If you’re a super fanboy like me, there’s a chance you have more than one Mac at home. And, now that OS X Lion is available, I want to update all of my machines, but I don’t want to pay $29.99 for each.

Luckily, I don’t need to!

A quick search for “Upgrade to Lion on multiple” might lead you to several forums or blog posts about how to copy the download file to a jump drive before you install it so you can transfer it to another machine. No need. Besides, that sounds messy and time-consuming. We want to get to the good stuff.

As long as you have the App Store authorized with the same account on each of your machines, you only need to hand your boy Steve your money one time.

Here’s the quick and easy way to install Lion on multiple machines:

Step 1: Download Lion

This one is pretty straightforward… Open the App Store on the machine you want to upgrade first. Clicky-clicky on the Lion App, and wait for it to download. (It’s 3.5GB+, so this might take a bit depending on your connection.)

Step 2: Install

Also, pretty straightforward. The install took about 20 minutes on a solid state MBP.

Step 3: Download on Another Machine

While the upgrade is installing on the first computer, fire up the next machine in line and open the App Store. Be sure you’re logged in with the same account as before.

Here’s where it get’s tricky…

Click “Purchases”

The Apple App Store Tool Bar

You will magically be presented with the list of all of the Apps you have purchased in the App Store and the option to download each of them.

App Store Purchases

Click the Download button to the right and start that lengthy download all over again!

Step 4: Install

Enjoy

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