How to Re-Download Lion From the Mac App Store

[MacRumors]

Macworld points out that with the launch of OS X Mountain Lion today, Apple has seemingly removed OS X Lion from the Mac App Store. However, users can re-download it -- and then create a Recovery USB Key -- if they have already purchased it.

Folks who already bought Lion can in fact re-download it, if they hold down Option when clicking on the Purchased tab. That secret shortcut makes Lion reappear in the list.

With the Option key trick, customers who own Lion and, for whatever reason, want to install it fresh on a compatible Mac, can do so.

Customers who never purchased Lion are out of luck as far as the App Store goes, though the OS X Lion USB Thumb Drive is still available via the Apple Online Store for $69.

Article Link: How to Re-Download Lion From the Mac App Store

[Mad Mac Maniac]

so with ML, OS updates will be done through the MAS right? So when ML gets removed with the release of 10.9 does that mean no more updates?

[Aussi3]

You will still get updates

[coder12]

Originally Posted by Mad Mac Maniac

so with ML, OS updates will be done through the MAS right? So when ML gets removed with the release of 10.9 does that mean no more updates?

They'll probably just hide the purchase link like they did with Lion :P You can still get updates, just like you always have, without actually needing to go into the apps' individual page; it will just show up in the software update location.

[deannnnn]

Originally Posted by Mad Mac Maniac

so with ML, OS updates will be done through the MAS right? So when ML gets removed with the release of 10.9 does that mean no more updates?

I don't have Mountain Lion yet as I'm still awaiting my upgrade key, but I'm sure that whenever 10.9 is released, 10.8 users will still be able to get updates through the App Store. They can't just leave older users out in the cold.

[KALLT]

Very strange decision if you ask me. Since the App Store is the only place where you can get Lion, people with systems that haven’t been upgraded before and are not eligible for Mountain Lion are basically stuck, unless they get it from other sources. Is this Apple’s way of saying ‘we don’t care about you anyway’? Even this option-click method to download it again appears to be more than a hidden way than an obvious solution, clearly to prevent inexperienced users from finding it. It feels as if Apple is trying to cut the cords as much as possible.

[Acks101]

Hi i have tried the above method and it is not working for me. osx Lion is not coming up when i press the option key and click purchases.

just before installing mountain lion i accidentally clicked the cross next to the osx lion download button in the purchased apps section. now i can't find osx lion anywhere.

As i did pay for it i would like to make a copy of it just in case i ever need it.
can someone please help.

thank you,
Acks.

[KALLT]

Originally Posted by Acks101

Hi i have tried the above method and it is not working for me. osx Lion is not coming up when i press the option key and click purchases.

just before installing mountain lion i accidentally clicked the cross next to the osx lion download button in the purchased apps section. now i can't find osx lion anywhere.

As i did pay for it i would like to make a copy of it just in case i ever need it.
can someone please help.

thank you,
Acks.

Go to the main page of the App Store and log in to your account (the link on the right hand side). There you find an option under iTunes in the Cloud to view hidden purchases. You can unhide it there.

[Primejimbo]

sorry for the dumb question...
How do I get Mountain Lion with Snow Leopard? Will I get charged for Lion when I buy Mountain Lion then?

[Zerotolerance]

I still have the OS X Lion available as a download in my Purchases list. But this whole thing is screwed up. I usually skip to every other OS, so I was planning to upgrade from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion. Luckily, two weeks ago, I found out that my older Mac couldn't run Mountain Lion, so I hurried up and bought Lion because I suspected Apple would pull it from the App Store, leaving me with no way to purchase it. It's not like the old days of hard discs where you go on to eBay or amazon and still find old but still brand new OS's for sale. I'll bet there will be others like me in the coming weeks who think they're going to buy Mountain Lion, but when the find out it can't run on their Macs, they're going to be stuck. I think that if Apple is only going to make its software available in the App Store, they should have a special "clearance bin" section of older versions at discount prices for people who don't have the hardware to purchase the latest version.

[Glassed Silver]

Originally Posted by Primejimbo

sorry for the dumb question...
How do I get Mountain Lion with Snow Leopard? Will I get charged for Lion when I buy Mountain Lion then?

No.
Snow Leopard is the least version you can upgrade from, so you're golden.
Just go to the Mac App Store, purchase Lion at the standard price and off you go.

Glassed Silver:mac

[AriX]

Originally Posted by Mad Mac Maniac

so with ML, OS updates will be done through the MAS right? So when ML gets removed with the release of 10.9 does that mean no more updates?

That's not how that works. The OS updates that will come through the Mac App Store are not the same as regular app updates. I believe they are the same updates that would normally come through Software Update, just integrated into the App Store app instead. The "Mountain Lion" item you buy from the MAS is the OS installer; the installer will likely get updated for new versions of the OS, but that will be separate from the OS updates themselves.
(This is just my intuition based on what I've seen; I don't know 100% how it works.)

