Apple is removing Rosetta 2 support in macOS 28, which means Intel-based applications will stop working on Apple silicon Macs. The translation layer that allowed Intel apps to run on M-series chips has been a temporary bridge during Apple's transition away from Intel processors. With macOS Tahoe marking the final Intel-compatible release, macOS Golden Gate represents the first Apple-silicon-only major version.

Users can identify affected applications through a new interface in System Settings. Navigate to Settings > General > About > Intel-Based apps and click Details to see the complete list of programs that will fail once Rosetta disappears. Each restart or Intel app launch now triggers warnings, giving users time to contact developers or find alternatives before the transition completes.

The change reflects Apple's broader strategy to fully commit to its own silicon architecture. Since discontinuing Intel Macs years ago, Apple has steadily moved toward an all-Apple silicon ecosystem. Authentication plugins and pre-login utilities that depend on Rosetta already fail to load in Golden Gate, forcing users toward native Apple silicon applications.

For users still relying on legacy software, this creates an urgent timeline. Developers have had years to update their apps, but stragglers now face hard deadlines. The transition that began in 2020 finally reaches its conclusion, leaving behind any applications that never made the jump to native Apple silicon support.