Month: October 2025

[FIXED!] Lion Recovery Error Can’t download the additional components needed to install Mac OS X.

Multiple OS X Lion Recovery Errors – Install Error Can’t download the additional components needed to install Mac OS X.

As of 2025, Mac Internet Recovery versions from 10.7-10.13 are online, but have additional issues . In this article we will focus on the OS X 10.7 Lion install issues from Recovery

In my current quest to fix every single macOS Recovery version from 10.7 to 10.13, the most popular version requested was actually OS X Lion! While that article was helpful if you booted to OS X Lion Internet Recovery, users could have additional problems. One of those problems is this error “Can't download the additional components needed to install Mac OS X” This error can happen with both internet recovery and with a USB Installer. You can also get the error ” An error occurred while preparing the installation. Try running this application again.“

OS X Lion was actually the very first version of Internet Recovery. So it is now the oldest version still online. The fact at Apple is still maintaining Lion’s Internet Recovery server is great, but it is now completely broken.

Keep in mind, this is NOT the Date and Time issue that most articles point to. That fix worked in the past but does not work anymore. So internal recovery (command R) and Internet Recovery are currently unable to download and install OS X Lion in its current state.

Previously I provided fixes and workarounds for macOS High Sierra and macOS Sierra Recovery issues.

The other OS X Lion Recovery problem error is – An error occurred while preparing the installation. Try running this application again. You can go to this article for that issue – https://mrmacintosh.com/fixed-lion-recovery-an-error-occurred-while-preparing-the-installation-try-running-this-application-again/

High Sierra Recovery & Internet Recovery Fix

https://mrmacintosh.com/how-to-fix-the-recovery-server-could-not-be-contacted-error-high-sierra-recovery-is-still-online-but-broken

macOS Sierra Recovery & Internet Recovery Fix

https://mrmacintosh.com/fixed-an-error-occurred-while-preparing-the-installation-macos-sierra-recovery-error/

Let’s get jump in and get Lion Recovery fixed!

Table of contents

  1. What is the root problem?
  2. How to fix the issue?
  3. Fix #1 Downloading OS X Lion from Apple and creating a USB installer.
  4. Fix #2 Downloading OS X Lion from INSIDE Lion Recovery and using it to Install Lion with it!
  5. Extra Option: Creating a OS X Lion USB installer drive INSIDE OS X Lion Recovery!
Continue reading “[FIXED!] Lion Recovery Error Can’t download the additional components needed to install Mac OS X.”
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