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Key Takeaways

Right-click an ISO file and click "Mount" to mount it on Windows 10 or Windows 8. You don't need third-party software. Windows 7 requires specialized software, like WinCDEmu.

Windows finally offers a built-in way to mount ISO disc image files on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows 8. If you're using Windows 7, you'll need a third-party tool.

Mounting an ISO Image in Windows 8 or Windows 10

On Windows 8 (and 8.1) and 10, Windows has the built-in ability to mount both ISO disc image and VHD virtual hard drive image files. You have three options. You can:

  • Double-click an ISO file to mount it. This won't work if you have ISO files associated with another program on your system.
  • Right-click an ISO file and select the "Mount" option.
  • Select the file in File Explorer and and click the "Mount" button under the "Disk Image Tools" tab on the ribbon.
Right-click an ISO file and select "Mount."

Once you've mounted the disc image, you'll see it appear as a new drive under This PC. Right-click the drive and select "Eject" to unmount the ISO file when you're done.

Right-click the mounted ISO file and select "Eject."

Mounting an ISO Image in Windows 7 or Vista

On older versions of Windows, you'll need a third-party application to mount ISO image files. We like WinCDEmu, a simple and open-source disc mounting program. It supports ISO files and other disc image formats.

WinCDEmu is even useful on Windows 8 and 10, where it will allow you to mount the BIN/CUE, NRG, MDS/MDF, CCD, and IMG image files that Windows still doesn't offer built-in support for.

Install WinCDEmu and give it permission to install the hardware driver it requires. After you do, just double-click a disc image file to mount it. You can also right-click a disc image file and click "Select drive letter & mount" in the context menu.

Double-click an ISO file, set your mounting preferences, then click "OK."

You'll see a simple interface for choosing the drive letter and other basic options. Click "OK" and the mounted image will appear under Computer. To unmount the disc image when you're done, right-click the virtual disc drive and select "Eject".

Right-click the ISO mounted in a virtual drive, then click "Eject."

Of course, just because Windows 10 doesn't require a program to mount an ISO file doesn't mean you can't use one. There are plenty of programs out there that offer additional ISO functionality.