Check Binary Architectures with lipo -info

Find out whether an executable is Apple Silicon, Intel, or a universal binary before debugging mysterious crashes.

macOSuniversal-binaryarm64lipoLow risk

Run `lipo -info <binary>` to list the architectures it contains, e.g. 'x86_64 arm64' for a universal binary.

01Command

Command

$ lipo -info /Applications/SomeApp.app/Contents/MacOS/binary

02What it does

lipo inspects Mach-O fat binaries: -info prints the architecture list in one line while -detailed_info adds offsets and alignment per slice. A binary with only x86_64 runs on Apple Silicon solely through Rosetta, which explains crashes, slowdowns, or plugins failing to load. The file command offers a quicker one-line summary (`file <binary>` shows arm64/x86_64 directly) if you don't need slice details.

03Risk

RiskLow risk

RequirementsBuilt-in on macOS (Xcode Command Line Tools).

04Undo

✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.

05Sources

lipo — create or operate on universal binaries (macOS)
SS64 · technical · 2026-09-17
Evidence: Documents -info and -detailed_info to list the architectures contained in a Mach-O fat binary, plus thin/create to modify it.

Last verified: 2026-09-17 · Category: Developer