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Mac OS X Lion Minimum Installation Requirements
Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2 GB of RAM minimum
By Tom Nelson Tom Nelson Writer Tom Nelson is an engineer, programmer, network manager, and computer network and systems designer who has written for Other World Computing,and others. Tom is also president of Coyote Moon, Inc., a Macintosh and Windows consulting firm. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on January 1, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Apple Macs iPad Apple released OS X 10.7 Lion in July of 2011. Lion melds some of the capabilities of OS X (now macOS) and iOS. Lion incorporates multi-touch gesture support, as well as additional iOS technologies and interface elements. Apple, Inc. Why Upgrade
For Mac portable users, this means the trackpad will get an extra workout as new gestures become available to access Lion. Mac desktop users will need to invest in an Apple Magic Trackpad to gain the same level of control. Lion also works fine without a trackpad. You can still use your mouse and keyboard to access the new features. However, you won't have as much fun as your trackpad-using friends. Learn how to perform a clean install of Mac OS X Lion on a Mac device. OS X Lion Minimum Requirements
Intel Core 2 Duo processor or better: Lion is a 64-bit OS. Unlike Snow Leopard, which could run on the first Intel processors that Apple used (the Intel Core Duo in the 2006 iMac and the Intel Core Solo and Core Duo in the Mac mini), the Lion OS won't support 32-bit Intel processors. 2 GB RAM: Lion will likely run with only 1 GB of RAM. However, Apple has shipped Macs with at least 2 GB of installed RAM since 2009. Most Macs since 2007 can be updated to at least 3 GB of RAM. 8 GB drive space: Lion will be delivered via download from the Mac App Store. The download size will be slightly larger than 4 GB, but this is probably a compressed size. Plan on needing at least 8 GB of drive space for installation. DVD drive: Because of the new distribution method, a DVD drive isn't required to download and install Lion. However, with the help of a few installation guides, you can burn a bootable CD of Lion to ensure you can reinstall it or run repair options. Internet access: Apple provides the OS as a download from the Mac App Store, which means you'll need an internet connection to download OS X Lion. Snow Leopard: Because the Lion OS can only be purchased from the Mac App Store, you'll need Snow Leopard on your Mac. Snow Leopard is the minimum requirement for running the Mac App Store application. If you haven't upgraded to Snow Leopard, do it now, if the product is still available. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Can I Upgrade or Downgrade to Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6)? Which Microsoft Surface Is Best for You? How to Make a Bootable Flash Installer of OS X or macOS Windows 7: Editions, Service Packs, Licenses, and More How to Use BlueStacks to Run Android Apps on Windows 8 Things to Consider Before Buying a Desktop PC MacBook Pro Upgrade Guide How to Install Mac OS on PC Perform a Clean Install of OS X Lion on Your Mac Minimum Requirements for OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) How to Update Your MacBook Pro OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard Installation Guides What You Should Know Before You Buy a 2011 iMac Beginner's Guide to PC Gaming Windows 8: Editions, Updates, Licenses, & More How to Update Your MacBook Air Laptop Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies