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Every answer Vernacular can give

The 7 verdicts Vernacular can give, what each one means and what to do, with every note, part and add-on it explains.

This list is made from the same file the app ships, so it is always exactly what Vernacular says. Where a sentence names something on your Mac, an example stands in: Wayfarer for an app, 3.2 for a version, June 2019 for a date.

The answer at the top

  • “All 40 of your apps will keep working after macOS 27. Nothing to do.” Nothing needs you.
  • “37 of your 40 apps will keep working. Three things need you.” At least one app needs you.
  • “All 40 of your apps will keep working after macOS 27. Three things need you.” No app needs you, but an add-on does.
  • “Reading 12 of 40 apps.” While a read runs.
  • “Rosetta isn’t installed on this Mac, so an Intel app asks to install it before it opens.” Under the answer, when Rosetta isn’t installed on this Mac.
  • “This Mac has an Intel processor, so it runs Intel apps natively. This check is about Macs with Apple silicon.” On a Mac with an Intel processor, in place of the answer.

Every verdict

Each app and add-on gets one of these, with its label in capitals, its sentence, and what to do.

RUNS NATIVELY

“Runs natively. Nothing to do.”

Every part that runs on this Mac is made for Apple silicon. Intel files with an Apple silicon copy beside them, or tools deep inside the app that macOS never runs as part of it, don’t count. Its lane says “Carry on.”

OPENS AFTER macOS 27 · TWO PARTS WON’T

“Runs natively, but its login helper and Share extension are Intel only. After macOS 27 the app opens; those two parts won’t.”

The app itself runs natively, but a part it declares, with no Apple silicon copy beside it, is made only for Intel processors. Its lane says “Opens. Its login helper and Share extension stop here.”

What to do:

  1. Choose Check for Updates in Wayfarer, or look on the developer’s site. Or, for an app from the App Store: update it from the App Store when a new version arrives.
  2. Read again here. A new version shows as running natively.

WON’T OPEN AFTER macOS 27

“Wayfarer is made only for Macs with Intel processors. It runs today through Rosetta. In macOS 28 it won’t open.”

The app’s main program is made only for Intel processors. Its lane says “Stops: Intel only.”

What to do:

  1. Choose Check for Updates in Wayfarer, or look on the developer’s site. Or, for an app from the App Store: update it from the App Store when a new version arrives.
  2. Read again here. A new version shows as running natively.
  3. If there isn’t one, it keeps working while this Mac stays on macOS 27.

WON’T RUN AFTER macOS 27

“This printer driver is made only for Intel processors. It runs today through Rosetta. The printer won’t print from this Mac.”

A program in a driver, plug-in, helper or background service is made only for Intel processors. Its lane says “Stops: the printer driver is Intel only.”

What to do:

  1. Look on the maker’s site for a driver made for Macs with Apple silicon, and install it. For a plug-in, helper or background service: look on the maker’s site for a version made for Macs with Apple silicon, and install it.
  2. Read again here. A new version shows as running natively.
  3. If there isn’t one, it keeps working while this Mac stays on macOS 27.

A GAME · INTEL ONLY

“Apple will keep part of Rosetta for certain older games. It hasn’t said which, so Wayfarer may or may not keep working.”

The app is made only for Intel processors and says it’s a game. Apple hasn’t said which games it means, so Vernacular never guesses. Its lane says “May stop: a game, Intel only.”

What to do:

  1. Choose Check for Updates in Wayfarer, or look on the developer’s site. Or, for an app from the App Store: update it from the App Store when a new version arrives.
  2. Read again here. A new version shows as running natively.
  3. If there isn’t one, it keeps working while this Mac stays on macOS 27.

ALREADY CAN’T OPEN

“Made for 32-bit Macs. It hasn’t been able to open since macOS 10.15, so nothing changes for it now.”

It’s made only for 32-bit Macs, or for PowerPC. Its lane says “Stopped at macOS 10.15. Nothing changes for it.”

What to do:

  1. Keep it or move it to the Trash: your call.

CAN’T TELL

“Vernacular couldn’t read this one. Add its folder to read it, or check its Get Info window.”

Vernacular couldn’t open the file, or it’s made for another kind of processor. Never a guess. Its lane says “Couldn’t be read.”

