Apple permits developers to drop Intel support for Mac apps

Apple has notified developers that they are no longer required to maintain Intel compatibility for universal applications distributed through the Mac App Store, provided the apps require macOS 13 Ventura or newer. This change allows developers to build and submit software exclusively for the arm64 architecture used by Apple Silicon chips.

By dropping Intel support, developers can simplify their development processes and reduce both download sizes and the storage footprint of installed applications. While the move is not mandatory—developers may still choose to provide universal binaries—it signals the final stages of Apple’s transition away from Intel hardware, which began in 2020.

Existing Intel Mac users will not lose access to their currently installed software. They will be able to continue using the last compatible version of an app, though they will no longer receive new updates once a developer switches to Apple Silicon-only releases. This shift aligns with the upcoming macOS 27 Golden Gate, which is expected to drop support for Intel Macs entirely and marks the end of the Rosetta 2 compatibility layer's lifecycle.