We recently reported that Apple is now beginning to warn users about 32-bit applications potentially not working in a future version of macOS. The alert that appears on macOS is surprisingly vague and doesn’t give much detail on what to do next.
Follow along as we guide you through how to check which apps are currently 32-bit.
How to check your Mac for 32-bit apps before Apple drops support
- In the top left corner click on the logo, hold down the Option key on your keyboard, while holding it down, click on System Information…
- Scroll down on the left sidebar until you get down to Software. Expand the menu if necessary, and then tap the Applications option. It may take a few moments for it to load, especially if you have a ton of apps.
- Up top, there should be a menu option to sort by 64-Bit (Intel). Click on that, and you’ll now have a list of apps that aren’t 64-bit (that are 32-bit only). The 32-bit apps will be labeled No instead of Yes.
Your list will likely be fairly small with only a handful of apps needing updates to 64-bit. Ironically, for most people, the 32-bit list will be dominated by Apple apps. Apple’s DVD player, and InkServer applications still lack native 64-bit support. These are first-party, pre-installed applications that come bundled with every Mac. But that’s not all, some of Apple’s Mac App Store apps such as Compressor aren’t updated for 64-bit systems as well.
Unfortunately, the only way around 32-bit apps is to notify the developers behind the app, asking to see if they would consider updating their apps for 64-bit. Otherwise, they will be left in the Mac app graveyard as newer versions of macOS potentially kill off support entirely.
Are there any of your favorite apps that are still not updated for 64-bit? Let us know in the comments below. For more help getting the most out of your Apple devices, check out our how to guide as well as the following articles:
- How to set up Apple Pay on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac
- How to report phishing attempts and other suspicious messages to Apple
- How to back up your Apple Watch
- How to enable ‘Calls on Other Devices’ like iPad or Mac
- How to remove your Facebook data from macOS
- How to enable Wi-Fi calling on iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch
- How to clean your Apple cables, keyboards, mice, trackpads, and more
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