diff --git a/pkg/cli/arch.go b/pkg/cli/arch.go
index 2a59f2461..f1d0aa4a2 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/arch.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/arch.go
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ var (
 
 	// AllOSArch defines all OS/ARCH combination for which plugin can be built
 	AllOSArch = []Arch{LinuxAMD64, DarwinAMD64, WinAMD64, DarwinARM64, LinuxARM64}
+
+	GOOS   = runtime.GOOS
+	GOARCH = runtime.GOARCH
 )
 
 // Arch represents a system architecture.
@@ -22,7 +25,12 @@ type Arch string
 
 // BuildArch returns compile time build arch or locates it.
 func BuildArch() Arch {
-	return Arch(fmt.Sprintf("%s_%s", runtime.GOOS, runtime.GOARCH))
+	return Arch(fmt.Sprintf("%s_%s", GOOS, GOARCH))
+}
+
+func SetArch(a Arch) {
+	GOOS = a.OS()
+	GOARCH = a.Arch()
 }
 
 // IsWindows tells if an arch is windows.
diff --git a/pkg/pluginmanager/manager.go b/pkg/pluginmanager/manager.go
index 13028cea0..e717bd17a 100644
--- a/pkg/pluginmanager/manager.go
+++ b/pkg/pluginmanager/manager.go
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
@@ -486,8 +485,8 @@ func installPlugin(pluginName, version string, target configtypes.Target, contex
 		Name:    pluginName,
 		Target:  target,
 		Version: version,
-		OS:      runtime.GOOS,
-		Arch:    runtime.GOARCH,
+		OS:      cli.GOOS,
+		Arch:    cli.GOARCH,
 	}
 	errorList := make([]error, 0)
 	availablePlugins, err := discoverSpecificPlugins(discoveries, discovery.WithPluginDiscoveryCriteria(criteria))
@@ -495,6 +494,21 @@ func installPlugin(pluginName, version string, target configtypes.Target, contex
 		errorList = append(errorList, err)
 	}
 
+	// If we cannot find the plugin for DarwinARM64, let's fallback to DarwinAMD64.
+	// This leverages Apples Rosetta emulator and helps until plugins are all available
+	// for ARM64.  Note that this cannot be used on Linux since there is no such emulator.
+	if len(availablePlugins) == 0 && cli.BuildArch() == cli.DarwinARM64 {
+		// Pretend we are on a AMD64 machine
+		cli.SetArch(cli.DarwinAMD64)
+		defer cli.SetArch(cli.DarwinARM64) // Go back to ARM64 once the plugin is installed
+
+		criteria.Arch = cli.DarwinAMD64.Arch()
+		availablePlugins, err = discoverSpecificPlugins(discoveries, discovery.WithPluginDiscoveryCriteria(criteria))
+		if err != nil {
+			errorList = append(errorList, err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	if len(availablePlugins) == 0 {
 		if target != configtypes.TargetUnknown {
 			errorList = append(errorList, errors.Errorf("unable to find plugin '%v' matching version '%v' for target '%s'", pluginName, version, string(target)))
@@ -689,7 +703,7 @@ func installOrUpgradePlugin(p *discovery.Discovered, version string, installTest
 }
 
 func getPluginFromCache(p *discovery.Discovered, version string) *cli.PluginInfo {
-	pluginArtifact, err := p.Distribution.DescribeArtifact(version, runtime.GOOS, runtime.GOARCH)
+	pluginArtifact, err := p.Distribution.DescribeArtifact(version, cli.GOOS, cli.GOARCH)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -721,13 +735,13 @@ func fetchAndVerifyPlugin(p *discovery.Discovered, version string) ([]byte, erro
 		return nil, errors.Wrapf(err, "%q plugin pre-download verification failed", p.Name)
 	}
 
-	b, err := p.Distribution.Fetch(version, runtime.GOOS, runtime.GOARCH)
+	b, err := p.Distribution.Fetch(version, cli.GOOS, cli.GOARCH)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrapf(err, "unable to fetch the plugin metadata for plugin %q", p.Name)
 	}
 
