How to run iLife applications using Rosetta

Some plug-ins are written only in PowerPC code, and hence require their host applications to also be run in PowerPC mode (Rosetta) on Intel-based Macs. However, Apple and other developers have disabled the default ability to choose whether some Universal Binaries run under Rosetta or in native Intel mode. This option can generally be toggled via the following process:

1. Quit the application if it is running
2. Using the Finder, locate the the application and select it.
3. Go to the "File" menu and choose "Get Info."
4. Check or uncheck the "Open using Rosetta" box (see screenshot to the right for an example).

However, some applications have the capability to toggle this option disabled by default.

A MacFixIt reader recently wrote:

"I'm trying to get plug-ins for iMovie and i am trying to open a file that requires 'Rosetta' but when i follow the instructions on 'help' for how to get Rosetta it should say 'open using Rosetta' but it only says locked. I tried following the same steps on other applications such as safari and it worked but it doesn't work in iMovie."

You can enable the run-in-Rosetta capabilities for some applications via the following process:

1. Control-click on the application in the Finder and select "Show Package Contents"
2. Open the "Contents" folder therein and open "Info.plist" -- preferably with an application like PListEditPro, though you can also use a plain text editor.
3. If you are using PListEditPro, change the entry next to LSRequiresNativeExecution to "NO." If you are using a text editor, search for "LSRequiresNativeExecution" and change the word "true" to "false."
4. Navigate to /System/Library/ and delete the files Extensions.kextcache and Extensions.mkext (you will need to enter your administrator password)
5. Restart your Mac

You should now be able to run the application using Rosetta. This can cause problems with applications that aren't intended to be run under Rosetta, but may allow you to use otherwise inaccessible plug-ins.

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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