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macOS 32-Bit Applications Unsupported With macOS 10.15 And Later

Article ID = 186
Article Title = macOS 32-Bit Applications Unsupported With macOS 10.15 And Later
Article Author(s) = Graham Needham (BH)
Article Created On = 22nd June 2017
Article Last Updated = 28th July 2020
Article URL = https://www.macstrategy.com/article.php?186

Article Brief Description:
Apple stated at their 2017 World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) that a future version of macOS would stop supporting 32-bit applications i.e. macOS 10.15 and later. This article has information about this, how it might impact you and includes a list of known 32-bit applications.

32-Bit Applications

Apple confirmed at their 2018 World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) that all future versions of macOS from 10.15 onwards would stop supporting 32-bit applications. macOS 10.13 and 10.14 (due autumn/fall 2018) just warn users every time you open a 32-bit application whereas macOS 10.15 (due autumn/fall 2019) will be the first version to not support 32-bit apps at all.

Mac App Store Applications

Apple has already begun preparations to prune the Mac App Store. From January 2018 all new apps submitted to the Mac App Store will have to be 64-bit and from June 2018, both new apps and app updates must be 64-bit. Any submissions that don't meet these requirements will be rejected. At some point apps that are still 32-bit and that have not been updated will be removed from the Mac App Store. If you bought a 32-bit app you should still be able to download it (on a version of macOS that supports it) but no new purchases will be allowed and they will not show up in searches.

Apple Applications (Mac App Store)

As of 15th November 2018 all of Apple's current applications on the Mac App Store are now 64-bit including Compressor. However, be careful if you are still running very old versions of their apps such as early versions of Pages and Numbers as some of these are 32-bit.

Other Apple Applications

The following (old) Apple applications are 32-bit. It is highly unlikely that they will be updated to 64-bit:
  • iDVD 7.1.2
  • iPhoto Library Upgrader v8.1
  • iWeb (all versions)
  • QuickTime Player 7
There are some additional background processes that Apple includes within macOS that are still 32-bit - Apple has stated that developers must move to new 64-bit equivalent frameworks so if you see these running, you have an application on your computer that still calls these 32-bit processes:
  • Dashboard - this has been updated by Apple to 64-bit in macOS 10.14 Mojave
  • mdworker32 - there is a 64-bit version of this available for Developers to use
  • quicklookd32 - there is a 64-bit version of this available for Developers to use
  • inkserver - the "ink" components have been updated by Apple to 64-bit in macOS 10.14 Mojave
  • qtkitserver - there is a 64-bit version of this available for Developers to use
There are, obviously, many old Apple utilities that 32-bit so we only list a few significant ones here that you might come across on your hard disk if you've migrated up from earlier versions of macOS:
  • /System/Library/CoreServices/SecurityFixer.app
  • /System/Library/Frameworks/Tk.framework/Versions/8.4/Resources/Wish.app
  • iPod Reset Utility 1.0.2
  • Apple application based Read Mes and Guides
    • Apple Hardware Test Read Me 1.1
    • Apple Remote Desktop Administrator's Guide
    • Apple Remote Desktop Read Me
    • iDVD Getting Started 3.8
    • iMovie Getting Started 1.0.2
    • Keynote User Guide 1.0.2
    • Pages User Guide 1.0.2
    • Welcome to Leopard
    • Welcome to Snow Leopard

Third Party Non-Mac App Store Applications

32-bit applications will continue to run until macOS 10.15 (due autumn/fall 2019) is released. At this point if you still wish to use 32-bit applications you will not be able to upgrade to macOS 10.15. If you still run macOS 10.14 it should be supported with security updates until the autumn/fall of 2021.

