macOS 27 Golden Gate: which Macs get it and what to do if yours is Intel

Apple released macOS 27 Golden Gate on September 14, 2026, alongside iOS 27. The big change for owners of older Macs: this is the first version that doesn’t run on Intel Macs. Only Macs with Apple silicon (M1 or later) get it.

In this article

1. Macs compatible with macOS 27
2. How to tell whether your Mac has Apple silicon or Intel
3. How to update
4. What’s new
5. I have an Intel Mac. Now what?
6. New Mac mini and Mac Studio
7. Sources

Macs compatible with macOS 27

• MacBook Air with M1 (2020) or later, and MacBook Neo.
• MacBook Pro with M1 (2020) or later.
• iMac with M1 (2021) or later.
• Mac mini with M1 (2020) or later.
• Mac Studio (2022 or later).
• Mac Pro (2023).

How to tell whether your Mac has Apple silicon or Intel

1. Click the Apple menu (top-left corner) › About This Mac.
2. Look at the line just below the model name. If it says Chip: Apple M1, M2, M3…, the Mac gets macOS 27. If it says Processor: Intel…, it doesn’t.

How to update

1. Back up with Time Machine or copy your important files (see the 3-2-1 backup rule).
2. Plug the Mac in and keep at least about 30 GB free.
3. Open System Settings › General › Software Update and click Update Now.

What’s new

• Siri AI: a new, more conversational Siri built into Spotlight search. It launches in English; Apple announced Portuguese and Spanish for October.
• Parental controls with time limits by category (games, social media, entertainment).
• Performance improvements and new photo editing tools.

I have an Intel Mac. Now what?

• It keeps working normally on its current version (macOS 26 Tahoe or earlier).
• Apple usually keeps shipping security updates for previous versions for a while, but doesn’t publish a timeline. Keep automatic updates on.
• Over time, browsers and apps drop support for older versions. If the Mac is used for work, banking and customer data, plan a replacement.

New Mac mini and Mac Studio

On September 22, Apple started selling the Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro chips, from $899, and the Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra, from $2,499. The M6 Mac mini starts with 16 GB of memory.

Sources

• Apple Newsroom — major software updates now available
• Apple Support — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers
• Apple Support — how to upgrade to macOS 27
• Apple Newsroom — new Mac mini and Mac Studio

Cover image: Apple press image.