How to Burn ISO Files to DVD

This wikiHow teaches you how to burn an ISO file onto a blank DVD. You can do this on both Windows and Mac computers using built-in software. Burning an ISO allows you to run the ISO file as a program, which is useful when creating an...
Method 1 of 2:

On Windows

  1. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 1How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 1
    Make sure that your computer has a disc drive that can burn. You will need a DVD drive in order to burn your ISO file onto a blank DVD. Most modern Windows computers have a DVD drive.
    1. If your CD tray has "DVD" engraved on it or near it, you can burn DVDs.
    2. If you can't burn DVDs, you will need to buy an external DVD drive for your computer.
  2. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 2How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 2
    Insert a blank DVD into your computer. If you want to use this DVD for installing an operating system or running a game, make sure that the DVD has never been used before.
  3. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 3How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 3
    Open Start
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    . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  4. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 5How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 5
    Open File Explorer
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    . Click the folder-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the Start window.
  5. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 7How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 7
    Go to your ISO's folder. Click the folder in which your ISO file is stored on the left side of the File Explorer window.
    1. For example, if you have the ISO file on your computer's desktop, you would click Desktop.
  6. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 8How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 8
    Select your ISO file. Click the ISO file to select it.
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    Click Share. This tab is in the upper-left side of the File Explorer window. Doing so prompts a toolbar to appear at the top of the File Explorer window.
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    Click Burn to disc. It's in the toolbar. A pop-up window will appear.
  9. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 11How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 11
    Make sure your DVD drive is selected as the burner. If you have more than one disc drive for your computer, click the "Disc burner" drop-down box and then click the DVD option in the drop-down menu.
  10. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 12How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 12
    Click Burn. It's at the bottom of the pop-up window. Doing so will prompt your computer to begin burning the ISO file onto your DVD. Once the process is complete, you can eject the DVD.
    1. The burn process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours depending on the ISO file's size.
Method 2 of 2:

On Mac

  1. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 13How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 13
    Insert a blank DVD into your Mac's CD slot. Since most Macs don't come with a built-in disc slot, you will likely need an external DVD reader to do this.
    1. You can buy an external disk reader from Apple for less than $90.
    2. To attach an external DVD reader to your Mac, connect the DVD reader's cable to your Mac's USB port (on the left side of a Mac laptop or on the back of an iMac desktop monitor).
  2. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 14How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 14
    Make sure you know where your ISO file is. The burning process is simplest when the ISO file is somewhere easy to access, such as your Mac's desktop.
  3. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 15How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 15
    Open Spotlight
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    . Click the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner of the screen. A search bar will appear.
  4. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 17How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 17
    Type disk utility into Spotlight. This will search your Mac for the Disk Utility app, which is what you'll use to burn the ISO file.
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    Click Disk Utility. It's a grey hard drive icon with a stethoscope on top of it. You should see it at the top of the Spotlight search results.
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    Click Burn. This radioactive symbol-shaped icon is at the top of the window. A pop-up Finder window will appear.
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    Select your ISO file. Click on the ISO file's location folder (e.g., Desktop) on the left side of the Finder window, then click the ISO file to select it.
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    Click Burn. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. This will close the Finder window.
  9. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 22How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 22
    Click Burn when prompted. This option is in the drop-down window at the top of the Disk Utility window. Clicking it prompts the burning process to begin.
    1. Depending on the size of the ISO, burning can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
  10. How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 23How to Burn ISO Files to DVD Picture 23
    Click OK when prompted. You'll see this in the lower-right corner of the completion window. Doing so concludes the burn process.
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