ArcaOS is a 32-bit OS that runs on the x86 processor architecture, so should be compatible with some particularly old PCs. Though its native file system is JFS, it ships with drivers for the FAT32.

When Apple launched macOS Mojave in 2018, it announced that it would be the last version of macOS that would support 32-bit applications. From Catalina onwards, you will no longer be able to run 2-bit apps and will have to upgrade to 64-bit versions or find alternatives.

What are 32-bit apps?

These applications date back to the days when computers ran on 32-bit processors and had 32-bit operating systems. While often described in terms of speed and power, the real difference between 32-bit and 64-bit whether it’s applications operating systems or CPUs, is the amount of memory they can address. 32-bit apps can only address 4GB of RAM, so that is the maximum amount of RAM they can use.

Why has Apple stopped supporting 32-bit apps

Apple has been using 64-bit processors in Macs for well over a decade and macOS has been 64-bit since Snow Leopard, so it was only a matter of time before the Mac became 64-bit only. That time is now. Apple believes that the apps most people use most of the time are 64-bit and those that haven’t made the leap have good 64-bit alternatives.

It has also provided plenty of warning. When you open a 32-bit app in Mojave or High Sierra for the first time, you are warned that it is 32-bit and that you should update it. That warning then appears again every month or so.

By dropping support for 32-bit apps, Apple can fully optimize macOS Catalina for 64-bit apps and focus its resources on supporting those.

Is my app 32-bit or 64-bit?

When you upgrade to Catalina, you’ll be shown a list of any 32-bit apps you have installed and that will no longer work. If you want to check before then, you have two options: one very easy and the other a little more complicated. We’ll start with the manual, more complicated method.

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1. Click on the Apple logo at the top of the screen.
2. Choose About this Mac.
3. Select System Report at the bottom of the window.
4. Click on Applications and scroll to the right until you see the column headed ’64-bit’.
5. Apps that have a yes in the column are 64-bit and will work, those with a ‘No’ are 32-bit and won’t work.

There is an easier way to check, and it’s the one I recommend because it will allow you to upgrade 32-bit apps to their 64-bit versions at the press of a button. It uses the Updater utility in CleanMyMac X — a cool program by MacPaw — and it’s so simple to use. Here’s how:

1. Install, and launch CleanMyMac X — it’s free to download
2. In the app, click on the Uninstaller tab

Now, press the “32-bit” tag in the sidebar on the left

You will see the list of your apps that will not be supported on Catalina. Some of them may already have 64-bit versions available. So instead of updating each app separately and wasting time browsing, just put the cursor on the tab below called “Updater”

Check the box next to each of the apps and press Update. The most recent versions of all the apps displayed will be installed, including 64-bit versions where they’re available.

How can I keep running 32-bit apps on macOS Catalina?

If you have 32-bit apps that you depend on and absolutely can’t use another app, and there is no 64-bit version available, you have three options.

1. Don’t upgrade to Catalina. If you carry on using Mojave, or whatever version of macOS you’re using, you will be able to keep using 32-bit apps. However, it’s unlikely that the developer of those apps will continue to update them once Catalina is launched, as fewer and fewer people will use them. For example, shortly after Apple announced Catalina, games developer Aspyr announced that it would no longer sell 32-bit games. You will also be missing out on all of the benefits of Catalina.
2. Upgrade to Catalina on your main Mac but keep another Mac running an older version of macOS. This relies on you having more than one Mac, of course. But it does mean you can enjoy the new features in Catalina and still use your old 32-bit apps. However, the same thing applies as above: your 32-bit apps are unlikely to be supported and updated for long. That includes security and compatibility updates.
3. Run Mojave in a virtual machine, such as VMWare Fusion.

What else is affected by dropping support for 32-bit?

Some media file formats won’t make the transition to 64-bit. Most of these were created using formats or codecs that rely on QuickTime 7, according to Apple. The QuickTime 7 framework is included in Mojave and its predecessors, but won’t be there in Catalina, so formats created with it won’t work. Apple has a full list of affected formats here.

That means some Final Cut Pro and Motion projects won’t be compatible. However, if you open a project with a 32-bit format, you will see a warning and will be able to convert the library to a 64-bit compatible format at the click of a button. You will also be able to convert Final Cut libraries at any time from the File menu by choosing Check Media for Compatibility. And you can convert files in Compressor.

Dropping support for 32-bit apps in macOS Catalina is part of a long transition from 32-bit to 64-bit that started with hardware and then with the OS in Snow Leopard. Apple has been supporting both for many years but has decided the time is now right to become a 64-bit only operating system. Fortunately, most apps have already migrated to 64-bit and you can update all your apps at once using CleanMyMac X’s Updater. For apps that don’t have a 64-bit version, you need to decide whether to find an alternative or not upgrade to Catalina.

