With macOS Golden Gate, Apple has phased out several existing features and services, removing support for older devices and accessories. More cuts are coming in macOS 28 as Apple continues to eliminate persistent Intel features.
Here’s everything that was abandoned.
- Support for Intel Macs – macOS Golden Gate is the first version of macOS that only works on Apple Silicon Macs. Intel Macs cannot run it and are limited to macOS Tahoe. Apple still plans to offer security updates until fall 2028.
- Training Camp Assistant – Since macOS Golden Gate does not work on Intel Macs, it does not support Boot Camp. Apple Silicon Macs require virtualization software like Parallels or VMware Fusion to run Windows.
- Rosetta 2 (temporarily) – Upgrading to macOS Golden Gate removes Rosetta, but if you have an app installed that requires it, you can reinstall it. macOS Golden Gate is the latest version of macOS that will get full Rosetta support.
- Apple Deposit Protocol – Apple deprecated AFP in macOS Sequoia 15.5, and there is no AFP client in macOS Golden Gate.
- Time Capsule Backups – Without AFP support, Time Capsule no longer works with Macs running macOS Golden Gate. Time Capsule requires AFP or SMBv1, but Time Machine backups now use the SMBv2 or SMBv3 protocol.
- AirPort Utility – AirPort Utility is no longer included when you install macOS Golden Gate. If you had the app before the update, you can still use it, but Apple doesn’t guarantee that it still works. AirPort Utility allows users to manage AirPort base stations such as AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express.
macOS 28, expected in fall 2027, will largely drop support for Rosetta 2. Most apps that rely on Rosetta will not open on Macs running macOS 28, although Apple will make an exception for some existing games that are not maintained.
In macOS Golden Gate, you’ll see a warning when using an app that relies on Rosetta, so you know the app won’t continue to work in the future without a developer update. You can also see which apps are affected by going to Settings > General > About > Intel-based apps, then clicking Details.
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