 	// verify plugin after download but before installation
-	d, err := p.Distribution.GetDigest(version, runtime.GOOS, runtime.GOARCH)
+	d, err := p.Distribution.GetDigest(version, cli.GOOS, cli.GOARCH)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -782,7 +796,7 @@ func describePlugin(p *discovery.Discovered, pluginPath string) (*cli.PluginInfo
 
 func doInstallTestPlugin(p *discovery.Discovered, pluginPath, version string) error {
 	log.Infof("Installing test plugin for '%v:%v'", p.Name, version)
-	binary, err := p.Distribution.FetchTest(version, runtime.GOOS, runtime.GOARCH)
+	binary, err := p.Distribution.FetchTest(version, cli.GOOS, cli.GOARCH)
 	if err != nil {
 		if os.Getenv("TZ_ENFORCE_TEST_PLUGIN") == "1" {
 			return errors.Wrapf(err, "unable to install test plugin for '%v:%v'", p.Name, version)
@@ -1149,8 +1163,8 @@ func getCLIPluginResourceWithLocalDistroFromPluginInfo(plugin *cli.PluginInfo, p
 					{
 						URI:  pluginBinaryPath,
 						Type: common.DistributionTypeLocal,
-						OS:   runtime.GOOS,
-						Arch: runtime.GOARCH,
+						OS:   cli.GOOS,
+						Arch: cli.GOARCH,
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -1213,7 +1227,7 @@ func discoverPluginsFromLocalSourceBasedOnManifestFile(localPath string) ([]disc
 		// Sample path: cli/[target]/<plugin-name>/<plugin-version>/tanzu-<plugin-name>-<os>_<arch>
 		// 				cli/[target]/v0.14.0/tanzu-login-darwin_amd64
 		// As mentioned above, we expect the binary for user's OS-ARCH is present and hence creating path accordingly
-		pluginBinaryPath := filepath.Join(absLocalPath, string(pluginInfo.Target), p.Name, pluginInfo.Version, fmt.Sprintf("tanzu-%s-%s_%s", p.Name, runtime.GOOS, runtime.GOARCH))
+		pluginBinaryPath := filepath.Join(absLocalPath, string(pluginInfo.Target), p.Name, pluginInfo.Version, fmt.Sprintf("tanzu-%s-%s_%s", p.Name, cli.GOOS, cli.GOARCH))
 		if cli.BuildArch().IsWindows() {
 			pluginBinaryPath += exe
 		}
@@ -1272,7 +1286,7 @@ func getPluginInfoResource(pluginFilePath string) (*cli.PluginInfo, error) {
 // verifyPluginPreDownload verifies that the plugin distribution repo is trusted
 // and returns error if the verification fails.
 func verifyPluginPreDownload(p *discovery.Discovered, version string) error {
-	artifactInfo, err := p.Distribution.DescribeArtifact(version, runtime.GOOS, runtime.GOARCH)
+	artifactInfo, err := p.Distribution.DescribeArtifact(version, cli.GOOS, cli.GOARCH)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -1282,7 +1296,7 @@ func verifyPluginPreDownload(p *discovery.Discovered, version string) error {
 	if artifactInfo.URI != "" {
 		return verifyArtifactLocation(artifactInfo.URI)
 	}
-	return errors.Errorf("no download information available for artifact \"%s:%s:%s:%s\"", p.Name, p.RecommendedVersion, runtime.GOOS, runtime.GOARCH)
+	return errors.Errorf("no download information available for artifact \"%s:%s:%s:%s\"", p.Name, p.RecommendedVersion, cli.GOOS, cli.GOARCH)
 }
 
 // verifyRegistry verifies the authenticity of the registry from where cli is
diff --git a/pkg/pluginmanager/manager_helper_test.go b/pkg/pluginmanager/manager_helper_test.go
index 7ea329858..219a2c198 100644
--- a/pkg/pluginmanager/manager_helper_test.go
+++ b/pkg/pluginmanager/manager_helper_test.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ var testPlugins = []plugininventory.PluginIdentifier{
 	{Name: "cluster", Target: configtypes.TargetK8s, Version: "v1.6.0"},
 	{Name: "myplugin", Target: configtypes.TargetK8s, Version: "v1.6.0"},
 	{Name: "feature", Target: configtypes.TargetK8s, Version: "v0.2.0"},
+	{Name: "pluginwitharm", Target: configtypes.TargetK8s, Version: "v2.0.0"},
 
