What To Do About 32-Bit Apps Before Updating To macOS Catalina
After updating to macOS Catalina, old 32-bit apps will not longer work. If you have an old 32-bit app, then before updating, you should update your app or switch to a new one. Most apps have newer versions that professionals should consider buying. If you are using the app for casual purposes, then consider getting a modern alternative to apps like Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop. These will be cheaper or free, and will probably be much better than using an old outdated pro app. You can also keep an old Mac around to run 32-bit apps. Experts can partition their drive, use an external drive, or a virtual machine to run Mojave or earlier in some situations.
Comments: 25 Responses to “What To Do About 32-Bit Apps Before Updating To macOS Catalina”
Fred
2 years ago
I use an open source copy buffer app (allows me to copy several items then paste w/o going back to each original source). It’s called Jumpcut and is 32 bit. It works great but don’t know if it will be updated to 64. So…Gary…I’m wondering if you have any replacement recommendations?
Fred: There are many great clipboard managers in the Mac App Store. Just read about features and choose one. I use CloudClip currently. Flycut is derived from the code of JumpCut.
Mark T Davis
2 years ago
There is a free program to check your current Apps to see if there are any that will not be able to update to 64 bit when Catalina arrives. It is GO64. Here is a link to download GO64: https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/index.html
Mark: it is pretty easy to do without needing to install anything. Plus, Mojave has been warning you now for 9 months when you try to use 32-bit apps.
Laraine
2 years ago
Photoshop CS6 is 64 bit, so if (like me) you’re stuck on that it will still work. But InDesign CS6 isn’t 64 bit so I will need to find a replacement for that. Once I’m no longer able to use CS6 it’s goodbye Adobe. I have no time for software developers who insist I rent their stuff. Like Gary, I have a scanner that’s over 7 years old (CanoScan 8400F, about 12 years old). I bet you use VueScan, Gary. The professional version cost me NZ$99 and there was no way I could get a decent scanner for that
David Mackay
2 years ago
I went into the System report and have lots of 32 bit programs listed under applications – some have already been updated – how do I get rid of these old legacy programs?
David: When you look at that System Report you will see lots of extensions, drivers, and odds-and-ends that show as 32-bit. Don’t worry about them. Instead, look in your Applications folder (or LaunchPad) at apps you really do use. Worry about those.
J
2 years ago
My biggest concern is Rocksmith. Not many other options out there for that and the publisher is staying mum on the idea of an upgrade. Performance is critical so not really looking forward to using in a vm.
Ruth Jessop (Eleanor Ruth Jessop)
2 years ago
Hi Gary, as a casual user of PSE 12 (using Photos for most of my photo editing) is Gimp a useful free alternative for PSE 12 once it is no longer supported
Ruth: I find GIMP to be pretty complicated and difficult to use. But it is free so why not just give it a try. You could always update to the latest Photoshop Elements. If you are still on 12 that means you got 7 years out of that one. If you like it why not get the latest? Or, go with Pixelmator, Acorn or Affinity?
Jerry
2 years ago
Hi Gary. Another useful video, memories of Rosetta I’ve updated the Apps I want to keep using and don’t care too much about the rest
I have only been doing Upgrades for the OS so I’m carrying lots of old baggage on the hard drive
Will macOX 10.15 delete the 32 bit app files (doubt it) or will they remain scattered all over the hard drive?
Do you have a recommendation on how to get rid of the 32 bit clutter and a document to reference on the process
Thanks. Jerry
John Carter
2 years ago
Jerry, I use CleanMyMac X for deleting applications. If you don’t really care if some files are left around, then Appcleaner is free for only deleting apps.
Jerry: No, Catalina won’t delete them. They will remain right where they are. In some cases awaiting updates. In other cases you may want to delete them — use the app developer’s uninstall instructions, or LaunchPad for Mac App Store apps to delete. I don’t use “uninstaller” apps. Good apps won’t have any clutter (just an app in the Applications folder). Others may put things in the Library folder, but following the instructions or using the official uninstaller will clean that up.
J. Burcsu
2 years ago
I’ve used Quicken 2007 (a 32 bit app) and its predecessors for more yeas than I can count. Is there a way to continue using it with Catalina and beyond?
