Apple has started informing developers that universal macOS apps distributed through the Mac App Store can now be built without support for Intel-based Macs, provided the app requires macOS 13 or later. The move marks another major milestone in Apple’s transition away from Intel processors and gives developers more flexibility as the Mac ecosystem becomes entirely Apple Silicon-based.

In an email sent to developers, Apple wrote: “We’re reaching out to let you know that universal macOS apps on the Mac App Store that require macOS 13 or later can now remove support for Intel-based Mac computers. By removing support for Intel-based Mac computers, you can simplify your development and optimize your download and on-device size.”

Previously, developers who wanted their apps to be available to every Mac user were required to include both Intel and Apple Silicon versions in a single universal binary. With this change, that requirement is no longer in force for apps that set a deployment target of macOS 13 or higher. Instead, developers can configure their projects to build exclusively for the arm64 architecture, which is the processor architecture Apple uses in its M-series chips.

What developers need to do

Apple’s instructions are straightforward. Developers who want to remove Intel support must update their app build settings so that the architecture is set to “arm64” only. After that, they can rebuild the app and submit it to the Mac App Store for review. Once the update is approved and released, the Mac App Store will no longer offer an Intel-compatible binary for that app on supported versions of macOS.

It is important to note that this option only applies to apps that require macOS 13 or later. Developers who maintain older minimum deployment targets will still need to distribute universal binaries if they want their apps to run on Intel machines that cannot upgrade beyond certain versions of the operating system. Apple’s policy change is designed to align with the installed base of Macs running modern versions of macOS, which increasingly means Apple Silicon hardware.

The path from Intel to Apple Silicon

Apple’s transition away from Intel began in June 2020, when the company announced that it would move Macs to its own Apple Silicon processors. The first Macs with the M1 chip arrived later that year, and within two years most of the lineup had switched to Apple-designed chips. By the time the transition was declared complete in 2023, new Macs were exclusively powered by Apple Silicon.

That transition created a period of dual architecture support for software developers. App makers were asked to ship universal binaries containing code for both Intel and Apple Silicon processors, and they were also encouraged to adopt Apple’s translation layer, Rosetta 2, to keep older Intel apps running on the new hardware. Rosetta 2 allowed users to run many existing Intel apps without waiting for developers to issue native updates.

Over time, the need for Intel support began to shrink. Apple Silicon Macs have been on the market for years, and the majority of active Macs today are powered by Apple’s own chips. As a result, many developers have been eager to drop Intel code from their apps to reduce maintenance overhead, streamline development pipelines, and shrink the size of downloads.

What this means for Intel Mac users

Intel Mac users are not being immediately locked out of apps that decide to make the switch. Apple has said that Intel users can continue using the last version of an app that was compatible with their machine. In other words, if a developer drops Intel support in a future update, the final universal or Intel-compatible release will remain available through the Mac App Store for users running older hardware.

That approach mirrors the way Apple has handled other compatibility transitions in the past. Users on older systems do not necessarily lose access to apps they already purchased, but they do not receive newer updates once a developer decides to target Apple Silicon exclusively. Over time, that means Intel Mac users will see fewer new features and security updates for certain applications as developers choose to focus on the newer hardware platform.

This is not surprising given that Intel Macs are now aging out of Apple’s support window. Apple’s newest operating system, macOS 27 Golden Gate, is expected to be the last major version to support Intel-based Macs. After that, Apple will no longer bring new system releases to Intel hardware, and the software ecosystem will continue to move toward Apple Silicon.

The end of Rosetta 2

Further evidence of Intel’s fading presence in the Mac ecosystem came last year, when Apple announced that Rosetta 2 would be discontinued after macOS 27. Rosetta 2 is the translation software that allows Intel applications to run on Apple Silicon Macs. It has been an essential bridge during the transition, but Apple has made clear that it is not meant to be a permanent feature. The company has carved out an exception for certain games, but for general purpose computing, the era of translated Intel apps is winding down.

With Rosetta 2 being phased out and macOS 27 marking the end of Intel support, developers now have clarity about the future. The latest policy change from Apple’s Mac App Store team reinforces the message that Apple Silicon is the sole direction of the Mac platform. Developers who have been waiting for permission to stop shipping x86_64 code can now do so without worrying that they will be penalized for abandoning Intel users.

Why removing Intel support is a technical advantage

For developers who maintain apps that support both architectures, removing Intel support can offer meaningful benefits. A universal macOS binary contains code for both arm64 and x86_64, which roughly doubles the amount of executable code that must be compiled, stored, and downloaded. By switching to arm64 only, developers can reduce the overall size of their apps, which may lead to faster download times and smaller footprints on users’ devices.

Simplification also extends to the development process. Developers no longer need to compile and test their apps against an Intel toolchain or worry about subtle compatibility issues between architectures. This can reduce the time spent on quality assurance and make it easier to adopt new features, since Apple’s modern developer tools are optimized for Apple Silicon.

There are also resource advantages. Building for a single architecture typically requires less compute time in continuous integration systems, which means faster builds and lower costs. For independent developers working on tight schedules, these efficiencies can be significant.

Adoption considerations

Developers should consider their user base carefully before making the leap. While the industry has largely moved to Apple Silicon, some users still rely on Intel Macs, particularly older models that remain functional for everyday tasks. Those users may not be able to upgrade to macOS 27, and they may remain on an earlier release of macOS for years.

Because Apple’s policy change applies only to apps that require macOS 13 or later, developers with a meaningful population of Intel users on older systems may decide to retain universal support for a little longer. The new policy is permissive, not mandatory. Apple is giving developers the option to drop Intel support, but no one is being forced to abandon Intel users immediately.

At the same time, developers who already set their deployment target to macOS 13 or later and whose user base is overwhelmingly on Apple Silicon can now take advantage of the simpler build process. The change is particularly relevant for apps oriented toward professionals, media creators, and other users who tend to upgrade their Macs frequently.

Looking at the broader Mac ecosystem

Today’s news is part of a broader pattern. Apple has spent years preparing developers for a future without Intel, and each new step in that process brings the platform closer to a clean break. The App Store policy change removes one of the last remaining requirements that treated Intel Macs as equal citizens.

As the Mac market continues to shift toward Apple Silicon, tools, libraries, and third-party frameworks are also dropping support for x86_64. Some popular development frameworks have already announced that upcoming major versions will only support Apple Silicon hosts and targets. This creates a snowball effect: as more supporting technology removes Intel compatibility, it becomes increasingly difficult for developers and users to maintain an Intel-based workflow.

For macOS enthusiasts and professionals, the latest announcement is another signal that the Intel era is nearing its close. The transition that began with the M1 chip in 2020 is now reaching its logical endpoint. With macOS 27 marking the last Intel-supported operating system release, Rosetta 2 facing discontinuation, and Mac App Store developers being given official permission to ship arm64-only builds, Apple has made it clear that its future belongs entirely to Apple Silicon.

Developers who are ready to move forward can begin submitting Apple Silicon-only builds right away, provided their apps target macOS 13 or later. Intel Mac users, in the meantime, can still rely on the apps that worked with their machines before developers made the switch. This gradual approach is typical of Apple’s strategy over the past several years: offer guidance and options early, provide a long compatibility window, and then let the software ecosystem naturally converge on the newest platform.

Source:9to5Mac News