 	{Name: "isolated-cluster", Target: configtypes.TargetGlobal, Version: "v1.2.3"},
 	{Name: "isolated-cluster", Target: configtypes.TargetGlobal, Version: "v1.3.0"},
@@ -47,6 +48,10 @@ var testPlugins = []plugininventory.PluginIdentifier{
 	{Name: "myplugin", Target: configtypes.TargetTMC, Version: "v0.2.0"},
 }
 
+var testPluginsNoARM64 = []plugininventory.PluginIdentifier{
+	{Name: "pluginnoarm", Target: configtypes.TargetK8s, Version: "v1.0.0"},
+}
+
 const createGroupsStmt = `
 INSERT INTO PluginGroups VALUES(
 	'vmware',
@@ -115,6 +120,10 @@ INSERT INTO PluginGroups VALUES(
 	'true',
 	'false');
 `
+const (
+	digestForAMD64 = "0000000000"
+	digestForARM64 = "1111111111"
+)
 
 func findDiscoveredPlugin(discovered []discovery.Discovered, pluginName string, target configtypes.Target) *discovery.Discovered {
 	for i := range discovered {
@@ -185,20 +194,39 @@ func setupPluginBinaryInCache(name, version string, target configtypes.Target, d
 	}
 }
 
+func createPluginEntry(db *sql.DB, plugin plugininventory.PluginIdentifier, arch cli.Arch, digest string) {
+	uri := fmt.Sprintf("vmware/test/%s/%s/%s/%s:%s", arch.OS(), arch.Arch(), plugin.Target, plugin.Name, plugin.Version)
+	desc := fmt.Sprintf("Plugin %s description", plugin.Name)
+
+	_, err := db.Exec("INSERT INTO PluginBinaries (PluginName,Target,RecommendedVersion,Version,Hidden,Description,Publisher,Vendor,OS,Architecture,Digest,URI) VALUES(?,?,'',?,'false',?,'test','vmware',?,?,?,?);", plugin.Name, plugin.Target, plugin.Version, desc, arch.OS(), arch.Arch(), digest, uri)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err, fmt.Sprintf("failed to create %s:%s for target %s for testing", plugin.Name, plugin.Version, plugin.Target))
+	}
+}
+
 func setupPluginEntriesAndBinaries(db *sql.DB) {
-	digest := "0000000000"
+	// Setup DB entries and plugin binaries for all os/architecture combinations
 	for _, plugin := range testPlugins {
-		desc := fmt.Sprintf("Plugin %s description", plugin.Name)
 		for _, osArch := range cli.AllOSArch {
-			uri := fmt.Sprintf("vmware/test/%s/%s/%s/%s:%s", osArch.OS(), osArch.Arch(), plugin.Target, plugin.Name, plugin.Version)
-
-			_, err := db.Exec("INSERT INTO PluginBinaries (PluginName,Target,RecommendedVersion,Version,Hidden,Description,Publisher,Vendor,OS,Architecture,Digest,URI) VALUES(?,?,'',?,'false',?,'test','vmware',?,?,?,?);", plugin.Name, plugin.Target, plugin.Version, desc, osArch.OS(), osArch.Arch(), digest, uri)
+			digest := digestForAMD64
+			if osArch.Arch() == cli.DarwinARM64.Arch() {
+				digest = digestForARM64
+			}
+			createPluginEntry(db, plugin, osArch, digest)
+			setupPluginBinaryInCache(plugin.Name, plugin.Version, plugin.Target, digest)
+		}
+	}
 
