Apple says macOS 27, releasing this fall, won’t run on Intel Macs at all—and during installation it will remove Rosetta 2, the translation layer that lets Intel apps run elsewhere. By macOS 28 in fall 2027, most Intel app support ends, and Apple is expected to
The moment macOS 27 lands, it won’t just be a new operating system—it will be the cutoff point many Intel Mac owners have been bracing for.
Apple announced during the WWDC 2026 opening keynote that macOS 27 is the next step in ending support for Intel Macs. The update will not run on Intel Macs at all. It also removes the Rosetta 2 translation layer that has allowed Intel apps to run on other Macs.
Apple’s move isn’t a surprise. In 2020, it began the transition away from Intel chips, choosing its own in-house Apple Silicon instead. Now. six years later. Apple is pushing the timeline forward in a way that developers can’t ignore—and users can’t postpone. Apple has long warned that apps built for Intel would need updates. With macOS 26.4, it started warning Mac users when they launched an Intel app.
Fall 2026: macOS 27 arrives with Rosetta 2 gone
macOS 27 is already in developer beta testing. Apple says it will release to the public this fall, and it will only be available for Macs running Apple’s M1 chip or newer—removing Intel Mac support entirely.
During installation, macOS 27 will also remove Rosetta 2 if it was previously installed. The point is direct: Intel-designed apps won’t be able to launch.
That change won’t stay limited to typical Intel apps. The removal of Rosetta 2 will also affect apps that use Intel-only frameworks, which Apple says will most likely hit older games as well as specialist apps or plugins that rely on those components.
If needed, macOS 27 will allow Rosetta 2 to be reinstalled—but Apple is framing that as a last stop, not a long-term promise. Users and developers are being handed a warning that the clock is running out.
Fall 2027: macOS 28 ends Intel support for good
The timeline keeps tightening. In fall 2027, Apple plans to release macOS 28. With macOS 28 installed, apps built for Intel Macs will no longer function.
Apple told developers as far back as June 2025 that macOS 28 would not support Rosetta 2 for most apps. For users, that means updating to an Apple Silicon version of the software if one exists. If it doesn’t, there are only workarounds—finding an alternative app, or using virtualization solutions like Crossover or Parallels.
There is one narrow exception. Apple has confirmed that Rosetta 2 functionality will remain available, but only for specific older and unmaintained games. Those games rely on Intel-based frameworks and cannot be updated to support Apple Silicon.
Fall 2029: security updates stop for Intel Macs
Long after app functionality begins to fall away, security is expected to be the final line. Apple previously confirmed that Intel apps would not be supported by macOS 28, but it also said Intel Macs running macOS 26 Tahoe would receive security updates for three years.
macOS 26 Tahoe was released in September 2025. Based on the three-year window, Apple is expected to cease security updates for Intel Macs around September 2029.
That’s the end of support people can measure in calendar dates, even if Intel Macs can still run for a while longer. After security updates stop, Intel Macs will continue functioning normally, but the security posture will keep degrading over time.
The endgame is already underway
Apple started the Intel-to-Apple Silicon transition in 2020, and the latest announcements make it clear the finish line is close. For now, Intel Macs and Intel apps will still work. The bigger issue is what comes later: starting in late 2027. reliance on an app that hasn’t been updated for Apple Silicon could become a dead end.
If you depend on an app that still hasn’t been updated, the warning is simple: reach out to the developer. If the software hasn’t been updated by now, there’s a chance it never will be.
The message Apple is delivering is now unmistakable. If you still own an Intel Mac and haven’t moved to a newer model running Apple Silicon, Apple’s timing gives you less room than it ever has before.
macOS 27 Rosetta 2 Intel Macs Apple Silicon macOS 28 security updates macOS 26 Tahoe Crossover Parallels Intel apps