How to Install OS X Lion

With OS X Lion out in full swing, I have been asked many times, what do I need to do to upgrade? Downloading and installing Apple’s latest iteration of their famous (and sometimes infamous) operating system is very simple and relatively painless. However, to ensure that the upgrade goes as seamlessly as possible, there are a few steps that you should take. Some of the steps listed below are common sense things, and others are out of an abundance of caution.

Step 1. Make sure your Mac is ready for OS X Lion

There are some compatibly and minimum system requirements that you should be aware of. The main idea here is that you need an Intel based Mac. You will also need a recent version of Snow Leopard. To check what version and what kind of processor you have, click on the Apple icon at the top left of the screen and then click “About This Mac”.

Step 2. Do a system update and update your apps

It is a good idea to go ahead and download any updates Apple may have released BEFORE you upgrade to Lion. Apple has released a few small patches (and some large ones) that will ease the transition to Lion. Also, updating your apps is a smart thing to do. Open up the Mac App Store and install any updates that are available.

Step 3. Back up your computer

Backing up your computer is always a good idea and especially so before you install a new operating system. Apple’s Time Machine is a great option for an easy to use backup solution.

Step 4. Download OS X Lion from the Mac App Store

Fire up the Mac App Store and purchase Lion!!! It only cost $29.99 and in my opinion, it is well worth the price. Lion should be very easy to find in the app store. It should be right on top. The download can be a bit lengthly. It should take about an hour maybe 2 depending on the speed of your internet connection.

Step 5. Install Lion

Once the download is complete, click on the continue button and then accept the terms and conditions. You will also need to enter the admin account password. This is all fairly simple as it is about the same procedure as any other software install.

The installer then begins the surprisingly fast task of installing Lion. After it is done, click on the restart button. After your Mac has restarted, you are then ready to start playing around with all the new features that Lion has to offer.

Don’t forget to check out apple.com for some great tutorials and videos that explain all the new features.