Intel-based Mac: How to tell if an application is Universal

Are you wondering whether your application is running with Rosetta or not? Its easy to figure out if you have a Universal version of an application. Here's how:

  1. In the Finder, click once on the application icon, so it's highlighted.
  2. From the File menu, choose Get Info.
  3. Find the section labelled General and toggle the triangle, if necessary, to open this section.
  4. On the Kind line, Universal applications appear as "Application (Universal)", like in the example below.

If your application is Universal but you want it to run with Rosetta, note that there is a checkbox that says "Open using Rosetta". This can be useful if your Universal application uses plugins that have not yet been released in a Universal format.

Published Date: Feb 19, 2012