Native Apple silicon Support for M1 and M2 Macs Enabled [1.47] [September 2023]

What's New? Zwift Game
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Hi Mac users! We’re happy to announce that Zwift now natively supports Macs built on the Apple silicon architecture (aka M1 and M2 processors). The result? Faster frame rates, improved graphics performance, and lower device operating temperatures.

Starting this week, we’re enabling this feature server-side which will gradually roll out to all M1 / M2 Macs by September 12 or 13, depending on your local time zone.

Please let us know how your Zwifting has improved with native Apple silicon support, and as always - if you run into any issues.

Q&A
Q: How do I know if my Zwift game is running natively on Apple silicon?
A: If you’re running Zwift in windowed mode, you can look at the name of the application in the top left of your Apple Menu bar and note whether it says ZwiftAppSilicon (which means it’s running natively for Apple silicon), or ZwiftApp (which is the original Intel build). If you’re running the game in fullscreen mode, you can move your cursor to the top of your screen to reveal the Apple menu bar.

Q: Why haven’t I received the native silicon version of Zwift yet?
A: We are gradually rolling out support for Apple silicon throughout the week. After September 13, if you are using an M1 or M2 Mac and are still seeing ZwiftApp instead of ZwiftAppSilicon (as described in the above FAQ), please confirm you are using the latest version of the Zwift Launcher app version 1.1.10, which will automatically detect if your Mac will support the native silicon build. Additionally, Launcher v 1.1.10 allows you to snooze game updates. You can download the latest Launcher and Zwift game version from zwift.com/download.

Q: Will M1 and M2 Macs finally get improved rider shadows?
A: Yes! Improved rider shadows are enabled for M1+ Macs running the native silicon build of Zwift.

Q: How does the native silicon version of Zwift compare to the previous version?
A. The native silicon version of Zwift has exactly the same features and capabilities of the previous Intel version, so you won’t notice any functional changes to your experience. However, apps that run natively on Apple silicon generally run more efficiently, which in our testing resulted in faster frame rates.

Mac laptop users: please note that if your in-game “Laptop Battery Saver” setting is “Off - Max Speed,” the native silicon version of Zwift may run at significantly faster frame rates than it did previously. This may result in increased battery usage compared to what you’re used to.

We recommend running Zwift either with your laptop connected to AC power, or use battery saver settings like Min Battery Saver (limits Zwift to 30 frames-per-second maximum), Med Battery Saver (20 fps maximum), or Max Battery Saver (15 fps maximum).

Q: What about native Apple silicon support for iPad and iPhone?
A: Zwift apps for iOS / iPadOS have always been built natively for Apple processors. The performance gains from native Apple silicon support applies to laptops and desktops running macOS.

Q: I have a pre-M1 (i.e. Intel) Mac. What about me?
A: Don’t worry - Zwift will continue to support Mac computers built on Intel-based motherboards that have Apple’s support for their Metal graphics API. See this Support Hub article for the requirements.

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@shooj I wanted to ask - is Zwift going to be able to put us in fullscreen mode rather than “fake” fullscreen mode? I think this is one of the prerequisites to activating game mode on macOS Sonoma.

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@Chris_Dolby
If you’re in windowed mode, are you not able to go full screen by clicking the green full screen mode button?

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I’m surprised after customers pounding you guys over the head for well over a year on getting native M-Series support that, now that you’ve done it, it’s like crickets in here. Maybe part of that is that Zwift had finally gotten pretty darned good under Rosetta (and, in fact, earlier this week I ran two instances of Zwift side-by-side – one Rosetta, the other native – and the only difference I could see was the rider shadows) but, in any case, wanted to say that so far it appears to be running great to me. And while it did take forever to get the native support, I’m happy it’s finally here and thanks to everyone who (finally) made it happen.

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Probably crickets because after nearly 3 years since M1 and very little comms about it from Zwift during that time, people had moved on with their lives.

Thanks Zwift for finally making this happen. Looking forward to the update.

Are you going to publish a list of the graphics modes for the different M1/2 configurations? I have the M1 Max with the 32 core GPU so it should be pretty capable with a native app, probably 1440p with ultra graphics if enabled.

I guess everyone will figure it out from Zwiftalizer anyway!