[ixodes]

Originally Posted by Primejimbo

sorry for the dumb question...
How do I get Mountain Lion with Snow Leopard? Will I get charged for Lion when I buy Mountain Lion then?

http://www.apple.com/osx/how-to-upgrade/

[Acks101]

Originally Posted by KALLT

Go to the main page of the App Store and log in to your account (the link on the right hand side). There you find an option under iTunes in the Cloud to view hidden purchases. You can unhide it there.

Thanks alot mate.

[jsalda]

Originally Posted by Zerotolerance

I still have the OS X Lion available as a download in my Purchases list. But this whole thing is screwed up. I usually skip to every other OS, so I was planning to upgrade from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion. Luckily, two weeks ago, I found out that my older Mac couldn't run Mountain Lion, so I hurried up and bought Lion because I suspected Apple would pull it from the App Store, leaving me with no way to purchase it. It's not like the old days of hard discs where you go on to eBay or amazon and still find old but still brand new OS's for sale. I'll bet there will be others like me in the coming weeks who think they're going to buy Mountain Lion, but when the find out it can't run on their Macs, they're going to be stuck. I think that if Apple is only going to make its software available in the App Store, they should have a special "clearance bin" section of older versions at discount prices for people who don't have the hardware to purchase the latest version.

I agree. I was playing with the wife's Macbook (Early 2008) last night and decided to check the requirements for ML. When I found out it wasn't supported, something in me told me to get Lion while I can, had a suspicion Apple would pull it. Glad I did.

Also, it's showing up in my "Purchases" tab. Downloading it now on my MBP (still running SL) and throwing it on my server at work for safe keeping.

[AzN1337c0d3r]

Looks like they pulled the OS X Lion USB Thumb Drive too. Contrary to what the article states.

[Primejimbo]

Originally Posted by Glassed Silver

No.
Snow Leopard is the least version you can upgrade from, so you're golden.
Just go to the Mac App Store, purchase Lion at the standard price and off you go.

Glassed Silver:mac

Lion got pulled from the App Store:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...rolls_out.html

Originally Posted by ixodes

http://www.apple.com/osx/how-to-upgrade/

Doesn't tell me how much I would pay. I doubt it I would pay only $19.99 to go from SL to Mountain Lion.

[Dewroo]

Does anyone agree with me that this makes sense, as it reduces consumer confusion?

[KALLT]

Originally Posted by Dewroo

Does anyone agree with me that this makes sense, as it reduces consumer confusion?

I find that argument unconvincing. There would have been other methods to make customers aware of the difference, like an overview page or a pop up if customers attempt to download it, although they could get Mountain Lion instead. They could also just hide it entirely when the App Store detects that the customer’s Mac is capable of running Mountain Lion. These are all other options Apple could have taken to ensure that customers get the latest software, but don’t leave existing customers with Snow Leopard.

[AzN1337c0d3r]

Originally Posted by Dewroo

Does anyone agree with me that this makes sense, as it reduces consumer confusion?

Makes perfect sense, if "planned obsolescence" is your sales model.

[KPOM]

Originally Posted by KALLT

Very strange decision if you ask me. Since the App Store is the only place where you can get Lion, people with systems that haven’t been upgraded before and are not eligible for Mountain Lion are basically stuck, unless they get it from other sources. Is this Apple’s way of saying ‘we don’t care about you anyway’? Even this option-click method to download it again appears to be more than a hidden way than an obvious solution, clearly to prevent inexperienced users from finding it. It feels as if Apple is trying to cut the cords as much as possible.

According to Macworld you can get it by calling 1-800-MY-APPLE, although not all the reps there know about the option yet.
http://www.macworld.com/article/1167...app_store.html

[matrix07]

I don't see Lion in my purchase tab. I got it when I buy MBA, guess I'm out of luck.

[StrudelTurnover]

Originally Posted by Zerotolerance

I think that if Apple is only going to make its software available in the App Store, they should have a special "clearance bin" section of older versions at discount prices for people who don't have the hardware to purchase the latest version.

No matter what they might call it, selling fresh copies of old software implies that they're obligated to support it. And I bet you'd see lawsuits insisting on it. No consumer expects to have a dead version with security updates if they bought it yesterday from the company what made it.

And seriously, ML is $20, L was $30, SL was $30. What exactly is a discount price? We're not talking $150 upgrades anymore. It's all hardware subsidies now.

Finally, because you seem to have forgotten, Apple is the closed sales loop. They have everything to gain from encouraging you upgrade hardware, and no reason to care if you choose not to.

Isn't there some kind of aftermarket for developer seeded OSX builds? Or did they solve that problem?

[adrian.oconnor]

Originally Posted by matrix07

I don't see Lion in my purchase tab. I got it when I buy MBA, guess I'm out of luck.

If Lion came on your MBA you already have a copy to keep -- in your laptop box you also got a tiny little white USB stick (with a grey Apple logo on it). That's the Lion install 'disc'. If you need to wipe the laptop, stick that in and hold down alt (or 'the option key') while the computer starts up.

[cgc]

Originally Posted by Dewroo

Does anyone agree with me that this makes sense, as it reduces consumer confusion?

Sure, but there's a growing community of people who can't upgrade to OSX 10.8 so OSX 10.7 was a good option.