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Contributor I
Apr 10, 2026 11:37 AM UTC

Mac OS app - intel based to silicon

I’ve just seen on my Mac (running Tahoe 26.4.1) that the version of Sonos app I have on my computer will not open in future release of MacOS. Running Sonos S2 version 17.2. (the message directs me to an apple website to learn how to update to Apple Silicon version).

I wondered if there will be a solution going forward or is this the end of the app for MacOS? 

 

64 replies

Lyricist I
Jun 8, 2026 1:25 PM UTC

Why doesn’t Sonos just use the iOS / iPad version on Apple Silicon? That just runs if you would allow for the download on a Mac via the app store. 

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AjTrek1
Jun 8, 2026 2:00 PM UTC

It’s not a Sonos decision to allow an app designed for iOS or iPadOS to be downloaded on a Mac. There are different codecs for Mac apps which is decided by Apple.

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Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
Lyricist I
Jun 8, 2026 2:05 PM UTC

It’s not a Sonos decision to allow an app designed for iOS or iPadOS to be downloaded on a Mac. There are different codecs for Mac apps which is decided by Apple.

No it’s up to the developer. 
https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/manage-your-apps-availability/manage-availability-of-iphone-and-ipad-apps-on-macs-with-apple-silicon

Users running macOS 11 or later on Macs with Apple silicon can access iPhone and iPad apps through the Mac App Store, provided no edits are made to the app availability. There's no porting process since these apps use the same frameworks, resources, and runtime environments as they do on iOS and iPadOS.

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controlav
Lead Maestro
Jun 9, 2026 12:37 PM UTC

It’s not a Sonos decision to allow an app designed for iOS or iPadOS to be downloaded on a Mac. There are different codecs for Mac apps which is decided by Apple.

No it’s up to the developer. 
https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/manage-your-apps-availability/manage-availability-of-iphone-and-ipad-apps-on-macs-with-apple-silicon

Users running macOS 11 or later on Macs with Apple silicon can access iPhone and iPad apps through the Mac App Store, provided no edits are made to the app availability. There's no porting process since these apps use the same frameworks, resources, and runtime environments as they do on iOS and iPadOS.

Yup, its literally a checkbox to get it on the Mac Store, I did this with my own app. This is by far the most likely “solution” to the Desktop problem. The real issue is how well the designed-for-touch iPad interface will work with a mouse. 

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Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.
Contributor I
Jun 10, 2026 3:16 PM UTC

I came here looking for a solution to the Mac app being incompatible with future versions of Mac OS (the current version being compiled for Intel silicon running through Rosetta).  I just tried the web app and saved it to the dock - it’s a nice, elegant solution, and is managed as a completely separate entity from other Safari sessions.  It’ll work.  One downside: the web app uses 63% CPU and 550MB of memory just sitting idle, vs the Intel compiled app using 157MB of memory and around 2% CPU.  The native app is certainly a lot more efficient.  (This is on an M1 MacBook Pro so kind of old, 16GB).  But it works.

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Bob235178
Enthusiast I
Jun 24, 2026 1:41 AM UTC

Having come across the message I decided to try phonos ultimate 

Do you know if it has an apple silicon binary, or is it just x86

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Airgetlam
Jun 24, 2026 1:55 AM UTC

What did a Internet search show, when you looked for ‘Phonos Ultimate’?

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Bruce
Bob235178
Enthusiast I
Jun 24, 2026 2:34 AM UTC

What did a Internet search show, when you looked for ‘Phonos Ultimate’?

It doesn’t say on the developer’s site (no contact info and the faq doesn’t have a search function), and in the app store it just says compatible with this mac, which for now may require Rosetta or it may not.

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kdowling
Jun 24, 2026 2:40 AM UTC

I’m sure the developer will be along to say for sure, but it looks like a universal binary to me. So, no, it doesn’t require Rosetta.

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Bob235178
Enthusiast I
Jun 24, 2026 2:48 AM UTC

I’m sure the developer will be along to say for sure, but it looks like a universal binary to me. So, no, it doesn’t require Rosetta.

did you verify that it has an arm64 app?.  I find out by using Terminal to go to the /Applications/Example.app/Contents/MacOS folder and ls to get the files there and use “file filename” and it will tell you if it’s x86_64, x86_32, arm64, arm64e or a combination of two of those.  The reason I ask is because on older universal apps, the universal meant x86_64/x86_32, and new apps could be x86_64/arm64.

Or, I could just pull the trigger on the $5 app and look myself, lol.   I’ll do that.

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