Disc Burning Software

Most disc burning applications are still 32-bit including Apple's own iDVD application. The underlying OS framework for burning discs has been 64-bit for a while (at least macOS 10.12 Sierra). However, as Apple hasn't shipped any computers with a built-in optical drive since mid-2012, it is a possibility that Apple may not bother to update underlying frameworks/components. This could mean the demise of disc burning directly within macOS in the future! It is our prediction that macOS 10.15 will drop support for the mid-2012 MacBook Pro models and cheese-grater Mac Pros so basically macOS 10.15 will only support Macs that have no built-in optical drive. We'll update this article as more information becomes available. At Apple's 2019 World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) on the 3rd June 2019 Apple confirmed that macOS 10.15 drops support for the original cheese-grater Mac Pros but 2012 model MacBook Pros are still supported so disc burning capability is 64-bit and still supported (for now). Third party disc burning applications known to be 64-bit include:

Timeline For 32-Bit Applications

Based on current information this is the situation:

The Way Forward

Although, at the time of knowing 32-bit app support will stop, there are a number of years before 32-bit app support will actually stop, it is always best to start planning ahead now. Create a list of 32-bit apps that you are running/have installed on your computer (see next section) and make plans:
  • You can test what applications might not work with macOS 10.13.4/10.13.5/10.13.6 High Sierra or macOS 10.14 Mojave by temporarily switching on 64-bit only mode:
    1. Restart your Mac and hold down Command-R to boot into Recovery Mode
    2. Launch Terminal and enter the following command:
      3. nvram boot-args="-no32exec"
    3. Restart your Mac
      4. NOTE: To go back to normal 32-bit compatible mode, repeat the steps above but enter nvram boot-args="" in the command step 2 above instead.
  • Do you still need the application?
  • Can you update the application to a newer version for free?
  • Can you upgrade the application to a newer version? - this might have compatibility issues that need to be tested and/or associated costs that need to be planned for
  • Is there an alternative? - this might have compatibility issues that need to be tested and/or associated costs that need to be planned for
  • Consider moving older apps to a dedicated older Mac specifically to run them.
  • Consider virtualising an older version of macOS / OS X / Mac OS X with Parallels Desktop / VMWare Fusion / VirtualBox to run your 32-bit apps:
    • NOTE: Some software that may rely on dedicated hardware may not run very well, if at all, in virtual environments. Games and graphics/audio applications for instance - Apple's own Aperture software does not work properly in a virtual environment.
  • We recommend running the following versions of macOS / OS X / Mac OS X as Virtual Machines for 32-bit app support:
    • Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard (Server) - costs money but you may already be running/want to run this to be able to use PowerPC/Rosetta based applications
    • OS X 10.7 - OS X 10.8 is better
    • OS X 10.8 - costs money but if you already own it/want to pay for it, it runs very efficiently in a virtual machine and there are few internet/iCloud based services clogging it up
    • OS X 10.9 - was very kludgy and slow when installed on a hard disk
    • OS X 10.10 - was slow when installed on a hard disk, does not support latest Apple internet/iCloud based services
    • OS X 10.11 - free, supports most internet/iCloud based services
    • macOS 10.12 - free, supports most internet/iCloud based services
    • macOS 10.13 - buggy, slow, half baked technologies e.g APFS, 10.13.4 or later will give you repeated warnings when trying to run 32-bit applications
    • macOS 10.14 - but will give you repeated warnings when trying to run 32-bit applications

How To Tell Which Applications You Have Installed Are 32-Bit

If you are running macOS 10.14.x, go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "System Report…" button (the System Information app will open) > select "Legacy Software" under the 'Software' heading on the left. For all earlier versions of macOS, go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "System Report…" button (the System Information app will open) > select "Applications" under the 'Software' heading on the left > click on the "64-bit (Intel)" column heading to group applications > check the items listed as "No" in the '64-bit (Intel)' column. This can take a few minutes if you have a lot of applications installed/slow storage e.g. a traditional spinning hard disk. There are also a few third-party utilities out there that may help too: You should also consider that you may have background processes running that are 32-bit. You can see these (when they are running) by going to Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor > CPU tab > (right click the column headings to add/tick the "Kind" column) > click the "Kind" column heading to sort by 32-bit/64-bit type.

