WARNING: Not optimized for your Mac

06 March 2019
Have you seen this warning pop up on your Mac recently? If so, do you know what it means?


This app is not optimized for your Mac and needs to be updated.


If not, please keep reading to find out!

The original Macs from 1984 through the early 2000s all had 32-bit processors running 32-bit software. All modern Macs include powerful 64-bit processors, and macOS runs advanced 64-bit apps, which can access dramatically more memory and enable faster system performance than their older, slower siblings. The short of it: the more bits, the faster and more powerful your Mac is.

So why the warning? At Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2018, it informed software developers that macOS Mojave (10.14) will be the last version of macOS to run 32-bit apps.

It is widely expected that during this year's WWDC, Apple will announce macOS 10.15 and your older, 32-bit software will NOT work anymore once you've upgraded your Mac's operating system to the new 10.15 version.

As you use your Mac's programs day-to-day, please take note of any warnings you receive when you launch a particular piece of software. If you depend on that soon-to-be incompatible software, you will have three (3) options:

  1. Upgrade that particular software package to a 64-bit compatible version (if available, but some software packages will never be upgraded by the developer) or replace it with a competitor's offering that is 64-bit compatible. You can then install the latest Mac operating system.
  2. Not upgrade your Mac to the newest and not have the latest and greatest features of that operating system not to mention the latest in safety and security. You'll still be able to use your old software though!
  3. Consider having one Mac running the newest operating system and 64-bit programs as well as an older Mac for when you need to run those older applications on which you may rely.

Here are some very popular software packages that are not 64-bit compatible and will not run on macOS 10.15 when it's released:

  • Microsoft Office 2008 & 2011 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Entourage/Outlook)
  • Adobe Creative Suite CS3, CS4, CS5, CS6
  • Apple QuickTime 7 Player, iDVD, iMovie 9, iWeb
  • Apple iWork '08, '09 (older versions Pages, Numbers, Keynote)
  • FileMaker Pro 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and Bento versions (professional & consumer grade databases)
  • Quicken 2007 (financial management software)
  • Reunion 9, 10, 11 (genealogy software)
  • ScanSnap Manager (scanning software for use with Fujitsu ScanSnap scanners)

How do I check my Mac to see if an app is 32-bit or 64-bit?

Go to the Apple menu in the top, left-hand corner of your screen -> choose About This Mac -> 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 and "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.

As always, please reach out to us if you have any questions!