Mac App Store Apps Can Now Drop Support for Intel Macs

[MacRumors]

Apple today informed developers that universal Mac App Store apps that require macOS 13 or later can remove support for Intel-based Mac computers.

We're reaching out to let you know that universal macOS apps on the Mac App Store that require macOS 13 or later can now remove support for Intel-based Mac computers.

By removing support for Intel-based Mac computers, you can simplify your development and optimize your download and on-device size.

Apps that drop Intel support will no longer deliver updates for those machines, but Intel Mac users will be able to keep using the last compatible version of an app. Apple did not previously allow Mac App Store apps with Intel compatibility to drop support.

macOS Tahoe is the last version of macOS that will run on Intel-based Macs. macOS Golden Gate is limited to Apple silicon Macs with an M1 chip or later.

Apple is also phasing out support for Rosetta 2, the feature that lets Intel-based apps run on Apple silicon Macs. Rosetta will stop working for most apps after macOS Golden Gate, and apps that use it won't launch. Apple is making an exception for some older unmaintained gaming titles that rely on Intel-based frameworks.

Article Link: Mac App Store Apps Can Now Drop Support for Intel Macs

 

[Justin Cymbal]

I still use my 5K iMac that I bought back in 2015 all the time — mainly to run my Aperture photo library because it’s not supported on the new M series chips

 

[Zapski]

Why do they do this? The code is done, no updates have been made to my knowledge and they can just leave it in. Ugh.

 

[uller6]

I'm still happily using my 2009, 2010, 2013, and 2014 Macs without issue...old Macs never die!

 

[cicalinarrot]

The Intel era was great for a while.
The transition was handled very smoothly, we got more power, Win on Mac, less niche hardware, Steam with so many games.

Then AMD stopped being a proper competitor, Intel got lazy and released stagnating updates, the world moved toward laptops, ARM got really good.

My M1 Mac Mini is still incredible, but I miss a lot of things from the Intel era.

 

[iHorseHead]

Why do they do this? The code is done, no updates have been made to my knowledge and they can just leave it in. Ugh.

People have forgotten how fast PowerPC lost the support. I'm surprised Intel Macs were supported for so long. You pretty much knew 6 years ago that it was over for Intel.
Imagine those who bought Mac Pro in 2005 and by 2009 support was gone and by 2011 security updates were gone.
PowerPC to Intel switch was way faster.

 

[anakin44011]

The sheer number of apps on my Mac that prompt the Intel warning message tells me that Golden Gate is going to have to wait a while before I upgrade. I had no idea how many apps still run via Rosetta. And I still don't...until...

Okay - I just found a $.99 app that detects all of them

Out of 262 apps - 67 are Intel only. Crap!

C'mon Developers - Please!?!

 

[Saberon2014]

Free app here to check https://github.com/DigiDNA/Silicon

 

[xpxp2002]

Wonder when HP will finally update their Easy Scan app to run without Rosetta…

 

[bigglow]

I still use my 5K iMac that I bought back in 2015 all the time — mainly to run my Aperture photo library because it’s not supported on the new M series chips

That's why i keep my 2019 MBP 16" Core i7 16GB 512GB. So long as I use dSLRs and other pre-2020 cameras it'll do fine.

 

[hieranonymous]

I’m all for aggressive timelines, but Apple was still selling Intel-based Macs as recently as June 2023. I figured they would’ve given Intel users another couple of years.

 

[Todd Fisher]

I am just replying to this post because this website is so freaking fragile that you can't reply to "sensitive political issues unless you have x number of posts" which they will probably keep adjusting upwards.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

The sheer number of apps on my Mac that prompt the Intel warning message tells me that Golden Gate is going to have to wait a while before I upgrade. I had no idea how many apps still run via Rosetta. And I still don't...until...

Okay - I just found a $.99 app that detects all of them

Out of 262 apps - 67 are Intel only. Crap!

C'mon Developers - Please!?!

For the record, Golden Gate still supports Intel apps. It’s the operating system that comes after that will not.
Also, Golden Gate has a built-in utility to see all of the Intel apps

 

[Todd Fisher]

<deleted rant>

 

[Sydnxt]

The sheer number of apps on my Mac that prompt the Intel warning message tells me that Golden Gate is going to have to wait a while before I upgrade. I had no idea how many apps still run via Rosetta. And I still don't...until...

Okay - I just found a $.99 app that detects all of them

Out of 262 apps - 67 are Intel only. Crap!

C'mon Developers - Please!?!

Free app here to check https://github.com/DigiDNA/Silicon

You can open the “System Information” app and navigate to Applications to see which apps are Intel.

 

[Todd Fisher]

<deleted rant>

wait a minute. I guess I can keep replying to my <deleted rant>? 🤣 That's kind of like a cheat code 🥳

 

[Todd Fisher]

wait a minute. I guess I can keep replying to my <deleted rant>? 🤣 That's kind of like a cheat code 🥳

Getting banned in 3...2...1... Ok, never mind.

 

[Todd Fisher]

In my defense, some Rum was involved tonight. But I've since decided to shut down my internet and go work on some music instead 🥳

 

[BeatsByTim]

This is good. If you’re still using Intel Macs at this point you should feel bad.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

You can open the “System Information” app and navigate to Applications to see which apps are Intel.

Yes, and within Golden Gate, it’s listed right within the system Settings app.

 

[anakin44011]

Geez...Now I feel bad...If I had posted to MacRumors BEFORE I went to the App Store, I could have saved enough money to buy about 40MB of RAM.🤣

 

[sevoneone]

People have forgotten how fast PowerPC lost the support. I'm surprised Intel Macs were supported for so long. You pretty much knew 6 years ago that it was over for Intel.
Imagine those who bought Mac Pro in 2005 and by 2009 support was gone and by 2011 security updates were gone.
PowerPC to Intel switch was way faster.

PPC got one Major OS release, 10.5 Leopard, and then it was gone. There were PowerPC Macs that were still shipping and came with Leopard in the box and never got a major update. This was back when there were 18 to 24 months between Mac OS X releases though, so it worked out to over three years from announcement I think. But once the MacOS App Store landed in 10.6.8, PowerPC support from developers basically evaporated.

I’m all for aggressive timelines, but Apple was still selling Intel-based Macs as recently as June 2023. I figured they would’ve given Intel users another couple of years.

See above. The earliest Intel Macs didn’t have it much better either. The Core Duo and Core Solo based Macs only got Leopard and Snow Leapard because those processors were only 32bit. So only about 3 years for them also. This era of long lived macOS support is very new.

 

[anakin44011]

For the record, Golden Gate still supports Intel apps. It’s the operating system that comes after that will not.
Also, Golden Gate has a built-in utility to see all of the Intel apps

Oh good - then I can play with the 'less-poopy' Siri and not lose 67 apps!

 

[Royksöpp]

Wow, that’s a hostile development.

 

[menist]

Still have my 2018 i7 6-core MacMini and 2019 i9 MacBook Pro sitting here. Not planning to get rid of them.