2: Moving Away from Intel Applications**
In June at WWDC25, Apple unveiled major updates concerning its Rosetta 2 software, which has been essential for operating Intel-based applications on Macs with Apple silicon. The firm announced that support for Rosetta 2 will cease following the launch of macOS 27. As a result, Apple will start alerting users about applications that will shortly be incompatible with upcoming macOS versions.
Rosetta 2 was launched at WWDC20 during the announcement of Apple’s shift to its own silicon architecture. This translation layer allowed users to operate applications created for Intel-based Macs on the new Apple silicon devices. However, akin to the earlier transition from PowerPC to Intel, Rosetta 2 was always meant to be a temporary fix.
At WWDC25, Apple assured that Rosetta 2 would be completely supported until macOS 27. After this iteration, the capabilities of Rosetta 2 will be considerably diminished, although a portion will persist to assist older, unmaintained gaming titles that rely on Intel-centric frameworks.
With the rollout of macOS 26.4 beta 1, users will begin receiving alerts when they try to open applications that need Rosetta 2, signaling that these apps will be phased out soon. This proactive warning system aims to motivate users to look for updated versions of their applications that are natively compatible with Apple silicon.
The expected launch of macOS 28 is slated for the fall of 2027, giving users sufficient time to transition their applications. The notifications act as a prompt for developers to refresh their apps to guarantee compatibility with Apple’s new architecture.
It’s also noteworthy that macOS 26 will be the last release for Intel-based Mac models. After that, Apple has pledged to deliver security updates for Intel Macs for three more years.
As the tech landscape advances, both users and developers must adjust to these changes to maintain functionality and security within the Apple ecosystem.