Apple’s transition away from Intel has been underway for years, starting with the release of the first Apple Silicion Macs in 2020. But with the announcement of macOS 27 Golden Gate at WWDC 2026 last week, that transition is now nearly complete. And if you’re still running an Intel Mac or relying on older Intel-only apps, there are some important things you need to know before this fall’s update arrives.
Intel Macs Are No Longer Supported
When macOS Golden Gate ships later this year, it will run exclusively on Apple silicon. That means any Mac powered by an Intel processor will no longer be able to upgrade to the latest version of macOS.
We’ve known this was coming for some time now. Beyond the full Mac lineup running solely on Apple silicon for years now, Apple announced last year at WWDC 2025 that macOS 26 Tahoe would be the final version of macOS to support Intel-based machines. The announcement of Golden Gate this year makes it official.
The Intel Macs that are losing macOS update eligibility with Golden Gate include:
- 13-inch MacBook Pro (2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019)
- 27-inch iMac (2020)
- Mac Pro (2019)
If your Mac isn’t on this list but is still Intel-based, it was likely already left behind in an earlier macOS release.
Does this mean I have to stop using my Intel Mac?
Nope! The good news is that Apple has confirmed that Intel Macs will continue to receive security updates for three years following their last supported macOS release, so you won’t be left completely unprotected. However, major feature updates, including the new Siri AI and Apple Intelligence capabilities in Golden Gate, will be exclusive to Apple silicon.
Which Macs Can Run macOS Golden Gate?
Golden Gate requires a Mac with an M1 chip or newer. Here’s the full compatibility list:
- MacBook Neo (2026)
- MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
- MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
- iMac (2021 and later)
- Mac mini (2020 and later)
- Mac Studio (2022 and later)
- Mac Pro (2023 and later)
If your Mac made it onto this list, you’re in good shape for the fall update. And if you have questions about whether your M-Series Mac will be able to run all Siri AI and the latest Apple Intelligence features, check out our handy FAQ here.
What About Intel Apps?
Here’s where things get a little more nuanced and where Intel Mac users aren’t the only ones who need to pay attention. Even if you already own an M-Series Mac, you may still be running apps that were built for Intel processors. Since 2020, Apple’s Rosetta 2 translation layer has allowed those older Intel apps to run on Apple silicon without any action required from users.
But because Rosetta 2 was Always meant to be a stopgap to give Mac users and developers enough time to transition their workflows and apps over to Apple Silicon Macs, Rosetta 2 support is now in its final stages.
Apple has announced that Rosetta 2 support will be removed in macOS 28—the version coming after Golden Gate. That makes Golden Gate the last major macOS release to fully support Intel apps. Once macOS 28 arrives, any app that hasn’t been updated to run natively on Apple silicon will stop working.
Apple began issuing warnings about this in macOS Tahoe, and Golden Gate expands those warnings significantly. If you open an Intel-based app after upgrading to Golden Gate, you’ll see an alert. And when you restart your Mac, you’ll be notified again if you have Intel apps installed.
One other thing to note: macOS Golden Gate no longer installs Rosetta automatically. If you launch an Intel app for the first time after upgrading, there will be a brief installation prompt before it can open. Additionally, authentication plugins and other pre-login utilities that require Rosetta will fail to load in Golden Gate, so if your workflow depends on any of those, plan accordingly.
How to Find Out Which of Your Apps Are Affected
The good news is that Apple has built a straightforward tool right into macOS Golden Gate to help you identify which of your apps are living on borrowed time. Here’s how to access it:
Settings > General > About > Intel-Based Apps, then click Details.
This screen lists every app on your Mac that still requires Rosetta to run. Think of it as a to-do list: for each app listed, you’ll want to either check whether a native Apple silicon update is available, contact the developer to ask about their update plans, or start researching alternatives.
The time to start this process is now, before macOS 28 makes those apps stop launching entirely.
If Your Intel Mac Is Ready for a Second Act, We Can Help
If you’re running one of the Intel Macs that Golden Gate leaves behind, this is a natural moment to consider a move to Apple silicon. And that doesn’t have to mean buying new.
Here at MacSales.com we carry a wide selection of used and refurbished Apple Silicon Macs, including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac models. All are fully compatible with macOS Golden Gate.
Buying used is one of the most affordable ways to make the leap to Apple silicon, and every machine sold through MacSales goes through a thorough inspection and refurbishment process so you can buy with confidence.
Whether you’re looking to keep your workflow running smoothly through Golden Gate or set yourself up well ahead of macOS 28’s Rosetta cutoff, there’s no better time to make the move.
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