macOS 26.4 will notify users of Rosetta 2 discontinuation

Source: 9to5Mac

Background

At WWDC 20, Apple introduced Rosetta 2, a translation layer that allows Apple‑silicon Macs to run apps built for Intel models. The technology was always intended to be temporary, similar to the earlier transition from PowerPC to Intel.

Rosetta 2 Discontinuation Timeline

• WWDC 25 – Apple announced that Rosetta 2 would be fully supported through macOS 27. Starting with macOS 28, Rosetta 2 will be largely discontinued, with a limited subset retained for older, unmaintained gaming titles that rely on Intel‑based frameworks. Apple documentation

• macOS 26.4 (beta 1) – Users are now notified when launching an app that requires Rosetta 2, informing them that the translation layer will soon be discontinued. Support article

• macOS 28 – Expected release in the fall of 2027, giving users time to update apps to native Apple‑silicon versions.

• macOS 26 – The final release that will run on Intel‑based Mac models. Intel Macs will continue to receive security updates for three years after this point. Apple documentation