J. Burcsu: Update to a newer version of Quicken, switch to their online service, or find an alternative app if you no longer like Quicken.
L'Huillier Paul
2 years ago
Hi Gary
Can you please give a heads up on [Experts can partition their drive, use an external drive, or a virtual machine to run Mojave or earlier in some situations]. That is, how to partition a drive and have a pre-Mojave OS installed on it so I can still use InDesign CS6 (32bit). I already have InDesign CS6 installed on the MacBook Pro but of course I cannot use it with Mojave. Help appreciated. Paul L’Huillier – Australia
L’Huillier: First, why can’t you use InDesign with Mojave? Mojave runs 32-bit apps just fine. You get a warning when you first run it, but that is all. As for partitioning your drive to dual-boot Mojave and Catalina (in the future) that really is an expert process. You’d need to triple-backup everything, wipe the drive, install each OS, etc. Plus it wouldn’t work if you need to use InDesign often. It is really a solution if you, say, need to open a file with an old app here and there to export or convert something. So I wouldn’t say this is a good solution for you since you “still use” InDesign. If you still use it, why such an old version?
Carol
2 years ago
I don’t mind switching to Google docs or Pages for word processing but I am concerned about accessing the numerous files of Word docs on my 2015 MacBook Pro, many going back to my earliest Macs. Am I going to end up saving this MacBook just to get those docs, and buying a new one and abandoning Microsoft? What if I am searching for a Word doc attached to an old email, in Catalina?
Carol: Why not try it now then? Try opening up those old docs in Pages and Google Docs. Word is the most popular word processor of all time, so I’m sure there will be many ways to open up those documents for decades to come. Later on, you could always just buy a modern version of Word if it turns out to be a problem.
Carol
2 years ago
My Word docs do open in Pages, but I have not figured out how to open them in Google Docs (even though I googled it). Not mentioned by you, but I have been told by another that I should actually stop using and uninstall Office 2011 NOW because it is no longer supported and therefore unsafe. Comments? (My son says to just subscribe to Office/it’s no big deal.)
Carol: Drag and drop. Go to https://docs.google.com on the web, then drag a .doc file from a Finder window into it.
L'Huillier Paul
2 years ago
Gary thanks for straightening me out on this.
Russell Deible
2 years ago
How long can I use Mojave without upgrading to Catalina before it’s unsafe to use Mojave online? I am assuming they at some point will cutoff security patches.
Russell: Apple uses supports old versions of macOS with security updates for many years. Impossible to know the future. But even versions that have gotten no updates are often very safe.
Geoff
2 years ago
Microsoft word does not work and the update for it is the same price as the original App. Seems dishonest and unfair. apple should warn customers. Office is popular and not cheap. There are substitutes but they fall short Angry
I use an open source copy buffer app (allows me to copy several items then paste w/o going back to each original source). It’s called Jumpcut and is 32 bit. It works great but don’t know if it will be updated to 64. So…Gary…I’m wondering if you have any replacement recommendations?
Fred: There are many great clipboard managers in the Mac App Store. Just read about features and choose one. I use CloudClip currently. Flycut is derived from the code of JumpCut.
There is a free program to check your current Apps to see if there are any that will not be able to update to 64 bit when Catalina arrives. It is GO64. Here is a link to download GO64: https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/index.html
Mark: it is pretty easy to do without needing to install anything. Plus, Mojave has been warning you now for 9 months when you try to use 32-bit apps.
Photoshop CS6 is 64 bit, so if (like me) you’re stuck on that it will still work. But InDesign CS6 isn’t 64 bit so I will need to find a replacement for that. Once I’m no longer able to use CS6 it’s goodbye Adobe. I have no time for software developers who insist I rent their stuff. Like Gary, I have a scanner that’s over 7 years old (CanoScan 8400F, about 12 years old). I bet you use VueScan, Gary. The professional version cost me NZ$99 and there was no way I could get a decent scanner for that
I went into the System report and have lots of 32 bit programs listed under applications – some have already been updated – how do I get rid of these old legacy programs?
Thanks David
David: When you look at that System Report you will see lots of extensions, drivers, and odds-and-ends that show as 32-bit. Don’t worry about them. Instead, look in your Applications folder (or LaunchPad) at apps you really do use. Worry about those.
