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What Does It Mean That “App” Is Not Optimized For Your Mac?

If you are a MacOS user, you most likely have a pop up message on your mac recently stating, “This app will not work with future versions of macOS and needs to be updated to improve compatibility. Contact the developer for more information.

Image from apple website containing the message: "App" is not optimized for your Mac and needs to be updated. This app will not work with future versions of macOS and needs to be updated to improve compatibility. Contact the developer for more information.
Pop up you get whenever you run an app that’s not 64-bit on your Mac.

Despite the fact that the frequency of those messages is a bit exasperating, you need to pay attention to the issue they raise.

Apple is switching to an all 64-bit platform starting with macOS Catalina. All applications that are of the 32-bit kind will not be compatible with Apple’s operating system past the macOS Mojave (Version 10.14)

Is There Anything I Need To Do About Mac OS Transition To 64-bit Only OS?

It is imperative that you make sure your essential applications are compatible with future versions of macOS. Applications like your word processor, your code editor, your remote desktop application, your virtual machine platform are only a few examples you need to verify they are compatible.

If you use your Mac for making, producing, editing, and potentially even playing music, this is a very important notification for you. Please make sure your application is 64-bit compatible or do not upgrade to any macOS past Mojave until your applications are 64-bit ready. Pro-Tools-Experts suggests a list of press releases and announcements from music application vendors and producers warning their users not to upgrade to macOS Catalina just yet.

How Do I Find Out Which Applications Are 32-bit or 64-bit On My Mac?

The process is quite easy to find out which applications on your Mac are 32-bit or 64-bit. In a helpful guide, Apple suggests:

  • From the Apple menu, choose About This Mac,
  • then click the System Report button.
  • From the system report, scroll down to Software in the sidebar,
  • then select Applications.
  • When you select an individual application, you will see a field titled 64-bit (Intel). “Yes” indicates 64-bit; “No” indicates 32-bit.

If you’re using macOS Mojave, select Legacy Software in the sidebar to see all applications that have not been updated to use 64-bit processes.

We hope that you will now prepare for the new all 64-bit era with more confidence! Please ask us directly if any questions on Twitter @RafikiTechno or directly on this blog through our contact form.