Rosetta 2 Mac Complete Guide (Compared with Rosetta)

Rosetta is a software translation technology introduced by Apple for its M1 chip. It enables Mac computers equipped with the M1 chip to run applications designed for the previous generation Intel processors. Rosetta automatically translates these applications into code compatible with the new ARM architecture, allowing users to run their existing Intel apps without recompiling or purchasing updated versions. When you attempt to run an app on an M1 Mac that hasn't been optimized for Apple Silicon, the system automatically downloads and installs Rosetta. This process is typically seamless, and users might not even realize they are using a translated application. Rosetta 2, which was released alongside the M1, offers significant improvements in performance and compatibility, enabling most apps to run smoothly on the new Mac hardware. In short, Rosetta is Apple's solution to ensure compatibility between its Arm-based Macs and Intel applications.

Rosetta Mac is an emulator that bridges the gap between Intel processors and Apple silicon. In short, it translates apps built for Intel processors so they can run on an Apple Silicon Mac. Rosetta Mac uses dynamic binary translation to convert x86_64 code into the Arm64 architecture used by the Apple M1 or M2 chip. Since Rosetta is developed by Apple, it's safe to use on your Mac, and you don't need to worry about any security issues.

Here's what's different between Rosetta 2 and the original Rosetta:

The key difference with Rosetta 2 is that translation happens automatically when you install an app, rather than at runtime. This improves the overall performance of the app without imposing additional processing overhead.

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How to Use Rosetta on a Mac

Now that you know what Rosetta 2 for Mac is, you don't need to open or interact with it like an app, as it runs automatically in the background when you use an app designed for Intel-based Macs. Rosetta 2 translates them into a version that's compatible with Apple Silicon. As a result, in most cases, you won't notice any difference while using them.

Mac apps that need Rosetta

Identify Mac apps that need or can use Rosetta:

Step 1: Start by choosing an app.

Step 2: Click on the “File” menu in the menu bar, and then choose the “Get Info” icon.

Click on “Get Info”.

Third, examine the type of information that has been labeled.

- (Intel) indicates that the app is designed for Intel processors and requires Rosetta to run on an M1 Mac. - (Universal) indicates that the app is designed for both Apple silicon and Intel processors, and will default to using the Apple chip. In short, a universal app doesn't need Rosetta.

For informational windows labeled “Universal,” there will be an option to “Open with Rosetta.” This allows universal apps like Safari to use plugins, extensions, or other add-ons that haven't yet been updated for Apple Silicon.

If a universal app doesn't recognize your add-on, quit the app, choose this setting, and try again.

How to Install Rosetta on an M1/M2 Mac

First, you should check if Rosetta is already installed on your Mac.

How to Check if Rosetta is Installed on Your Mac

Rosetta is not installed automatically with standard macOS installations, so you must install it separately. Conveniently, macOS will ask you if you want to install it the first time you launch an app with Intel-based functionality.

This is the Rosetta installation prompt.

Click “Install,” and enter your username and password to allow the installation to proceed. If you click “Later,” your Mac will ask you again the next time you open an app that requires Rosetta. If Rosetta is already installed, your Mac won't ask you again.

You can check if Rosetta is installed by clicking the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your Mac, selecting “About This Mac,” clicking “System Report,” and then selecting “Software” > “Installations” in the left sidebar.

Scroll down, and you should see “Rosetta Update Available,” which means that Rosetta is installed on your M1/M2 Mac.

How to Install Rosetta on a Mac

If, for any reason, your M1/M2 Mac doesn't prompt you to install Rosetta, you can also manually install it through the Terminal on your Mac.

Here are the steps to install Rosetta on an M1/M2 Mac:

Step 1: Open the Terminal on your Mac. If you don't see it in the Dock, click the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner, use Spotlight search to find "Terminal," and open it.

Step 2. Enter the following command in Terminal with root privileges: /usr/sbin/softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license.

Paste the command

Step 3: Press "Enter." Rosetta will install automatically on your M1/M2 Mac.

How to resolve the "Installing Rosetta 2 is not supported on this system" issue

Two installation errors may occur when installing Rosetta 2, and here are the fixes for unsuccessful installations:

How to fix the "Installing Rosetta 2 is not supported on this system" issue

When attempting to install Rosetta for Mac, if you encounter the error "Installing Rosetta 2 is not supported on this system," it might be because you're trying to install it on an Intel Mac that doesn't require Rosetta 2 instead of an Apple Silicon Mac. Rosetta 1 was designed for Intel Macs, while Rosetta 2 is exclusive to Apple Silicon M1 and M2 Macs.

You can check your system version in System Preferences. Rosetta 2 is available only on macOS Big Sur or later. If your Mac is running an earlier version of macOS than Big Sur, you can't install Rosetta 2.

If you're installing Rosetta 2 on an Apple Silicon Mac and still see the error message “Installing Rosetta 2 is not supported on this system,” you might have a checked Use Rosetta checkbox in Terminal. To uncheck it:

Step 1: Right-click the Terminal app in your Dock or Applications folder.

Step two: Choose Get Info, and then deselect the Use Rosetta checkbox.

Step 3: Try installing Rosetta again in the terminal.

How to Fix the 'Update Unavailable' Issue with Rosetta 2

Rosetta 2 is necessary to run older, non-native Intel x86 apps on new Apple Silicon Macs, such as the M1 version of the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Mini, and so on. You should know that these Macs do not come with Rosetta 2 installed by default. Therefore, if you want to run these applications, you will need to install Rosetta 2 on your Apple Silicon Mac yourself.

In most cases, you can install Rosetta by entering the command `softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license`. Occasionally, you might see a message saying “Rosetta 2 update is not available.” You can use a script to check whether Rosetta is working correctly.

If you see a message that says “Update not available with current language,” and you're still connected to the Internet, it means that your Mac came with Rosetta 2 preinstalled.

Conclusions

Rosetta is an emulator that translates apps built for Intel Macs so they can run on an Apple Silicon Mac. The first time you try to open an Intel-based app, macOS asks if you want to install Rosetta. You need Rosetta to run older, non-native Intel x86 apps on a new Apple Silicon Mac.