How to install Rosetta

Rosetta 2 (the macOS engine for running Intel apps on Apple Silicon) is needed for some old printer drivers. Even if it was installed on your Mac previously, the upgrade to macOS 27 Golden Gate removed it for some users (me, included). If Rosetta 2 is not installed and you launch an Intel app, you’ll be prompted to install it. That is what happened here, when I launched an app that I had used frequently on Tahoe then launched for the first time after upgrading to Golden Gate.

That prompt does not happen with a printer driver. Accordingly, it may help to install Rosetta 2 using Terminal. Apple provides instructions for that HERE. Note that if this enables your old printer drivers to work, you’ve only put off the inevitable. As the dialog box above indicates, macOS 27 is the last version that will support Intel-only apps (and printer drivers). If you upgrade to macOS 28, you will need to find another solution – either a new printer (get one that supports AirPrint), or for example setting up a Raspberry Pi as a print server (not too hard and plenty of tutorials, but the cost will be similar to an inexpensive printer).

ShirleyfromDover wrote:

softwareupdate--install-rosetta but it says not found.

Correct. That is not the command. There is supposed to be a space between softwareupdate and the two dashes.

Paste this command into Terminal, then press return:

softwareupdate --install-rosetta

In the short term, put a space between softwareupdate and the dashes: softwareupdate --install-rosetta.

In the long term, if you're going to upgrade to a version past Golden Gate, you will need to find a replacement for that software.

(265319)

The OS should ask you to install Rosetta the first time you try to run an Intel-only app.

Otherwise, it's on your drive and you can run the installer manually.

/Library/Updates/Rosetta/SoftwareUpdate/RosettaUpdateAuto.pkg

You may also be referring to the general warning the OS will keep throwing at you about Intel apps. That is, Rosetta is already installed and able to run Intel apps. The warnings are to let users know there will be no support for Intel apps next fall with the release of macOS 28.

ShirleyfromDover wrote:

How do I install Rosetta so I don't lose access to my Canon printer and several other intel based apps?

Hopefully you are aware that this kicks the can down the road for a year. macOS 28 will completely remove Rosetta 2 and users will not be able to reinstall it under any conditions. If you intend to keep using those Intel based apps do not even consider upgrading to macOS 28 next year.

Kurt Lang wrote:

You may also be referring to the general warning the OS will keep throwing at you about Intel apps. That is, Rosetta is already installed and able to run Intel apps. The warnings are to let users know there will be no support for Intel apps next fall with the release of macOS 28.

It is about the same kind of warning and nag which Mojave QuickTime Player issued about soon-to-be-obsolete movie codecs.

Mojave QuickTime Player then offered to convert such movies to new codecs. Many people ignored that warning and then complained when such old movies did not play in Catalina anymore. And converting the movies was somewhat more difficult when also 32-bit 3rd party conversion apps like MPEG Streamclip no longer worked.

There’s a long and sad history of users ignoring notifications about upcoming changes. I was expecting outrage when Intel Mac owners tried to update to Golden Gate and told no go. That hasn’t happened yet but those Intel Macs are now at least six years old (Apple Silicon debuted in 2020). The big question will be how long developers will continue to make Universal apps compatible with both Intel and Apple Silicon.