How to Check If a Mac App Is Apple Silicon or Intel

When Apple moved the Mac from Intel processors to its own Apple silicon chips, it created two kinds of apps. Some apps are built to run natively on Apple silicon, some were built only for Intel, and some contain code for both. That difference matters. A native app usually opens faster, uses less battery, and feels smoother. An Intel app can still work on a newer Mac, but it needs help from a translation layer, and that can cost you speed.

If your Mac has an M1, M2, M3, or M4 chip and an app feels slow or drains the battery, first check what kind of app it is. Activity Monitor gives you that answer in less than a minute.

Quick Answer

Open Activity Monitor from Applications, then Utilities, select the CPU tab, and look at the Kind column. It will say Apple silicon for a native app, Intel for an older app running through Rosetta, or Universal if you check the app in Finder. If the Kind column is hidden, right-click any column heading and tick Kind to show it.

Why the Kind of App Matters on Your Mac

Apple silicon is the family of chips Apple designs itself, starting with the M1 in 2020. Before that, every Mac used an Intel processor. Software has to match the processor it was written for, or it has to be translated on the fly.

Apps labelled Apple silicon were built for the new chips. They use the hardware directly, so they get the full benefit of the fast performance cores and the efficient cores that save battery. Apps labelled Intel were built for the older chips. On an Apple silicon Mac, they run through Rosetta 2, a built-in translator that converts Intel instructions as the app runs.

Rosetta works well, and many people never notice it. Still, translation uses extra memory and power. For light tasks the difference is small. For video editing, large spreadsheets, or games, a native version can be noticeably faster and quieter.

How to Check an App in Activity Monitor

Activity Monitor is the most reliable way to check an app that is currently running, because it shows what code is actually being used right now. Follow these steps:

1. Open the app you want to check and leave it running. If it is not running, Activity Monitor cannot show its type.
2. Open Finder, go to Applications, then open the Utilities folder, and double-click Activity Monitor. You can also press Command and Space, type Activity Monitor, and press Return.
3. Click the CPU tab at the top of the Activity Monitor window.
4. Look for the Kind column on the right side of the list. Find your app in the Process Name column and read across to Kind.
5. Read the result. Apple silicon means the app is running natively. Intel means the app is running through Rosetta translation.

If you do not see a Kind column, do not worry. It is sometimes hidden by default or pushed out of view when the window is narrow. Right-click, or Control-click, on any column heading such as Process Name or CPU Time, and select Kind from the small menu that appears. You can also drag the edge of the window wider to reveal more columns.

Click the Kind heading once to group Apple silicon and Intel processes together, so you can see at a glance which open apps still use translation.

How to Check an App Without Opening It

Sometimes you want to check an app before you launch it, or check several apps at once. Finder gives you a simple way to do this with the Get Info window.

1. Open Finder and go to the Applications folder.
2. Right-click, or Control-click, on the app and choose Get Info, or select the app and press Command and I.
3. Look under the General section near the top of the info window.
4. Read the Kind line. It will say Application (Apple silicon), Application (Intel), or Application (Universal).

Universal is a special case. A Universal app contains both versions inside one file. On an Apple silicon Mac it runs the native code, and on an Intel Mac it runs the Intel code. In Activity Monitor, a Universal app will normally appear as Apple silicon, because that is the code it is using on your machine.

The Get Info window holds one more useful clue. For some apps you will see a checkbox labelled Open using Rosetta. If that box is ticked, the app is being forced to run the Intel version even when a native version exists. People sometimes tick it to make an old plug-in work. If you do not need that plug-in anymore, unticking the box and relaunching the app can give you native performance again.

How to See All Your Apps at Once in System Information

Checking apps one by one is fine for a single problem, but if you want a full list, use System Information. This method shows every application installed on your Mac, including ones that are not running.

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Hold the Option key and click System Information, which replaces About This Mac while the key is held.
3. In the sidebar, under Software, click Applications.
4. Wait a few seconds for the list to load, then look at the Kind column. You may need to widen the window or scroll sideways to see it.
5. Click the Kind heading to sort the list and group Apple silicon, Intel, and Universal apps together.

Note the Intel apps you use weekly and check each developer’s site for a newer version. Apple’s own Apple guide to identifying apps built for Apple silicon confirms the same Kind labels. Our guide on how to check CPU usage on a Mac shows which apps use the most power.

What to Do When an App Is Still Intel

Finding an Intel label is not an emergency. The app will keep working through Rosetta for now. Treat the result as information, not a warning, and work through these options in order:

• Check for an update inside the app. Open the app’s settings or its name menu and look for Check for Updates. Many developers released native versions without changing the app name.
• Download a fresh copy. If the app came from a website, download the latest installer. Some sites offer separate Apple silicon and Intel downloads, so choose the one that matches your chip.
• Check the Mac App Store. Apps from the App Store update automatically, and most are now Universal, so reinstalling from there can fix an old copy.
• Keep using Rosetta if you must. If the developer has stopped updating the app and you still need it, keep using it. Performance may be acceptable for light work.
• Look for an alternative. For apps that have been abandoned, a native alternative often exists and may even be free.

If Rosetta has never been installed, macOS will offer to install it the first time you open an Intel app. That prompt is normal and safe. Accept it and the app will open.

Common Mistakes and Useful Tips

The most common mistake is checking an app that is not running and wondering why it does not appear in Activity Monitor. Activity Monitor only lists live processes. Use the Get Info method for apps that are closed.

Another mistake is assuming Intel always means slow. Plenty of Intel apps run perfectly well through Rosetta, especially text-based tools and smaller utilities. Only replace an app if you notice a real problem, or if the developer has clearly stopped supporting it.

Do not delete an app just because it is Universal and takes up more space. Universal files are larger because they hold two versions, but that size difference is modest on a modern drive, and the app still runs natively on your Mac.

A useful tip is to check after every major macOS update, because developers often ship native versions alongside a new system release. A two-minute check twice a year keeps your list current.

Conclusion

Checking whether a Mac app is Apple silicon or Intel takes less than a minute. Activity Monitor shows the Kind for any running app, Finder shows it for any installed app, and System Information lists everything at once. Native and Universal apps give the best speed and battery life, while Intel apps still work through Rosetta.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an Intel app damage an Apple silicon Mac?

No. Running an Intel app through Rosetta does not damage your Mac or its chip. It may use a little more battery and memory than a native app, and it might run slightly slower, but it is a supported and safe way to use older software.

Why does Activity Monitor not show the Kind column?

The column may be hidden or outside the visible area of the window. Right-click any column heading in Activity Monitor and select Kind to add it. Widening the window or scrolling sideways in the list also helps reveal it.

What is the difference between Universal and Apple silicon?

An Apple silicon app contains only code for Apple’s chips. A Universal app contains code for both Apple silicon and Intel in one file, so it runs natively on either kind of Mac. On your M-series Mac, both types give native performance.

Can I force a Universal app to run as Intel?

Yes, for some apps. In Finder, select the app, press Command and I, and tick Open using Rosetta in the Get Info window. People do this to use old plug-ins. Untick the box and relaunch the app to return to native performance.

How do I know which chip my Mac has?

Click the Apple menu and choose About This Mac. The overview shows the chip name, such as Apple M2, on newer models, or the processor name, such as Intel Core i5, on older models. That tells you which kind of app your Mac runs natively, and you can confirm the details on the Apple page about Mac computers with Apple silicon.