List Of Known 32-Bit Applications That You May Still Be Running/Have Installed

The following applications/background processes are 32-bit:

NOTE: Earlier versions of apps listed below will also be 32-bit!

Apps With Updates/Upgrades Available Now Or Promised For The Future

Apps WITHOUT Updates/Upgrades Available Now Or Any Promised For The Future

  • Apple iDVD v7.1.2
  • Apple iPhoto Library Upgrader v8.1
  • Apple QuickTime Player 7 (v7.6.6) - you can use QuickTime Player (X) included with macOS instead, albeit it doesn't support all the video codecs/features that QT7 does
    • --------------
  • Adobe Contribute CS5.1
  • Adobe Device Central CS5.5
  • Adobe Fireworks CS5.1
  • Adobe Flash Catalyst CS5.5
  • Adobe Flash CS5.5
    • - upgrade to Creative Cloud
    - switch to alternatives
    --------------
  • BioShock (games)
  • Call Of Duty 1-4 (games)
  • (Some) Canon printer drivers/utilities including:
    • BJPrinterUtility2 v7.3.10
  • (Some) Epson printer drivers/utilities including:
    • Epson Connect Printer Setup v1.2.2
    • Epson LFP Remote Panel 2 v3.0.1
    • Epson Printer Finder v1.0.0
    • EpsonNet Config v4.6.0
  • National Geographic apps (it appears NG hasn't updated any software since at least 2015)
    • --------------
  • 2013 World Book
  • AccountEdge Pro 2017 v21.0.11 + OfficeLink Processor v4.0.2 - will not be updated!
  • Alpha Juno 1.0
  • Amazon Cloud Player 2.3
  • Amcrest Surveillance Pr
  • Analogue Ripper 3.1
  • Art Directors Toolkit 5.5.1
  • Audio Score Ultimate 8.84
  • Aurora Blu-Ray Copy 1.0.0.0456
  • Basilisk II
  • Batch Doc Converter 1.3
  • Bejeweled 2 Deluxe 1.0
  • Bejeweled 3 1.0
  • Bwana v2.7
  • Cardo communicators (cardo-updater background process)
  • CardRaider 2.0.11
  • CarMD
  • CDPlayer Alpha
  • Cinematize 2.07
  • coconutWiFi 2.0
  • Create Disk 1.0
  • Crossword Forge 7.3
  • CYLView 1.0
  • DataColor Spyder4
  • Deus Ex: Human Revolution v1.0.1
  • Dictionary Editor 1.3
  • Disco v1.0.3
  • Discus 426
  • DivX Player v5.8
  • DragThing - will not be updated!
  • Aiseesoft DVD Player
  • Eliza 1.6
  • Elmedia Player v6.9
  • Email Merge X
  • eReader 2.7fp
  • Export Address Book 1.5.1
  • Express Burn v6.14
  • Extract Movie Soundtrack 2.0
  • FastTrack Schedule v10 10.2.1
  • Fetch Art 2.6.0
  • Fiery Remote Scan v6.3.0.05
  • File Properties Editor 6.1
  • Find A Word 2.4.0
  • Flickr Uploader v3.1
  • FoCal 2.4.5.3284
  • Font Catalog Creator 2.1
  • FontLab Fontographer 5 - will not be updated! but you can upgrade to FontLab VI
  • FontLab Studio 5 - will not be updated! but you can upgrade to FontLab VI
  • FontLab TypeTool 3 - will not be updated! but you can upgrade to FontLab VI
  • FontNuke v1.2.11
  • Form Viewer v3.1
  • Freecell 2.1
  • Funny Pages 1.5.2
  • Get Backup 2RE 2.5.3
  • Glance v2.11.2
  • Adobe GoLive v9
  • Graph Paper Maker 2.4
  • Guitar Guru 3.2.2
  • Hoyle Casino v1.0
  • HP Photo Creations 1.0.0.17712 - v2.2.192 is out but currently unknown if 32/64-bit?
  • iBored 1.1.19
  • iGor Pro 7
  • ImageBurner v2.0
  • Inkscape v0.922.2
  • Inspiration v9 9.2.2
  • IPNetTunerX 1.7.1
  • iSkysoft Video Converter 4.5
