32-bit app compatibility with macOS
About the transition to 64-bit technology and how it affects 32-bit apps.
Apple began transitioning to 64-bit hardware and software technology well over a decade ago, and all modern Mac devices now include powerful 64-bit processors that can run advanced 64-bit apps. These apps can access significantly more memory, enable faster system performance and take advantage of technologies that define today’s Mac experience.
Apple worked with developers to transition their apps, and in 2018 Apple informed them that macOS Mojave 10.14 would be the last version of macOS to run 32-bit apps. Starting with macOS Catalina 10.15, 32-bit apps are no longer compatible with macOS.
If you receive an alert about a 32-bit app
If you get one of the following alerts when attempting to open a 32-bit app, contact the developer of the app to find out whether an updated version of their software is available or planned:
[app name] needs to be updated. The developer of this app needs to update it to work with this version of macOS. Contact the developer for more information.
[app name] is not optimised for your Mac and needs to be updated. This app will not work with future versions of macOS and needs to be updated to improve compatibility. Contact the developer for more information.
When installing macOS, you may see a list of recently used apps that are 32-bit. You can review this list before deciding to continue the installation process. You may also see a prohibitory symbol
over the icon of each 32-bit app in the Finder, letting you know that the app cannot be opened.
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