How to Install Rosetta 2 Manually on macOS 13

This guide explains what Rosetta 2 is, why it is necessary for Apple Silicon Macs, and how to manually install it on macOS 13 Ventura. While macOS typically prompts you to install Rosetta 2 when you first launch an Intel-based application, installing it manually via the Terminal ensures your system is prepared to run legacy software without interruption.

What is Rosetta 2?

Rosetta 2 is a background translation layer developed by Apple for Macs powered by Apple Silicon (M1, M2, and later chips). It enables Apple Silicon hardware to execute applications built exclusively for Intel-based (x86_64) Mac processors.

When you run an Intel-based application on Apple Silicon, Rosetta 2 translates the compiled x86_64 code into ARM64 architecture instructions. In most cases, this translation happens the first time the application runs, though just-in-time (JIT) compilation is also used for dynamic code. Rosetta 2 is not a virtual machine; it operates transparently to the user, allowing legacy software to run with near-native performance.

How to Install Rosetta 2 Manually in macOS 13

Manual installation is useful for system administrators setting up multiple machines, automated deployment scripts, or users who want to avoid pop-up prompts when launching legacy software.

Follow these steps to install Rosetta 2 using the macOS Terminal:

Step 1: Open Terminal

  1. Press Command + Space to open Spotlight search.
  2. Type Terminal and press Return (or navigate to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal).

Step 2: Run the Installation Command

In the Terminal window, you have two options depending on whether you want to review the license agreement interactively or accept it automatically.

Option A: Interactive Installation Run the following command:

softwareupdate --install-rosetta

You will be prompted to accept Apple's license agreement. Press A and hit Return to proceed with the download and installation.

Option B: Non-Interactive Installation (Recommended for Automation) To bypass the interactive prompt by automatically accepting the software license, run:

softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license

Step 3: Verify the Installation

Once the command finishes, the Terminal displays the message: Install of Rosetta 2 finished successfully.

You can now run Intel-based macOS applications on your Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 13.