  • join.me Launcher v1.0.522.0
  • Joystick Show
  • JollyFastVNC v1.54
  • LaCie LightScribe Labeler 1.2.2
  • LaCie Network Assistant 1.2.1
  • LaCie Private-Public 1.9.5
  • Leawo Blu-Ray Player 1.9
  • Liberer 4.1
  • Link Sequence Download (LSD) v0.21
  • LogMeIn Client v4.1.4811
  • Logitech Connection Utility v3.9.5
  • Logitech Unifying FW Receiver 24 v1.0.5
  • Mac Media Player 2.17.2
  • MacBarf 1.1
  • MacSaber 1.1
  • MahJong 5.1.0
  • Mailsmith - will not be updated!
  • MarbleBlast Gold
  • Mariner Write v3.9.5
  • Merriam-Webster Dictionary
  • MidiPipe 1.4.3
  • Mike's Cards 2.1.1
  • Moose 3.5.7
  • MPEG Streamclip v1.9.3b8
  • MusicTime Deluxe 4.0.3
  • Name This Tune 1.4.0
  • Nanosaur 2 2.0.7
  • NEC SpectraView II
  • Cross Country Software Online Bible v4.2.1
  • Pac the Man X 1.1.3
  • PandoCalendar
  • Patent Grabber
  • Photo Flip v1.0
  • PhotoScore and NotateMe Ultimate 8.8.4
  • Plasma Pong 1.0
  • Play Sound 1.6.7
  • Print Explosion 3.0.2.8
  • Pulse Secure client v5.2
  • QuicKeys v4.0.7 (131)
  • QuickTunes 2.3.0
  • Resave web ready v1.0
  • RoboPostman
  • Scrabble 1.0.1.4
  • Simply Burns build 428
  • Smasher 3.202
  • Smell-O-Mints 2.3.2
  • SOFA Statistics
  • Sony PlayMemories (software that lets an Alpha 6x00 upload pictures via Wi-Fi)
  • Sophie Reader 1.0.4
  • SoundApp Reborn 0.1.1
  • SoundSaver 1.0.1
  • Gideon Softworks SSH Helper v1.3
  • Zerene Stacker (the app itself is 64-bit, but the launcher is 32-bit, hopefully it will be updated)
  • SuperCard
  • Sweet MIDI Player 2.7.4
  • Swiss-PdbViewer - will not be updated!
  • Synchronize! Pro X v6.8.6 - will not be updated!
  • Tell Me a Story 1.3.0
  • Tex-Edit Plus 4.10.4
  • ThingsService v4.6.1
  • To D o S e r v i c e v4.6.0
  • tn3270 X v3.4
  • Intuit TurboTax 2006-2011
  • TypeBook Creator 3.1
  • uTorrent 1.8.7
  • VideoStream 1.0.3
  • Vine Server 4.01
  • VMware Fusion's VMDKMounter v3.1.3
  • VMD
  • Word Search Creator X 3.0.2
  • World Book Dictionary 3.1
  • Yummy FTP Pro v1.11.14
  • Zinio Reader 4.2.3972
This list is not meant to be exhaustive but we try out best to be as complete as possible - it is primarily a list of applications that some users may still want to use on a modern macOS but will not work on macOS 10.15 or later. If a 64-bit version of a listed app is available we'll try to list it with a link. This list will be updated over time - bookmark this article and revisit it if running 32-bit applications is important to you. If you know of other 32-bit applications not listed, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Article Keywords: macOS 1013 1014 1015 1100 High Sierra Mojave Catalina Big Sur 32-bit 32bit 32 bit apps applications not supported unsupported not working opening

This article is © MacStrategy » a trading name of Burning Helix. As an Amazon Associate, employees of MacStrategy's holding company (Burning Helix sro) may earn from qualifying purchases. Apple, the Apple logo, and Mac are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

Article Contributors/Thanks To: Michael Schmitt

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