Getting a “[App Name] needs to be updated to work with this version of macOS” error? You needed this answer the moment that dialog appeared. That app is 32-bit, and no amount of relaunching will fix it on modern macOS.
Starting with macOS Catalina 10.15, Apple removed 32-bit app support entirely. Every macOS release since then continues that policy, including Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia. If your Mac runs any currently supported macOS, 32-bit apps are broken for good.
What 32-Bit Actually Means
Apps are compiled for a specific binary format, either 32-bit or 64-bit. Older software, especially anything not meaningfully updated past a certain point, often sticks with 32-bit. Every currently supported macOS requires 64-bit apps.
On macOS Mojave 10.14, 32-bit apps could still run, though macOS showed a warning each time you opened one. On Catalina 10.15 and later, they don’t open at all.
Worth clarifying if you’re on Apple Silicon: Rosetta 2 translates Intel 64-bit apps to run on M-series Macs, but it doesn’t touch 32-bit apps. The 32-bit vs 64-bit issue is separate from the Intel vs Apple Silicon issue; you need 64-bit regardless of your chip.
How to Find 32-Bit Apps Using System Information
System Information shows every installed app on your Mac and whether it’s 64-bit. It works even for apps that can’t launch, which, on current macOS, means all 32-bit apps.
- Click the Apple menu and choose About This Mac.
- Click System Report… to open System Information.
- In the left sidebar, scroll to the Software section and click Applications.
- The list takes a few seconds to populate. Once it loads, look for the 64-Bit (Intel) column.
– Yes, 64-bit. Runs on current macOS. – No, 32-bit. Won’t run on Catalina or any later macOS.
- Click the 64-Bit (Intel) column header to sort. All the No entries group together so you can see the full list at once.
If Legacy Software appears in the sidebar under Software, clicking it shows a pre-filtered list of incompatible apps, no sorting needed.
To open System Information without going through About This Mac, press Cmd + Space, type “System Information”, and press Return.
How to Check a Running App in Activity Monitor
This method only works on macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, where 32-bit apps can still launch. On Catalina or any later macOS, a 32-bit app won’t open, so it won’t appear in Activity Monitor. If you’re already on a current macOS, System Information handles this better anyway.
If you’re on Mojave and want to check a specific app that’s currently running:
- Open the app you want to check, then launch Activity Monitor, press
Cmd + Space, type “Activity Monitor”, and pressReturn.
- Right-click any column header in Activity Monitor and select Kind from the context menu.
- The Kind column shows whether each running process is 32-bit or 64-bit.
For a full pre-upgrade audit, System Information is the better tool. It covers every installed app, running or idle at that moment.
What to Do With 32-Bit Apps
Update From the App Store
If the app came from the Mac App Store, check for an update before assuming it’s gone.
- Open the App Store.
- Click Updates in the left sidebar.
- If an update is listed for the app, click Update next to it.
Most developers shipped 64-bit versions well before Catalina arrived. If an update is available, install it, there’s a good chance it’s already the fix you need.
Check the Developer’s Website
If the app didn’t come from the App Store, visit the developer’s site and look for a current download. Install it the same way you originally got the app.
On the download page, look for mentions of Ventura, Sonoma, or Sequoia compatibility. That’s a reliable sign the new version is 64-bit.
Check for Updates Within the App (Mojave Only)
On Mojave, where 32-bit apps can still run, many apps include a built-in update option. With the app open, click its name in the menu bar and look for Check for Updates.
On Catalina or later, this path doesn’t exist, the app won’t open.
Find a Replacement
If the developer never shipped a 64-bit version, no update is coming. Your options:
- Search the Mac App Store for something that does the same job.
- Check whether a browser-based alternative exists. Many tasks that once required a native Mac app work fine in Safari or Chrome today.
- Find an actively maintained alternative, preferably one with native Apple Silicon support if you’re on an M-series Mac.
Use a Virtual Machine for Irreplaceable Apps
If you genuinely can’t replace a specific tool, a legacy plugin, a proprietary workflow, specialized industry software, running an older macOS in a virtual machine on a compatible Intel Mac is the last real option. The app lives inside that sandboxed environment, isolated from your main system.
Apple Silicon compatibility here is limited, and the setup takes real effort. But if the tool is non-negotiable, this path exists.
Common Questions
Why won’t my app open after upgrading macOS?
It’s almost certainly 32-bit. On Catalina and later, macOS won’t run 32-bit apps. Check in System Information > Software > Applications, if the 64-Bit (Intel) column says No, that’s your answer.
Can I force a 32-bit app to run on current macOS?
No. There’s no Terminal command, system flag, or hidden setting that makes a 32-bit app run on Catalina or later. The options are: find a 64-bit update, find a replacement, or run an older macOS in a virtual machine.
Does Rosetta 2 fix this?
No. Rosetta 2 translates Intel 64-bit apps for Apple Silicon, that’s all it does. It has no effect on 32-bit compatibility.
The app files are still on my Mac. Why won’t they open?
macOS won’t execute the binary, even though the file is there. You can safely delete 32-bit apps you can’t update, they won’t start working again without a developer-released 64-bit build.
I’m an IT admin. How do I check across multiple machines?
MDM platforms like Jamf can inventory installed apps fleet-wide and flag 32-bit entries. They pull the same 64-Bit (Intel) data you’d find in System Information, queried at scale.
Once you’ve worked through the list, updated what you can, replaced what you can’t, upgrading macOS without a pile of broken legacy apps finally feels clean. Most apps have a 64-bit update or a solid modern replacement waiting. A bit of persistence and the list gets shorter fast.