How do I upgrade to Lion (OS 10.7)?

Lion (OS X 10.7) is the first Apple operating system to be released through the Mac App Store only. In order to upgrade your Mac, you'll need to already be running Snow Leopard (OS 10.6.8) and have a good internet connection.

1. Check the system requirements. Read our article on the minimum system requirements for Lion. 
2. Check your current software. Read our article on how to tell which software is compatible with Lion. RoaringApps also has an extensive list of Lion tested applications. 
3. Backup your entire computer. Although many operating system upgrades go off without a hitch, it is better to be safe than sorry. We suggest using a backup application and external hard drive to create a complete bootable clone of your hard drive. That way you have absolutely everything from your computer in case a file is lost, gets corrupted, or the install fails. If you value your data, back it up before you continue. See "How to Create a Bootable Clone Backup".
4. (Optional) Clean house. Take a few moments to organize any files you have laying around, delete unnecessary items, and empty your trash. Many people have lots of unnecessary files in their Downloads folder. Disconnect any external hard drives or peripherals. You should only have a power cord, mouse, keyboard, monitor, and Internet connected at this point.
5. Update. While connected to the Internet, go to the Apple menu in the upper left corner of your screen and choose Software Update. Install all the Apple updates available and restart your computer. This is also the best time to update your third-party software. Open your important applications and look for Check for Updates in the menus. Make sure to also check for updates of preference panes you've installed, menu extras, Mail plug-ins, and browser extenstions (if none of those sound familiar you may not have any).
6. (Optional) Repair Your Disk. Just to be safe, now is a great time to repair your hard disk using Disk Utility. Sometimes small errors turn into big errors after a system upgrade. Read our article on Repairing Your Disk Directory to avoid any problems.
7. Download Lion from the Mac App store. Once your download is complete, you'll see an Lion install icon in your dock. Click it to start the upgrade process.
8. Agree to the software license agreement. Then click Continue. 
9. Select your hard drive to install Lion on (usually Macintosh HD). Then make sure your computer is plugged into an outlet and let it do the work. Installations can take quite a while, your computer will restart during the process.
10. Once the installation process is complete, you'll be greeted with a lovely tutorial on how the vertical scrolling in Lion has been reversed. (Don't worry you can switch it back in System Preferences > Trackpad if you really hate it, but give it a try first.)

Published July 5, 2011 3:34 PM
Last modified on July 20, 2011 11:38 AM