How to mount ISO images in Windows 10 – Easy Steps

Optical discs are slowly dying out. You’ll find that lower-end laptops and custom desktop versions can be outfitted with an optical disc reader, but the technology has become much less common. USB and external drives are now the popular method of transferring data when online transfer is not practical or possible. Software distribution has also changed; most of the software is available online and users can download and install it with little help.

ISO images

ISO images are files that contain everything you need to install specific software. They are used to distribute operating systems, among other things. In the absence of optical drivers, these files are no longer distributed on CDs or DVDs. Instead, they are downloaded like any other type of file. The question is how to use an ISO file.

Mount ISO images

ISO images or ISO files are ‘mounted’ as virtual disks. The operating system believes that there is an optical disc drive in the system, that it has a CD or DVD inserted, and can read the installation files it contains.

Windows 10 can mount an ISO image natively.

Method 1

1. Opened File Browser.
2. Navigate to ISO file.
3. Select the ISO file.
4. Look at the tape and you will see a new Manage tab.
5. Select the Manage tab.
6. Click on the Mounting button.

7. Opened File Explorer and go to This PC.
8. the the mounted ISO file will appear with the other connected units.
9. Double-click the drive to open it.

Method 2

1. Opened File Browser.
2. Navigate to ISO image.
3. Right click on the file and select Mount from the context menu.
4. Navigate to this PC.
5. The mounted The image will appear with other discs.

Unmount the ISO image

Once you have accessed the files in the ISO image and used them, you can unmount the ISO image.

1. Opened File Browser.
2. Go to This PC.
3. Right-click on the mounted ISO image.
4. Select Eject from the context menu.
5. The ISO image will be unmounted.

conclusion

ISO images are common with little-known operating system and software files. They are the best way to distribute software that requires many complex files to install. With some ISO files, you can try using an extraction software. The extracted folder will show the same files it would see if you had mounted the image, and you will probably see an installation file that you can run. That being said, it may not install properly. The best way to install anything distributed as an ISO image is to mount it as a virtual drive.