My biggest concern is Rocksmith. Not many other options out there for that and the publisher is staying mum on the idea of an upgrade. Performance is critical so not really looking forward to using in a vm.
Hi Gary, as a casual user of PSE 12 (using Photos for most of my photo editing) is Gimp a useful free alternative for PSE 12 once it is no longer supported
Ruth: I find GIMP to be pretty complicated and difficult to use. But it is free so why not just give it a try. You could always update to the latest Photoshop Elements. If you are still on 12 that means you got 7 years out of that one. If you like it why not get the latest? Or, go with Pixelmator, Acorn or Affinity?
Hi Gary. Another useful video, memories of Rosetta I’ve updated the Apps I want to keep using and don’t care too much about the rest
I have only been doing Upgrades for the OS so I’m carrying lots of old baggage on the hard drive
Will macOX 10.15 delete the 32 bit app files (doubt it) or will they remain scattered all over the hard drive?
Do you have a recommendation on how to get rid of the 32 bit clutter and a document to reference on the process
Thanks. Jerry
Jerry, I use CleanMyMac X for deleting applications. If you don’t really care if some files are left around, then Appcleaner is free for only deleting apps.
Jerry: No, Catalina won’t delete them. They will remain right where they are. In some cases awaiting updates. In other cases you may want to delete them — use the app developer’s uninstall instructions, or LaunchPad for Mac App Store apps to delete. I don’t use “uninstaller” apps. Good apps won’t have any clutter (just an app in the Applications folder). Others may put things in the Library folder, but following the instructions or using the official uninstaller will clean that up.
I’ve used Quicken 2007 (a 32 bit app) and its predecessors for more yeas than I can count. Is there a way to continue using it with Catalina and beyond?
J. Burcsu: Update to a newer version of Quicken, switch to their online service, or find an alternative app if you no longer like Quicken.
Hi Gary
Can you please give a heads up on [Experts can partition their drive, use an external drive, or a virtual machine to run Mojave or earlier in some situations]. That is, how to partition a drive and have a pre-Mojave OS installed on it so I can still use InDesign CS6 (32bit). I already have InDesign CS6 installed on the MacBook Pro but of course I cannot use it with Mojave. Help appreciated. Paul L’Huillier – Australia
L’Huillier: First, why can’t you use InDesign with Mojave? Mojave runs 32-bit apps just fine. You get a warning when you first run it, but that is all. As for partitioning your drive to dual-boot Mojave and Catalina (in the future) that really is an expert process. You’d need to triple-backup everything, wipe the drive, install each OS, etc. Plus it wouldn’t work if you need to use InDesign often. It is really a solution if you, say, need to open a file with an old app here and there to export or convert something. So I wouldn’t say this is a good solution for you since you “still use” InDesign. If you still use it, why such an old version?
I don’t mind switching to Google docs or Pages for word processing but I am concerned about accessing the numerous files of Word docs on my 2015 MacBook Pro, many going back to my earliest Macs. Am I going to end up saving this MacBook just to get those docs, and buying a new one and abandoning Microsoft? What if I am searching for a Word doc attached to an old email, in Catalina?
Carol: Why not try it now then? Try opening up those old docs in Pages and Google Docs. Word is the most popular word processor of all time, so I’m sure there will be many ways to open up those documents for decades to come. Later on, you could always just buy a modern version of Word if it turns out to be a problem.
My Word docs do open in Pages, but I have not figured out how to open them in Google Docs (even though I googled it). Not mentioned by you, but I have been told by another that I should actually stop using and uninstall Office 2011 NOW because it is no longer supported and therefore unsafe. Comments? (My son says to just subscribe to Office/it’s no big deal.)
Carol: Drag and drop. Go to https://docs.google.com on the web, then drag a .doc file from a Finder window into it.
Gary thanks for straightening me out on this.
How long can I use Mojave without upgrading to Catalina before it’s unsafe to use Mojave online? I am assuming they at some point will cutoff security patches.
Russell: Apple uses supports old versions of macOS with security updates for many years. Impossible to know the future. But even versions that have gotten no updates are often very safe.
Microsoft word does not work and the update for it is the same price as the original App. Seems dishonest and unfair. apple should warn customers. Office is popular and not cheap. There are substitutes but they fall short Angry