How to See Which 32-Bit Apps May Stop Working on Your Mac Soon

Processors, operating systems, and programs can all be 32-bit or 64-bit. While 32-bit was once the standard, 64-bit has taken over as technology has progressed.

macOS has been exclusively 64-bit since Mac OS X Lion released in 2011, but Macs are still compatible with older 32-bit software. However, that’s set to change soon.

32-Bit App Support on Mac Will End

Some Mac users have started seeing a vague warning when launching 32-bit apps that the apps “need to be updated by [the] developer to improve compatibility”. And an official Apple support document states that “macOS High Sierra [will] be the last version of macOS to run 32-bit apps without compromise.”

I'm genuinlly worried about High Sierra being the last 32-bit app compatible MacOS. Three daily apps for me show the warning – Epson Scan ($1000 scanner), Adobe Acrobat Pro, ExifRenamer

— Jeremy Barr-Hyde (@captaineos) April 17, 2018

It’s not clear what this “compromise” is (likely some kind of compatibility mode). However, Apple has encouraged users to find 64-bit apps or contact developers of 32-bit apps to encourage them to update.

For now, you can get some key info about your Mac and see which apps are 32-bit so you know which ones may run into issues in the future.

Checking Which 32-Bit Apps May Stop Working Soon

1. Click the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of your Mac, and select About This Mac.
2. Select the System Report button.
3. In the resulting System Information window, scroll the left sidebar down to the Software category. Expand it using the triangle button if necessary.
4. Select Applications under the Software listing. It may take a few seconds to load.
5. Click the header labeled 64-Bit (Intel) to sort your apps by 64-bit status. Sort so the apps showing as No appear first.
6. Each app that has a No in this field is a 32-bit app.

You’ll likely see several default Apple apps here, including the built-in DVD player and InkServer. If you see any non-Apple apps, it’s probably worth reaching out to their developers to see if they have plans to upgrade to 64-bit.

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