Windows 10 can mount an ISO file as a virtual DVD drive without burning it. This is useful for viewing files or running a legitimate installer contained in the image.
- Locate the ISO in File Explorer.
- Right-click it and choose Mount, or double-click it when ISO files are associated with File Explorer.
- Open This PC and select the new virtual DVD drive.
- Browse or copy the files you need.
- When finished, right-click the virtual drive and choose Eject.
Mounting does not make an ISO safe
An ISO can contain malware just like a ZIP file or physical disc. Verify downloaded images and scan unfamiliar content before running executables.
If Mount is missing
Another application may own the .iso file association. You can use Open with/File Explorer or restore the Windows association rather than installing an unknown disc utility.
Mount versus bootable media
Mounting an operating-system ISO inside Windows is different from creating a bootable USB/DVD. Follow the OS vendor’s supported media-creation instructions when the goal is installation.
Windows 10 status
Windows 10 itself is unsupported in 2026, so avoid reinstalling it for general-purpose Internet-connected PCs when a supported option is available.
Copying files out
You can copy ordinary files from the mounted virtual drive to a normal folder just as you would from a physical disc. Do not modify the mounted ISO and expect the original image file to change; a mounted image is generally presented as read-only content.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.