macOS 27 Golden Gate arrives September 14
Apple set September 14 for macOS 27 Golden Gate. It runs only on Apple silicon Macs and is the last release with full Rosetta 2 support.
Written by Mac App Index Editorial
Apple confirmed that macOS 27, named Golden Gate, would be released on Monday, September 14, alongside iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27 and visionOS 27. MacRumors reported the date on September 10. A developer beta had been available since June and a public beta since July.
Which Macs can run it
macOS 27 is the first release that drops Intel Macs entirely. It runs on:
- MacBook Neo (2026)
- MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
- MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
- iMac (2021 and later)
- Mac mini (2020 and later)
- Mac Studio (2022 and later)
- Mac Pro (2023 and later)
Intel Macs that run macOS Tahoe stay on Tahoe. According to MacRumors, Apple says those Macs will keep getting security updates for three years.
What it means for your apps
Apple silicon Macs on macOS 27 can still run Intel apps through Rosetta 2, but this is the final major release with full Rosetta support. If you depend on an app that has never been updated for Apple silicon, this is the year to find a replacement. Apple has said a limited form of Rosetta will remain for some older games.
Most actively developed Mac apps already run natively. On our app pages, each listing shows the minimum macOS version, and several apps in our catalog already require macOS 26 or later, including Paste, Lungo, Velja, Dato and Ulysses. Apps that move fast like these tend to support new releases quickly.
What is new
MacRumors lists a new Siri built on Apple Intelligence, design refinements and performance improvements as the main changes. Some of the more advanced Siri features need a newer Mac; reports at the time pointed to an M3 chip or later with at least 12 GB of memory.
Before you upgrade
- Back up with Time Machine or your usual tool.
- Check that the apps you rely on, especially plugins, audio drivers and security tools, list support for macOS 27.
- If you work on a deadline, waiting for the first point update is a reasonable choice. That update, macOS 27.0.1, arrived on September 28.
Source: MacRumors, "Apple Announces macOS Golden Gate Release Date".