These might also interest you:

The newly released version of macOS 10.15 Catalina has stopped supporting 32-bit apps completely. Well, this is nothing new for the company. The Apple website clearly states the 32-bit apps don't provide good experience as they slow down the Mac. Whereas the 64-bit apps are capable of accessing more memory, resulting in a faster response time.

Still, this is a big issue for the Mac users, as some of their favorite apps have failed to run on the latest macOS, even these apps cannot update on the new Catalina anymore. Don't worry, this article is dedicated to fixing this issue.

The Only Way to Fix the Issue - Uninstall the Apps and Their Configuration Files

Well, the best way to get rid of this issue will be to uninstall these apps. You need to safely uninstall the 32-bit applications and their related components and files. As we all know uninstallation on a Mac is bot a difficult thing but it's a bit tricky to uninstall safely and thoroughly.

There are 2 effective ways to perform the uninstallation. You can do it via a 3rd party app, which will be smart and hassle-free. Another way involves doing the same manually. This one will be a bit tricky and risky as well.

Way 1: Uninstall the Apps with Third-Party Tool

Just like we mentioned above, if you want to uninstall the applications on Mac correctly, then Umate Mac Cleaner is a very effective tool designed for all Mac users. This is an all-in-one Mac manager which includes features of cleanup and management. Here we are going to learn the feature of manage all the apps on Mac and its reasons for why we recommend it.

• It can smartly find out all the apps on your Mac, and filter those apps will influence the running if your system.
• All the apps can be sorted by Size, Name, Install Date or even the Using Frequency.
• It can help you filter out apps you haven't used in a long time so that you can free up some space for your Mac instantly.
• You can uninstall the apps in single or bunch.

After we have learned these wonderful features of Umate Mac Cleaner, then let's look at the steps to perform it:

Step 1: Download and install 'Umate Mac Cleaner' on your Mac and launch it.

Step 2: On the app panel, just click 'Manage the Applications & Extensions' tab. After that, click on 'View Items' under 'Uninstall Applications'. All the apps present on your Mac will be displayed along with their additional details.

Step 3: Now, click on the 'Uninstall' button beside the apps you want to remove from your Mac.

This is the most effective way to uninstall 32-bit apps and its associated files from your Mac. It will not cause any confusion for you and any damage to your Mac's running.

Way 2: Uninstall the 32-Bit Apps Manually

If you are trying to manually uninstall apps on Mac, there are 3 different ways to execute the uninstallation. Of course, the manual way can be relatively complex.

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2.1 Uninstall by Dragging the Apps to Trash Bin

Dragging the apps to the trash is the simplest way of getting rid of them. But you should note that: For apps that have profiles that cannot be manually deleted, the way to drag then to Trash bin cannot solve the issue for you. More likely, this will cause your system to run incorrectly.

Step 1: Go to the 'Dock' and find the 'Application' folder.

Step 2: Locate the app icon, click and hold the icon. Then drag it to the 'Trash' icon and release.

Step 3: Now, enter 'Trash' and click 'Empty'.

2.2 Delete the Apps in Launchpad

You can also delete apps using Launchpad on your Mac. The steps are pretty simple:

Step 1: Run Launchpad on your Mac.

Step 2: Now, locate the app you want to uninstall. Then click and hold on the icon app you want to remove. The app icon will start to jiggle.

Step 3: At the top of the icon, a black X icon will appear; click on it. Then, just click 'Delete' and the program will be removed.

There is another way to remove files from Mac. Take look at rest of the article below.

2.3 Uninstall the Apps by Removing the Configuration Files on Finder

We know that, to delete an app is actually to delete the related configuration files. This way is tell you how to remove the configuration files via Finder.

Step 1: Run Finder on your Mac and navigate to 'Applications' folder and click on the app you want to uninstall.

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Step 2: Look for the app you want to remove and make a right-click on it. Select 'Move To Trash' from the drop menu.

Step 3: After that, navigate to trash bin and make a right-click on it. Select 'Empty Trash'.

Comparison of the 2 Ways

We have discussed 2 different ways to uninstall apps and their associated files on Mac. The first one involves a professional app that is easy to use. It removes the said app and its associated files with a single click.

But the manual method is a bit complicated and requires technical knowledge. It is also possible that you may delete other important files accidentally. So, the method is risky as well.

Umate Mac Cleaner	Manual Method
Ease of use	Very Easy to use	Complicated
Safety	Safe	May delete the important files accidentally
Removal	Gets removed with a single click	Manually remove every file individually

Run A Game On 32 Bit On Macos Catalina

Summary

Hence, there are no other ways than removing the 32-bit apps from your macOS Catalina. The said apps won't run and update on the new OS and they may even affect the running of your system. So, you can manually delete them one by one like other users. But using Umate Mac Cleaner tool will be quite a bit of help as it is effective and offers fast single click cleanups.