-			if err != nil {
-				log.Fatal(err, fmt.Sprintf("failed to create %s:%s for target %s for testing", plugin.Name, plugin.Version, plugin.Target))
+	// Setup DB entries and plugin binaries but skip ARM64
+	digest := digestForAMD64
+	for _, plugin := range testPluginsNoARM64 {
+		for _, osArch := range cli.AllOSArch {
+			if osArch.Arch() != cli.DarwinARM64.Arch() {
+				createPluginEntry(db, plugin, osArch, digest)
+				setupPluginBinaryInCache(plugin.Name, plugin.Version, plugin.Target, digest)
 			}
 		}
-		setupPluginBinaryInCache(plugin.Name, plugin.Version, plugin.Target, digest)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/pluginmanager/manager_test.go b/pkg/pluginmanager/manager_test.go
index 381acfa34..9a6880cba 100644
--- a/pkg/pluginmanager/manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/pluginmanager/manager_test.go
@@ -130,6 +130,24 @@ var expectedDiscoveredStandalonePlugins = []discovery.Discovered{
 		ContextName:        "",
 		Target:             configtypes.TargetTMC,
 	},
+	{
+		Name:               "pluginnoarm",
+		Description:        "Plugin pluginnoarm description",
+		RecommendedVersion: "v1.0.0",
+		SupportedVersions:  []string{"v1.0.0"},
+		Scope:              common.PluginScopeStandalone,
+		ContextName:        "",
+		Target:             configtypes.TargetK8s,
+	},
+	{
+		Name:               "pluginwitharm",
+		Description:        "Plugin pluginwitharm description",
+		RecommendedVersion: "v2.0.0",
+		SupportedVersions:  []string{"v2.0.0"},
+		Scope:              common.PluginScopeStandalone,
+		ContextName:        "",
+		Target:             configtypes.TargetK8s,
+	},
 }
 
 var expectedDiscoveredGroups = []string{"vmware-test/default:v1.6.0", "vmware-test/default:v2.1.0"}
@@ -266,10 +284,37 @@ func Test_InstallStandalonePlugin(t *testing.T) {
 	assertions.NotNil(err)
 	assertions.Contains(err.Error(), "unable to find plugin 'feature' matching version 'v0.2.0' for target 'mission-control'")
 
+	// When on Darwin ARM64, try installing a plugin that is only available for Darwin AMD64
+	// and see that it still gets installed (it will use AMD64)
+	//
+	// First make the CLI believe we are running on Darwin ARM64.  We need this for when
+	// the unit tests are run on Linux for example.
+	realArch := cli.BuildArch()
+	cli.SetArch(cli.DarwinARM64)
+	err = InstallStandalonePlugin("pluginnoarm", "v1.0.0", configtypes.TargetUnknown)
+	assertions.Nil(err)
+	// Make sure that after the plugin is installed (using AMD64), the arch is back to ARM64
+	assertions.Equal(cli.DarwinARM64, cli.BuildArch())
+	// Now reset to the real machine architecture
+	cli.SetArch(realArch)
+
+	// When on Darwin ARM64, try installing a plugin that IS available for Darwin ARM64
+	// and make sure it is the ARM64 one that gets installed (not AMD64)
+	//
+	// First make the CLI believe we are running on Darwin ARM64.  We need this for when
+	// the unit tests are run on Linux for example.
+	cli.SetArch(cli.DarwinARM64)
+	err = InstallStandalonePlugin("pluginwitharm", "v2.0.0", configtypes.TargetUnknown)
+	assertions.Nil(err)
+	// Make sure that after the plugin is installed (using AMD64), the arch is back to ARM64
+	assertions.Equal(cli.DarwinARM64, cli.BuildArch())
+	// Now reset to the real machine architecture
+	cli.SetArch(realArch)
+
 	// Verify installed plugins
 	installedStandalonePlugins, err := pluginsupplier.GetInstalledStandalonePlugins()
 	assertions.Nil(err)
-	assertions.Equal(4, len(installedStandalonePlugins))
+	assertions.Equal(6, len(installedStandalonePlugins))
 	installedServerPlugins, err := pluginsupplier.GetInstalledServerPlugins()
 	assertions.Nil(err)
 	assertions.Equal(0, len(installedServerPlugins))
@@ -299,12 +344,34 @@ func Test_InstallStandalonePlugin(t *testing.T) {
 			Scope:   common.PluginScopeStandalone,
 			Target:  configtypes.TargetTMC,
 		},
+		{
+			Name:    "pluginnoarm",
+			Version: "v1.0.0",
+			Scope:   common.PluginScopeStandalone,
+			Target:  configtypes.TargetK8s,
+		},
+		{
+			Name:    "pluginwitharm",
+			Version: "v2.0.0",
+			Scope:   common.PluginScopeStandalone,
+			Target:  configtypes.TargetK8s,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for i := 0; i < len(expectedInstalledStandalonePlugins); i++ {
 		pd := findPluginInfo(installedStandalonePlugins, expectedInstalledStandalonePlugins[i].Name, expectedInstalledStandalonePlugins[i].Target)
 		assertions.NotNil(pd)
 		assertions.Equal(expectedInstalledStandalonePlugins[i].Version, pd.Version)
+
+		if pd.Name == "pluginnoarm" {
+			// Make sure this plugin is always installed as AMD64
+			assertions.Equal(digestForAMD64, pd.Digest)
+		}
+
+		if pd.Name == "pluginwitharm" {
+			// Make sure this plugin is always installed as ARM64
+			assertions.Equal(digestForARM64, pd.Digest)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/registry/helpers.go b/pkg/registry/helpers.go
index 6e7cde272..db70bbaa2 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/helpers.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/helpers.go
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
-	"runtime"
 	"strconv"
 	"time"
 
