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How to re-enable 32-Bit support on MacBook Air when upgrading to MacOS Monterey

Hello, I'm currently using an M2 MacBook Air, but I have an older 2019 intel MacBook Air that currently runs MacOS Mojave. I'm thinking of upgrading it to MacOS Monterey. I understand that operating systems later than MacOS Mojave no longer support 32 bit applications, but read somewhere that getting the 32 bit libraries back when or after upgrading could re-enable 32 bit support. I'd like to know how I can get the 32 bit libraries back if I upgrade my older MacBook Air from MacOS Mojave to MacOS Monterey, please. Thanks.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Air (2018 – 2020)

Posted on Mar 5, 2024 7:53 PM

Top-ranking reply

BobHarris

Level 9

55,181 points

Posted on Mar 6, 2024 2:47 PM

mrmagnetoman88 wrote:

Yes, you're right. It does seem a little risky and shouldn't be recommended. On a side note, if only, if only 32-bit support wasn't ended for newer operating systems......sigh.

Have you ever worked inside an operating system kernel?

maintaining 32-bit and 64-bit operating system API’s is a lot of work, and worrying about converting 32-bit addresses passed into the kernel to their 64-bit equivalent, and all kinds of other stuff is non-trivial.

Plus it has to be tested, which adds to the QA budget.

And fewer and fewer 32-bit apps get created.

There comes a point where it is time to move on.

Apple started telegraphing its intent to go 64-bit at least 10 years before they did.

Then they switched the iPhone and iPad to 64-bit.

But some developers did not get the message, and still compiled for 32-bits. And I’m not talking about small independent developers. Microsoft Office got caught when the switch happened.

Apple tried to get developers to switch early, apparently 10 years was not enough time.

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How to re-enable 32-Bit support on MacBook Air when upgrading to MacOS Monterey

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