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:joy: The forum is mostly for complaints. Happy people just ride.

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@shooj Thanks for looking at this for me.

I nowadays seem to be stuck starting in windowed mode, whether or not I’ve enabled full screen in settings, and the full screen toggle via the menu or the globe-F shortcut does work.

However, this Game Mode popup doesn’t appear in macOS Sonoma, as I gather there is a technical difference in how full screen mode is working in this case. Here is Rouvy:

Screenshot 2023-09-09 at 13.03.07
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I am aware this is a beta OS (unsupported by Zwift) but Zwift is unlike most of the games I have in that this mode won’t work, and there haven’t been updates to those apps specifically to enable it. As part of the changes are to enhance Bluetooth, I think it would be worth someone taking a look at it who is currently working on forthcoming updates, to see why this does work for most game apps and not Zwift.

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@Chris_Dolby
Thanks for looping back to clarify that you’re stuck in windowed mode. We’re on it.

[GMPLAY-8068}

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Umm, no. After 3 years of waiting I think most of us just got tired of asking. Great that they finally got here, but kind of anticlimactic at this point. I use a lot of software and Zwift was (by a long shot) the only Intel app I had running until today.

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Yeah, I’m wondering about this also. Zwift has never, from what I can tell, actually run in true full screen mode. I also use IndieVelo and as soon as I updated to Sonoma, it also started giving me the full screen notifications on start. In true full screen mode, when you move the cursor to the top of the screen, you don’t get the notification bar popping down, which seems to be a tell-tale sign that Zwift is not actually running full screen.

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That’s the remaining “problem”

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UPDATE SEPTEMBER 12
Rollout of this feature is complete.

If you’re using a Mac with M1+ processor, please make sure you’re using the latest version of the Zwift launcher app. One of the launcher’s functions is to detect if your Mac runs on an Intel or Apple processor, and kick off the version of the main game app your machine will support. If you’re using an outdated launcher, it will kick off the Intel build.

Download the latest launcher + game apps here.

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This. It’s been way too long. And now after all this time, native support comes, and there’s not even a bump in visual quality. That’s really the bummer. Yay shadows! Shadows should not have taken 3 YEARS!!!

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The whole “no shadows” thing was a red herring. They could have turned this on a long time ago, Rosetta or not. The Apple Silicon carrot was just used as a convenient excuse to not turn on shadows for M1/M2 in High profile… Anyway, I guess it’s all water under the bridge now. In terms of visual improvements, it’s not unexpected that the native support had no improvements. The change to “Metal API” that happened months ago was where any visual improvements would have happened.

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Definitely great to see MacOS running native - well done Zwift!

I’m hoping the iOS and iPadOS apps could get some attention next. I understand they’re already native, they just don’t seem to have access to the same level of detail and framerates their M-series Mac equivalents do.

The new iPhones run the latest console games from Resident Evil and Assassin’s Creed, and the iPad is getting M3 next year. Wish Zwift could support more than Basic at 30fps soon!

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Definitely seeing significant improvement running Zwift on a Mac Mini M2 Pro. 4K resolution, high profile, pinned at 60fps (max screen resolution), also running OBS with a 4K webcam on the same machine.

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Based on this, I’m guessing they could absolutely put the M2 Pro machines at Ultra profile… hopefully this happens and we we can get the best possible experience.

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Folks, I’m running a MacAir with M1 chip and the 8core GPU. I believe this update is now supposed to support M1 natively, if so I have an issue and am wondering if anyone else is experiencing this… The issue occurs when the system is on plugged in and not on battery power. Within 4 min of riding the thermals shoot through the roof turning the laptop into a cooktop, the only way to fix this is to dummy down the laptop by changing the battery setting while connected to conserve power, essentially cutting its legs off. However if I do this the CPU and GPU run around 59 degrees C , instead of 100!! This occurs whether I’m in Ultra or 4k and 30 or 60 fps. It makes no difference ( I output to 4k capable TV through HDMI ) . SO QUESTION FOR ZWIFT HQ , Do you know why this is occurring if Zwift is now native??

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Do you see the running application name as “ZwiftAppSilicon”? (If not, update the launcher) I’m running on a 10-core M1 Pro in a MacBook Pro and not seeing a problem, but my system has a cooling fan while yours does not…