Apple has begun notifying developers that universal macOS apps on the Mac App Store can now drop support for Intel-based Macs, provided those apps require macOS 13 or later. The change marks another step in Apple’s long transition away from Intel hardware and toward Apple Silicon.
In an email sent to developers, Apple explained that removing Intel compatibility allows teams to streamline their work and reduce app size. According to the company, dropping Intel support can simplify development while optimizing download and on-device storage requirements.
What Developers Need to Do
The process is straightforward for developers who want to make the switch. Apple advises updating app build settings to “arm64” only, then rebuilding and resubmitting the app to the Mac App Store. Until now, developers were required to offer Intel compatibility for universal apps, so this update gives them a new option rather than a mandate.
Users on older hardware are not immediately cut off. Anyone running an Intel-based Mac can continue using the last version of an app that remains compatible with their machine, even after a developer moves to an Apple Silicon-only build.
Part of a Broader Intel Phase-Out
The policy shift arrives alongside macOS 27 Golden Gate, which drops support for Intel-powered Macs entirely. That release effectively ends the era of macOS running on Intel processors, pushing the platform fully toward Apple’s own chips.
Apple also confirmed previously that Rosetta 2, the translation software that lets Intel apps run on Apple Silicon, will be discontinued after macOS 27. Some exceptions will remain in place for certain games, but the broader tool is being retired as the ecosystem consolidates around arm64 software.
For developers, the immediate takeaway is flexibility: those targeting macOS 13 or later can now build exclusively for Apple Silicon and submit arm64-only apps to the Mac App Store.
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Image: 9to5mac.com
