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”
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.
Click the Download button to the right and start that lengthy download all over again!
Step 4: Install
Enjoy
Why download the 3.7GB for each Mac…this is not a solution for anyone with a download cap on their ISP – it might be a solution for mom but she owns only one Mac. Copying the installer file before installation to a portable disk is the way to go.
Shane – Point Taken.
But, what’s the typical bandwidth cap? 250GB?
So yes, if you’re running ten machines on your home network and concerned about hitting a cap, making a copy of the installer might be the best option.
(IMO, if you can afford ten machines, you can afford a better ISP.)
Thank you! Clear, concise, and accurate instructions. I appreciate your help.
Shane – Point taken.
But, what’s the typical bandwidth cap? 250GB?
So yes, if you’re running ten machines on your home network and concerned about hitting a cap, making a copy of the installer might be the best option.
(IMO, if you can afford ten machines, you can afford a better ISP.)
Actually the limit is 450 MB with HughesNet. So single downloads are actually undoable. And if I could I would switch to a better provider, but for those of us that live in the country that isn’t always possible as it is either dial-up or HughesNet or nothing ….. What I need to know is that if I take my laptop over to a friends house that has DSL can I re-use the download that I do there for my laptop on my MacPro back at home ?
Hey Jerry, sorry to hear about that cap you’re dealing with. My suggestion would be to download the update at your friend’s place, and save the file to a flash drive BEFORE you install it. Take the drive home and install it on your Pro.
FYI, Apple will be releasing the update on a portable drive in the coming weeks. I believe the price was listed at $69.99.
Thank you for these simple and clear instructions – I wish the information was easy to find on the Apple Support website. Lion is the first item I’ve bought from the App Store and I was surprised to find, after downloading, that there wasn’t a disk image on my computer that I could copy onto a flash drive and move over to my laptop. It’s a pain to have to download for a couple of hours again, but I’m glad I don’t have to pay £20.99 a second time.
What if I purchase a new Apple computer with Lion pre-installed. Will I be able to somehow put Lion on a previously owned computer?
What if I purchase a new Apple computer with Lion pre-installed. Will I be able to somehow put Lion on a previously owned computer?
If you’re looking for information on burning a boot-disk, here are a couple resources for the procedure:
http://holgr.com/blog/2011/02/creating-a-bootable-os-x-10-7-lion-disc/
http://www.eggfreckles.net/tech/burning-a-lion-boot-disc/
I don’t think it’s possible to create a boot disk from a pre-installed version of Lion that would work with another machine. As far as I know, the “recovery disc” is specifically written for the machine it’s created from.
Go to the Apple store and buy it. They will give you a flash drive with Lion on it.
Ryan thanks its working perfect oust installed it on my 3 computers IMac/Mini Mac/Macbook.
Its oust to follow Ryans instruction but click on Appstore on your doclist. I did one thing wrong I went in to ITunes app store and pressed purchases. That way do not work. So klick on the app sore on your dock list.
Regards Fredrik
*virtual high five*
Not sure I understand the question… Any purchases you make will be listed in the App Store immediately. You can access them by logging into iTunes on any computer with your Apple ID.
What happens if you didn’t get to the other computer before the install was finished? Are you screwed?
What happens if you didn’t get to the other computer before the install was finished? Are you screwed?