@@ -19,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 	gocontainerregistry "github.com/google/go-containerregistry/pkg/registry"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
+	"github.com/vmware-tanzu/tanzu-cli/pkg/cli"
 	"github.com/vmware-tanzu/tanzu-cli/pkg/configpaths"
 	"github.com/vmware-tanzu/tanzu-cli/pkg/constants"
 	configlib "github.com/vmware-tanzu/tanzu-plugin-runtime/config"
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func GetRegistryCertOptions(registryHost string) (*CertOptions, error) {
 		Insecure:       false,
 	}
 
-	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+	if cli.GOOS == "windows" {
 		err := AddRegistryTrustedRootCertsFileForWindows(registryCertOpts)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
diff --git a/pkg/telemetry/sqlite_metrics_db.go b/pkg/telemetry/sqlite_metrics_db.go
index 849e584ee..503c4a521 100644
--- a/pkg/telemetry/sqlite_metrics_db.go
+++ b/pkg/telemetry/sqlite_metrics_db.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"database/sql"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"runtime"
 	"strconv"
 
 	// Import the sqlite3 driver
@@ -15,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
+	"github.com/vmware-tanzu/tanzu-cli/pkg/cli"
 	"github.com/vmware-tanzu/tanzu-cli/pkg/common"
 )
 
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ func (b *sqliteMetricsDB) SaveOperationMetric(entry *OperationMetricsPayload) er
 
 	row := cliOperationsRow{
 		cliVersion:         entry.CliVersion,
-		osName:             runtime.GOOS,
-		osArch:             runtime.GOARCH,
+		osName:             cli.GOOS,
+		osArch:             cli.GOARCH,
 		pluginName:         entry.PluginName,
 		pluginVersion:      entry.PluginVersion,
 		command:            entry.CommandName,
diff --git a/pkg/telemetry/sqlite_metrics_db_test.go b/pkg/telemetry/sqlite_metrics_db_test.go
index 73dd9c30f..c9e6e4ec3 100644
--- a/pkg/telemetry/sqlite_metrics_db_test.go
+++ b/pkg/telemetry/sqlite_metrics_db_test.go
@@ -7,13 +7,14 @@ import (
 	"database/sql"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"runtime"
 	"time"
 
 	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+
+	"github.com/vmware-tanzu/tanzu-cli/pkg/cli"
 )
 
 var _ = Describe("Inserting CLI metrics to database and verifying it by fetching the metrics from database", func() {
@@ -65,8 +66,8 @@ var _ = Describe("Inserting CLI metrics to database and verifying it by fetching
 			Expect(len(metricsRows)).To(Equal(1))
 			Expect(metricsRows[0].cliID).To(Equal("fake-cli-cliID"))
 			Expect(metricsRows[0].cliVersion).To(Equal("v1.0.0"))
-			Expect(metricsRows[0].osName).To(Equal(runtime.GOOS))
-			Expect(metricsRows[0].osArch).To(Equal(runtime.GOARCH))
+			Expect(metricsRows[0].osName).To(Equal(cli.GOOS))
+			Expect(metricsRows[0].osArch).To(Equal(cli.GOARCH))
 			Expect(metricsRows[0].nameArg).To(Equal("fake-name-arg"))
 			Expect(metricsRows[0].command).To(Equal("fake-cmd-name"))
 			Expect(metricsRows[0].commandStartTSMsec).ToNot(BeEmpty())