How to Reinstall OS X Lion

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Last Updated: November 13, 2025

With the release of the OS X Lion operating system for Mac computers, Apple ceased traditional distribution of physical retail discs and instead offered the OS as a download via the Mac App Store. This has left users with many questions regarding performing installation and reinstallation tasks that would have, in the past, required the physical disc. This article will walk you through the process of reinstalling OS X Lion.

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This will allow you to select one of multiple booting options.
It may take a few minutes to boot into recovery mode.

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Note: This option requires an internet connection in order to download the OS from the Apple servers.

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I'm trying to reinstall OS X Lion and receive a "Temporarily unavailable" message. What should I do?

Nathan Walker

Community Answer

If you are attempting to download an older version of macOS, such as OS X Lion, you might encounter this error because the software is no longer directly available from Apple. To obtain it, you could visit an Apple Store or look for an install disk online.

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How can I reduce unwanted applications taking up disk space on my Apple computer?

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Pre-installed applications on your Apple computer generally cannot be removed or uninstalled directly like applications you download.

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How do I sign in to OS X Lion once installation is complete?

Intellectia AI

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After OS X Lion is installed, you will typically sign in with your local Mac account's username and password. You may also be prompted to sign in with your Apple ID (this step is optional). If it's a fresh installation, you'll then configure basic system settings such as Wi-Fi and time zone.

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You can open Launchpad in OS X Lion using custom shortcuts or hot corners by setting them in System Preferences.

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Swipe between pages of apps in Launchpad by clicking and holding your mouse while making a swiping gesture left or right, or use a two finger gesture on your trackpad.

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