1. Check whether your Mac needs Rosetta
Rosetta 2 exists only for Macs with Apple silicon (M1 and later). It lets them run apps built for Intel processors. An Intel Mac runs those apps directly and has nothing to install. Not sure which Mac you have? Choose Apple menu › About This Mac: “Chip” means Apple silicon, “Processor” with an Intel name means Intel. Details in Does your Mac have Apple silicon or Intel?
2. Open an Intel-only app and choose Install
Rosetta isn’t installed until something needs it. The first time you open an app built only for Intel, macOS asks whether you want to install Rosetta. Choose Install, enter your administrator password if asked, and wait a moment; the app then opens.
3. Or install it in Terminal
Administrators can install Rosetta without opening an app. In Terminal, run:
softwareupdate --install-rosetta
The tool asks you to accept Apple’s licence first. For scripts and managed Macs, IT guides add --agree-to-license to accept it without the prompt; that option isn’t described on Apple’s own support pages.
4. Check that Rosetta is installed
- The simple way: open an Intel-only app. If it opens without asking you to install Rosetta, Rosetta is there.
- In Terminal:
pgrep oahdprints a number when Rosetta is installed (oahd is the name of Rosetta’s background service). This check comes from IT documentation, not from Apple.
There is no Rosetta 2 download
Apple doesn’t offer Rosetta 2 as a separate download, and you don’t need one: the prompt and the Terminal command above are the only ways Apple describes. Be careful with websites that offer a “Rosetta 2 download” — macOS installs it itself, from Apple.
How long you can use Rosetta
Apple has announced that macOS 27 Golden Gate is the last release to support Rosetta for apps. From macOS 28, Rosetta remains only for certain older games, so Intel-only apps will no longer open. See macOS 28 and Rosetta: what stops working and check your apps in the compatibility database — for example Google Earth Pro or Garmin Express. If an app you rely on has no native version, Keep86 is being built to keep it running in a macOS 27 virtual machine (pricing).
Common questions
Is there a Rosetta 2 download? No. Rosetta 2 is installed by macOS itself, when you open an Intel-only app or run softwareupdate --install-rosetta.
Do I need Rosetta 2 on an Intel Mac? No. Rosetta exists only for Macs with Apple silicon; Intel Macs run Intel apps directly.
Is Rosetta 2 free? Yes. It is part of macOS and installed from Apple at no cost.
Can I still install Rosetta on macOS 28? Apple says that from macOS 28 Rosetta will only work for certain older games, so installing it won’t make Intel-only apps open again.
Sources
- Apple Support, “Using Intel-based apps on a Mac with Apple silicon”, 21 September 2026 — https://support.apple.com/en-us/102527
- Apple Developer News, “Upcoming changes to Rosetta support for Intel-based macOS apps”, 1 September 2026 — https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=w5ngl9k2
- Apple Developer Documentation, “About the Rosetta translation environment” — https://developer.apple.com/documentation/apple-silicon/about-the-rosetta-translation-environment
- Junian.dev, “How to install Rosetta 2 on macOS” (Terminal options; third-party) — https://www.junian.dev/blog/macos-install-rosetta-2/
- iBoysoft, Rosetta 2 files and the oahd process (third-party) — https://iboysoft.com/tips/uninstall-rosetta-2.html