Last updated: October 2026
You update your Mac. Everything looks normal. Your applications open, your files are where you left them, and your day carries on as usual.
Then you hit Print.
And suddenly, your printer has other plans.
With the release of macOS 27 Golden Gate, Apple is taking another major step toward an Apple silicon-only future.
macOS 27 is the final major macOS release with general-purpose Rosetta support. Starting with macOS 28, most Intel-only applications and components will no longer work.
For most users, that transition may happen quietly in the background.
For some businesses, though, it could eventually show up in an unexpected place: printing.
Some print drivers and related components still rely on Intel-based software and Rosetta. And because Rosetta may not automatically remain installed when upgrading to macOS 27, those dependencies can create printing problems after an update.
Before upgrading your business Macs to macOS 27, here’s what you need to know — and what you can do to make sure your printers are ready.
Compatibility note: macOS 27 compatibility is still evolving. The information below reflects available manufacturer guidance and Applied Innovation’s testing at the time of publication. Driver and software support may change as manufacturers release updates.
What Is Rosetta, and Why Does It Matter for Printing?
If you don’t know what Rosetta is, you’re probably not alone.
Rosetta is essentially a translator. It allows Macs with Apple silicon to run applications and components that were originally designed for Intel-based Macs.
That matters because some applications, and more importantly for this conversation, some print drivers and related components, still rely on Intel-based software.
Apple has confirmed that macOS 27 is the final major macOS release with general-purpose Rosetta support. Starting with macOS 28, most Intel-only applications and components will no longer work.
That makes macOS 27 a good time for businesses to identify anything that still depends on Rosetta and start moving toward Apple silicon-compatible versions.
How to Find Intel-Based Applications on macOS 27
Thankfully, you don’t have to guess.
Apple has made it easier to identify Intel-based applications in macOS 27.
On your Mac:
- Open System Settings.
- Select General.
- Select About.
- In the macOS section, look for Intel-based Apps and select Details.
You’ll see a list of recently used Intel-based applications and apps installed in common locations.
You can also use Activity Monitor to see which applications are currently running as Intel-based processes.
If you find Intel applications, those are the ones you’ll want to investigate and, when possible, update to Apple silicon or Universal versions.
But applications are only half of the equation.
How to Check Your Print Drivers for Rosetta Dependencies
This is where things get a little more technical, but there is a way to check.
PaperCut has provided an audit script that can scan your Mac for print queues and drivers that depend on Rosetta.
To run the audit:
- Download the PaperCut audit script and save it to your Downloads folder.
- Open the Terminal application.
- Give the script permission to run by entering:
chmod +x ~/Downloads/papercut_rosetta_audit.sh
Run the script with administrator privileges:
sudo ~/Downloads/papercut_rosetta_audit.sh
You’ll be prompted to enter your Mac password.
The scan may take a minute or two. Once it finishes, you’ll see a file named:
rosetta_print_audit_report.csv
The file will be saved to your Desktop.
Open the report and look for anything marked INTEL (ROSETTA DEPENDENT).
If you see that flag, the print queue or driver currently relies on Rosetta. It may continue working on macOS 27 with Rosetta installed, but it should be updated or replaced before moving to macOS 28.
Not exactly how you planned to spend your afternoon? We get it. Applied’s technology team can help evaluate your environment and determine what needs attention.
Will Print Management Software Work With macOS 27?
The good news is that many commonly used print management platforms are already updating their applications for Apple silicon.
PaperCut Print Deploy
PaperCut has released Apple silicon-ready versions of its software, including Print Deploy.
One important catch: if you’re relying on an automatic update, PaperCut recommends allowing that update to happen before upgrading to macOS 27. An older Intel-based component may require Rosetta to run the update itself.
uniFLOW Online
The uniFLOW Online application can also update automatically. However, your service provider should make sure the latest compatible version of the application has been published and is available to your devices.
PrinterLogic
PrinterLogic provides a self-service portal that can identify an Intel-based version of its application and prompt users to upgrade. The portal can be accessed through the PrinterLogic icon in your Mac’s menu bar.
For IT teams managing these applications through mobile device management (MDM), now is also a good time to review deployment resources and make sure future installations use Apple silicon-compatible versions.
Printer Drivers May Still Be the Problem
Even if your print management application is ready for macOS 27, the individual printer driver still needs to be compatible.
And compatibility can vary by manufacturer and even by device or driver version.
That’s why we recommend checking the latest manufacturer guidance for your specific printer model rather than assuming an entire brand is compatible.
Ricoh
At the time of our testing, we found compatibility limitations with some Ricoh drivers on macOS 27.
If your existing Ricoh driver depends on Rosetta, one temporary option may be to reinstall Rosetta on macOS 27. Depending on your device and printing needs, Apple’s built-in Generic PostScript (PS) driver may also provide basic printing functionality.
Keep in mind that using a generic driver may mean losing access to device-specific features such as finishing options, accounting features or advanced print settings.
Because driver support can change, check the latest Ricoh compatibility information for your specific model before upgrading.
Canon
Applied’s early testing found that the Canon drivers we tested continued to work on macOS 27, including both basic and advanced print jobs.
However, that doesn’t mean every Canon device or driver is automatically compatible.
Our testing is limited to the devices and configurations we’ve evaluated, so organizations should verify compatibility for their specific Canon models before completing a widespread macOS 27 rollout.
What If Your Printer Stops Working After the macOS 27 Upgrade?
There is still a safety net.
Apple says Rosetta remains available on macOS 27. However, if Rosetta was installed before the upgrade, it may not automatically be restored afterward.
If an application or print driver still requires Rosetta, you can reinstall it.
Open Terminal and run:
softwareupdate --install-rosetta
Then follow the onscreen instructions.
PaperCut also documents the following command for administrators who need to accept the license automatically:
softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license
That may get an Intel-dependent application or print driver working again on macOS 27.
But it shouldn’t be viewed as the long-term fix.
Apple has confirmed that macOS 27 is the final major macOS release with general-purpose Rosetta support. Starting with macOS 28, most Intel-only applications and components will no longer work.
If your organization still relies on Intel-based applications or print drivers, macOS 27 gives you an opportunity to identify them and start planning for compatible replacements.
Before You Upgrade to macOS 27, Check Your Printing Environment
Operating system upgrades are easy to think of as an individual device decision: update the Mac, restart it and move on.
In a business environment, there can be a lot more connected to that update behind the scenes.
Print drivers, print management applications and other tools may depend on components users never see, and usually don’t think about until something stops working.
A little preparation can save you from discovering those dependencies at 8:02 Monday morning when someone really, really needs to print something.
Before moving your organization to macOS 27 Golden Gate:
- Check for Intel-based applications.
- Audit your print drivers for Rosetta dependencies.
- Confirm your print management software is up to date.
- Review manufacturer compatibility for your specific printer models.
- Test critical printing functions before a company-wide rollout.
- Make a plan to replace anything that still relies on Intel support before macOS 28.
And if you’d rather not spend your afternoon digging through System Settings, Terminal commands and printer drivers, that’s okay too.
Applied Innovation’s team can help review your printing environment, identify compatibility issues and help you prepare for macOS 27 — and what’s coming next. Contact our Customer Loyalty Center to connect with a support specialist and make sure your Macs and your printers are ready.