Lion Install on All Macs? Single Purchase Facts
Yes, a single purchase of Mac OS X Lion (10.7) from the Mac App Store allowed installation on all Macs you own or control that were compatible with Lion, as long as they were associated with the same Apple ID. This was a significant change from earlier versions of Mac OS X, which typically required a separate license per computer.
Background: How Mac OS X Licensing Worked Before Lion
Before Lion, Mac OS X was sold as a boxed retail product with a disc, and the license agreement generally permitted installation on one Mac. If you had multiple Macs in a household, you had to buy a separate copy for each machine. Apple also offered family packs for some versions, which allowed installation on up to five Macs in the same household, but this was an extra-cost option.
With the introduction of the Mac App Store in January 2011, Apple began shifting its software distribution model. The Mac App Store tied purchases to your Apple ID, which made it possible to download and install purchased apps on any Mac signed in with that same Apple ID. When Lion was released in July 2011, it was the first version of Mac OS X to be distributed primarily through the Mac App Store, and Apple applied the same single-purchase, multi-install model to it.
How the Lion License Actually Worked
The Lion software license agreement stated that you could install and use a single copy of the software on any Mac that you own or control, as long as it was for your own use. In practice, this meant:
- You could install Lion on every Mac you personally owned, even if you had several.
- You could also install it on Macs owned by your immediate family members, as long as they were in the same household and you were the one who purchased the license.
- You could not install Lion on Macs that you did not own or control, such as a friend’s Mac or a business computer that you did not own.
- You could not sell or transfer the license separately from the Apple ID it was tied to, although you could transfer the entire Apple ID in some circumstances.
Because the purchase was tied to your Apple ID, you could download Lion again from the Mac App Store on any Mac that was signed in with that Apple ID, even if you had previously installed it on another machine. This was a major convenience compared to the old disc-based method, where you had to keep track of the physical media.
How to Install Lion on Multiple Macs
To install Lion on multiple Macs, you needed to follow these steps on each machine:
- Make sure the Mac was compatible with Lion. Compatible models included the iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, and Mac Pro from 2008 or later, with some exceptions.
- Ensure the Mac was running Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later, because the Mac App Store required that version.
- Sign in to the Mac App Store with the same Apple ID that was used to purchase Lion.
- Go to the Purchased tab in the Mac App Store, find Lion, and click the Download button.
- Once downloaded, the installer would appear in the Applications folder. Run it to begin the installation.
If you had already installed Lion on one Mac and wanted to install it on another, you could also create a bootable USB drive or use the Recovery HD to install without re-downloading, but the simplest method was to download from the App Store on each Mac.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
One common misconception is that the Lion license allowed installation on an unlimited number of Macs. That was not true—the license was for Macs you own or control, and it was not intended for businesses with many computers. Another misconception is that you could share your Apple ID with friends so they could install Lion for free. While technically possible, this violated the license agreement and could cause issues with iCloud and other services if multiple people used the same Apple ID.
A practical problem many users encountered was that the Mac App Store would sometimes not show Lion in the Purchased tab if the Mac was running a newer version of macOS. Apple eventually removed Lion from the App Store entirely in 2016, so if you did not download it before then, you could no longer get it legally from Apple. However, if you had purchased it, you could still download it from your Purchased tab for a while after that, but that option has also been discontinued.
Comparison with Later macOS Versions
Apple continued the single-purchase, multi-install model for subsequent versions of macOS, including Mountain Lion, Mavericks, Yosemite, and later. However, starting with macOS Catalina in 2019, Apple changed the licensing to allow installation on any Mac that is signed in with the same Apple ID, regardless of ownership, as long as it is for personal, non-commercial use. This is even more permissive than the Lion license.
It is also worth noting that starting with macOS Big Sur in 2020, Apple moved to a version-numbering system (macOS 11, 12, etc.) and made all versions free. This means that the concept of a paid single purchase is no longer relevant for current macOS versions, as they are all free downloads from the App Store.
Costs and Alternatives
When Lion was released, it cost $29.99 in the Mac App Store. This was significantly cheaper than previous versions of Mac OS X, which typically cost $129 for a single-user license. The lower price and flexible licensing were part of Apple’s strategy to encourage faster adoption of the new OS.
If you missed the window to purchase Lion, there are no legal alternatives to obtain it from Apple. You could potentially find a used copy of the Lion installer on a physical disc or a bootable USB drive, but those are not officially supported and may not work reliably. The best alternative is to upgrade to a newer version of macOS, which is free, if your Mac is compatible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still buy Mac OS X Lion?
No. Apple removed Lion from the Mac App Store in 2016, and it is no longer available for purchase. If you did not purchase it before that date, you cannot legally obtain it from Apple.
Does the Lion license cover Macs owned by my family?
Yes, the license allows installation on Macs owned by your immediate family members, as long as they live in the same household and you are the one who purchased the license. This is similar to the old family pack option.
Can I install Lion on a Mac that is not compatible?
No, Lion only works on specific Mac models from 2008 or later. Attempting to install it on an unsupported Mac may fail or cause instability. You can check compatibility on Apple’s website or by looking up your Mac’s model.
What happens if I sell my Mac with Lion installed?
The Lion license is tied to your Apple ID, not to the Mac itself. If you sell the Mac, the new owner will not have the right to use Lion unless they have their own license. It is recommended to erase the Mac and reinstall the original OS or a newer version before selling.
Can I transfer my Lion license to another Apple ID?
No, the license is permanently tied to the Apple ID that made the purchase. Apple does not allow transferring individual app purchases to a different Apple ID. However, you can transfer the entire Apple ID to another person in some cases, but that is not a practical solution for most users.
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