To open an ISO file in Windows 11, double-click it in File Explorer, or right-click it and choose Mount. Windows adds it as a virtual DVD drive under This PC, and you can open, copy, or run files from it just like a real disc. When you’re done, right-click the drive and choose Eject. You don’t need any extra software.
What you do next depends on the ISO. Below are the steps for mounting, extracting, making a bootable USB, and using an ISO in a virtual machine, plus fixes when Mount is missing.
How to mount an ISO file in Windows 11
- Open File Explorer (press Windows + E) and find the ISO file.
- Double-click it, or right-click it and choose Mount.
- A new DVD Drive with its own letter, like E:, appears in the left pane under This PC. It usually opens automatically.
- Open the files you need, or run setup.exe if it’s a software installer.
How to unmount (eject) an ISO
Right-click the virtual DVD drive in File Explorer and choose Eject. Restarting your PC also unmounts it.
What to do with an ISO
| Goal | What to do |
|---|---|
| Install software or a game from an ISO | Mount it and run the setup file |
| Copy files out of it | Mount it and copy, or extract with 7-Zip |
| Install Windows or Linux on a PC | Write it to a USB drive to make it bootable |
| Try an operating system without installing it | Load it in a virtual machine |
| Make a physical disc | Right-click > Burn disc image (needs a DVD burner) |
How to extract an ISO with 7-Zip
- Install 7-Zip from 7-zip.org.
- Right-click the ISO and choose Show more options > 7-Zip > Extract to “filename\”.
This is useful if you want the files in a normal folder. Recent Windows 11 versions can also open some archive formats natively, but Mount is the built-in way for ISOs.
How to make a bootable USB from an ISO
Copying an ISO onto a USB drive doesn’t make it bootable. Use a tool instead:
- Windows ISOs: Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool can create a Windows 11 USB directly. See how to install Windows 11 on a new PC.
- Linux or other ISOs: A free tool such as Rufus or balenaEtcher can write an ISO to a USB drive. Select the ISO, select the USB drive, and start. Everything on the USB drive is erased.
How to use an ISO in a virtual machine
In VirtualBox, VMware, or Hyper-V, create a new virtual machine and select the ISO as the installation disc. The VM boots from it as if it were a real DVD. On Windows 11 Pro, you can also try Windows Sandbox for testing apps, though it doesn’t boot ISOs.
Mount option missing? Try these fixes
- Another app took over ISO files. Apps like WinRAR, PowerISO, or 7-Zip can become the default. Right-click the ISO, choose Open with > Choose another app > Windows Explorer, and check Always. Or set it in Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for .iso, and choose Windows Explorer.
- “Couldn’t mount file. The disc image file is corrupted.” Download the ISO again and compare its checksum if the site provides one.
- File is blocked. Right-click the ISO > Properties. If you see Unblock at the bottom, check it and click OK. Only do this for files from trusted sources.
- ISO is on a network drive or is sparse/compressed. Copy it to your local drive, and make sure it isn’t set to compress in its advanced properties.
- Mount via PowerShell. Run
Mount-DiskImage -ImagePath "C:\Users\You\Downloads\file.iso", replacing the path with yours.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to open an ISO file?
Mounting an ISO doesn’t run anything by itself. Be careful running setup files from ISOs you downloaded from untrusted sites, just as you would with any installer.
Can I mount more than one ISO?
Yes. Each mounted ISO gets its own drive letter.
Can I open an ISO on Windows 10?
Yes. Windows 8 and later, including Windows 10, can mount ISOs with the same double-click or right-click steps.
What’s the difference between ISO and IMG files?
Both are disk images. Windows can mount IMG files the same way if they use a standard disc format.
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.