macOS 27 Ends Intel Mac Support, Removes Six Features

Apple's macOS 27 Golden Gate operating system has officially concluded support for Intel-based Mac computers. The new system version is exclusively available for Macs equipped with Apple Silicon chips, marking a significant shift to the company's proprietary processors.

Intel Mac users will not be able to install macOS 27 Golden Gate, with macOS 26 Tahoe being the highest supported version. However, Apple has committed to providing security updates for these machines until autumn 2028. The cessation of support for the Intel architecture signifies a major milestone in Apple's transition to its own silicon.

Several features have been removed in the latest release. Boot Camp Assistant, which allowed users to install Windows on Intel Macs, is no longer included. Macs with Apple Silicon now require virtualization software such as Parallels or VMware Fusion to run Windows. The legacy Apple File Protocol (AFP) has been superseded by the SMB protocol, and support for Time Capsule backups has been discontinued due to reliance on outdated protocol versions. AirPort Utility is also no longer pre-installed with the system.

Support for Rosetta 2, a translation layer for Intel applications, is also diminishing. While macOS 27 Golden Gate retains some level of support, Apple is encouraging developers to adapt their software for the native ARM architecture. The subsequent version, macOS 28, is expected to largely phase out Rosetta 2 support, making it more challenging to run older Intel-based applications on new Apple Silicon Macs.