Notes under a verdict

  • “Built in June 2019 against macOS 10.15. If there’s a newer version, it isn’t on this Mac.” This copy was built more than 5 years ago: by the date it was signed, else its program’s file date, else the macOS it was built against.
  • “You have two copies: 3.2 here and 3.1 in Old versions.” The same app is in more than one place.
  • “You also have two builds of Wayfarer from your own projects, outside Applications.” Builds of the app from your own projects are on this Mac.
  • “It’s made for Intel processors, and this Mac has one, so it runs natively here. Apple’s change to Rosetta is for Macs with Apple silicon.” On a Mac with an Intel processor, in place of the verdict for anything made only for Intel processors.
  • “Open right now through Rosetta.” The app is open through Rosetta while Vernacular reads.
  • “Open right now through Rosetta. It has an Apple silicon version, so it’s probably set to Open using Rosetta in Get Info; Apple says that’s for older plug-ins.” The same, for an app that has an Apple silicon version too.
  • “Wayfarer has a separate download for Macs with Apple silicon. Updating this copy may keep the Intel one, so download it from the developer’s site.” Vernacular knows the app has one download for Intel and another for Apple silicon.
  • “Wayfarer has run natively since version 3.2.” Vernacular knows the version that first ran natively, from the maker’s own pages.

Since the last read

With the unlock, these appear on the Overview after a read. What changed since the last read

  • “Wayfarer runs natively now, in version 1.9.” Something that needed you runs natively now.
  • “New since the last read: Wayfarer. Stops: Intel only.” Something new needs you.
  • “Wayfarer is no longer on this Mac.” Something read last time isn’t there now.

Parts inside apps

What stops when a part an app declares is made only for Intel processors. Parts inside apps

  • The app itself: The app won’t open.
  • Login helper: It won’t start by itself when you log in.
  • Share extension: It won’t appear in the Share menu.
  • Finder extension: Its badges and menu items in Finder won’t appear.
  • Widget: Its widget won’t show.
  • Quick Look preview: Pressing Space won’t preview its files.
  • Spotlight importer: Spotlight won’t find text inside its files.
  • Extension: The feature it adds won’t work.
  • Plug-in: The feature it adds won’t load.
  • Helper: The feature it helps with won’t work.
  • Background service: The work it does in the background won’t happen.
  • System extension: The device or network feature it adds won’t load.
  • Updater: It won’t be able to update itself; update it by hand.
  • Built-in library: The parts that use it won’t work.

Add-ons

What stops when an add-on is made only for Intel processors.

Printers and scanners

  • A printer driver: The printer won’t print from this Mac. Its label: WON’T PRINT AFTER macOS 27. Its lane: “Stops: the printer driver is Intel only.”
  • A scanner driver: The scanner won’t send pages to this Mac. Its label: WON’T SCAN AFTER macOS 27. Its lane: “Stops: the scanner driver is Intel only.”

Audio plug-ins

  • An audio plug-in: Music apps won’t load it. Its label: WON’T RUN AFTER macOS 27. Its lane: “Stops: the audio plug-in is Intel only.”
  • An audio driver: The audio device it drives won’t appear. Its label: WON’T RUN AFTER macOS 27. Its lane: “Stops: the audio driver is Intel only.”

Helpers

  • A helper: The app that installed it can’t do the jobs that need it. Its label: WON’T RUN AFTER macOS 27. Its lane: “Stops: the helper is Intel only.”
  • A kernel extension: It won’t load. Rosetta has never run kernel extensions. So on a Mac with Apple silicon one made only for Intel processors already can’t load: ALREADY CAN’T OPEN, “Already doesn’t load on Apple silicon.”
  • A settings pane: Its pane in System Settings won’t open. Its label: WON’T RUN AFTER macOS 27. Its lane: “Stops: the settings pane is Intel only.”
  • A screen saver: It won’t show. Its label: WON’T RUN AFTER macOS 27. Its lane: “Stops: the screen saver is Intel only.”
  • An input method: You won’t be able to type with it. Its label: WON’T RUN AFTER macOS 27. Its lane: “Stops: the input method is Intel only.”

Background services

  • A background service: The work it does in the background won’t happen. Its label: WON’T RUN AFTER macOS 27. Its lane: “Stops: the background service is Intel only.”

How the lanes read

On the Overview each thing that needs you has a lane from now, on macOS 27, across a dashed line for macOS 28. Everything that runs natively shares one thick band. The roll and the crossing

  • Carries on past the line: runs natively. “Carry on.”
  • Carries on, with a mark at the line: the app opens, but parts of it stop. “Opens. Its login helper and Share extension stop here.” With one part: “Opens. Its login helper stops here.”
  • Stops at the line: “Stops: Intel only.” for an app, “Stops: the printer driver is Intel only.” for an add-on, and “May stop: a game, Intel only.” for a game.
  • A short stub at the start: it already can’t open. “Stopped at macOS 10.15. Nothing changes for it.” For a kernel extension: “Already doesn’t load on Apple silicon.”
  • No lane: Vernacular couldn’t read it. “Couldn’t be read.”

The line at the foot of every verdict

“Apple says Rosetta stays a general tool through macOS 27, and from macOS 28 runs only certain older games.” Apple’s own words opens Apple’s two statements in full. Apple’s own words on Rosetta