# macOS 27 Golden Gate: the last macOS for Intel apps

> macOS 27 Golden Gate is the version of macOS Apple released in September 2026. It runs only on Macs with Apple silicon, and Apple has said it is the final release to support Rosetta. Intel-only apps still open on it, with a warning; on macOS 28 they no longer open, apart from some older games.

## What macOS 27 Golden Gate is

Apple presented macOS 27 Golden Gate at its developer conference (WWDC) on 8 June 2026 and released it on 14 September 2026. The current update is macOS 27.0.1, a bug-fix release from 28 September 2026.

Golden Gate is the first macOS that runs only on Apple silicon. Apple’s list of supported Macs starts with the first M1 models from 2020 and contains no Mac with an Intel processor. macOS 26 Tahoe was the last version for Intel Macs.

## What it means for Intel-only apps

On a Mac with Apple silicon, apps built only for Intel processors run through Rosetta 2, Apple’s translation layer. On 1 September 2026 Apple announced that macOS 27 is the **final release to support Rosetta**: Intel-only apps will no longer run on Macs with Apple silicon after it. Apple keeps Rosetta only for certain older, unmaintained games that rely on Intel-based frameworks; it hasn’t said which ones.

So on macOS 27 your Intel-only apps still open. macOS 27 reminds you that this is ending:

- when you open an Intel-only app, a notice says it will not open in macOS 28 (notifications started with macOS 26.4);
- the same warning appears in Finder’s Get Info window and when Rosetta is installed;
- System Settings › General › About lists your **Intel-based apps** in one place.

How to find all of them at once is explained in [How to find Intel-only apps on your Mac](https://keep86.com/guides/find-intel-only-apps-on-your-mac).

## What comes after macOS 27

macOS 28 is the next major release. Apple’s support article states that from macOS 28, Rosetta will be available only for certain older games. Apple hasn’t announced a release date; based on its yearly schedule, macOS 28 is expected around September 2027.

## What to do now

1. Make a list of your Intel-only apps and look each one up in our [compatibility database](https://keep86.com/compatibility) — for example [Google Earth Pro](https://keep86.com/apps/google-earth-pro), [Garmin Express](https://keep86.com/apps/garmin-express) or [Photoshop CS6](https://keep86.com/apps/adobe-photoshop-cs6).
2. Update the apps that have a native version.
3. For the rest, compare your options in [How to run Intel apps on Apple silicon after macOS 28](https://keep86.com/guides/run-intel-apps-after-macos-28): staying on macOS 27, an alternative, or macOS 27 in a virtual machine. Keep86 is being built for the last one; see [pricing](https://keep86.com/pricing).

Our [checklist before macOS 28](https://keep86.com/guides/before-macos-28-checklist) goes through the steps in order.

## Common questions

**Is macOS 27 called Golden Gate?**
Yes. Apple’s name for macOS 27 is macOS Golden Gate.

**Can my Intel Mac run macOS 27?**
No. macOS 27 supports only Macs with Apple silicon. Intel Macs stay on macOS 26 Tahoe.

**Do Intel-only apps still work on macOS 27?**
Yes, through Rosetta 2, with a warning that they won’t open in macOS 28. macOS 27 is the last version where this works for apps.

**When will macOS 28 come out?**
Apple hasn’t announced it. Apple usually releases a new macOS each September, so around September 2027 is likely.

## Sources

- Apple, macOS Golden Gate — https://www.apple.com/os/macos/
- Apple Support, “macOS Golden Gate is compatible with these computers”, 14 September 2026 — https://support.apple.com/en-us/127255
- Apple Support, macOS Golden Gate 27.0.1 update, 28 September 2026 — https://support.apple.com/en-us/127257
- Apple Newsroom, WWDC developer announcements, 8 June 2026 — https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/06/apple-aids-app-development-with-new-intelligence-frameworks-and-advanced-tools/
- Apple Developer News, “Upcoming changes to Rosetta support for Intel-based macOS apps”, 1 September 2026 — https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=w5ngl9k2
- Apple Support, “Using Intel-based apps on a Mac with Apple silicon”, 21 September 2026 — https://support.apple.com/en-us/102527
- Der Flounder (Rich Trouton), “Intel apps and macOS Golden Gate”, 15 September 2026 — https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2026/09/15/intel-apps-and-macos-golden-gate/
- Six Colors (Glenn Fleishman), “Preparing for next year’s Rosetta 2 demise”, 3 August 2026 — https://sixcolors.com/post/2026/08/preparing-for-next-years-rosetta-2-demise/
- MacRumors, macOS 27 Golden Gate release date, 10 September 2026 — https://macrumors.com/2026/09/10/macos-27-golden-gate-release-date/


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Last checked 2026-10-06
Source: https://keep86.com/guides/macos-27-golden-gate