TOP 5 ISO file editing software on Windows 10/11

An ISO file is a huge compressed file commonly used to package operating system files and software installation files, such as Microsoft Office. People also use ISO files to share their system backup images.

Although ISO files can be easily mounted or accessed using Windows' default disc image burning tool, it's not the best way for you if you want to edit the contents of the ISO file. So, how can you edit ISO files on Windows 10 and 11?

This guide includes some unique third-party tools that you can use to mount and edit ISO files easily.

1. Windows Disc Image Burner

Before checking out the alternatives, let's see how you can edit ISO files without installing any third-party software. To do that, you need to use a Windows utility called Windows Disc Image Burner.

Disc Image Burner allows you to quickly burn any ISO file to a physical CD or DVD. Burning means copying all the files available inside the ISO file to another location. In other words, extract the ISO file so you can read and access the file.

Follow these steps to use the traditional ISO file burning method:

1. by pressing Win + E keys simultaneously .
2. Now, find the ISO file that you need to edit.
3. Right click on your ISO file and select Burn disc image .

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1. Next, tick the checkbox that says Verify disc after burning and click OK to start burning the ISO file.

When the tool burns your ISO file correctly, it will check the disc for damage or not. Once everything is done, you can start editing the files. While this approach is almost perfect, sometimes it doesn't work and you may get errors like "the disk is write protected" .

In this case, you should avoid using the default Windows tool and switch to an alternative.

2. PowerISO

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PowerISO is an all-in-one tool for all your Windows ISO needs. The best thing that users like about PowerISO is that it not only allows you to edit the ISO, but it can also burn the modified ISO to a CD, DVD or Bluray disc.

In addition, PowerISO also supports encoding your modified ISOs, dividing images into different parts, recompressing ISO files and converting file formats like ISO to .ZIP or .BIN format.

To get started with PowerISO, you need to install it first, then you can start editing the ISO file by double clicking on it. If you want to copy the contents of the ISO file, click the Extract button at the top and select the desired folder.

Let's say you are using PowerISO to create a custom Windows ISO. In that case, you can also create a bootable USB with one click. Besides, the use of PowerISO is not limited to ISO files; it also supports batch conversion options for different audio files like MP3, OGG, WAV, etc.

3. Rufus

Rufus is well known for its ability to create custom bootable USBs from operating system images in one go. Rufus' simple yet feature-rich user interface makes it the best for all your Windows or Linux installation needs.

Most people use Rufus just to create a bootable USB. However, you can also use it to edit ISO files.

Follow these steps to learn how to edit ISO files with Rufus:

1. Download and install the latest version of Rufus.
2. Open it and under Device , select the USB on which you want to save the ISO file contents.
3. In Boot selection , click Select and select the ISO file you need to edit.
4. Now, choose a Partition scheme. If you don't know what each partition scheme does, see the article for an overview.
5. In the Volume label text box , change the name of your volume, and then press START. You have to wait until Rufus mounts the file contents to your selected USB.

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1. Launch File Explorer and navigate to your USB.
2. You are free to make as many changes as you want in the same folder.

4. UltraISO

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If you are looking for a tool to edit, merge, mount and convert your ISO files, then UltraISO might be the best choice for you. Compared to other options on the market, UltraISO is slightly better than the competition.

But why should you use UltraISO when Windows gives you the option to mount any ISO by default? There are many reasons to use UltraISO for ISO purposes. It provides a two pane tab to easily manage your ISO structure and copy/paste files without switching to file explorer. Besides, there's more to UltraISO than just mounting an ISO file.

The best thing is that you can handle almost all image file types in UltraISO. Alternatively, you can also change their format to the standard ISO format. It also supports compression and encoding of ISO content.

Furthermore, you can even check the ISO for corruption or any other errors via Tools > Check CD/DVD Disk  in UltraISO. While it's the perfect tool for tech enthusiasts, it's not ideal for newbies because of its advanced user interface, which can easily cause confusion.

5. WinCDEmu

WinCDEmu is a lightweight open source tool to mount any ISO file on Windows. You can also turn an entire folder or USB into an ISO file instead of mounting it.

To use WinCDEmu, you need to double-click the ISO file or right-click any ISO file, then click Open with > WinCDEmu mounter . Next, choose a single drive letter and it will extract all the files packed in your ISO file to that drive.

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Once you're done modifying the files, just right-click on the mounted drive and select Create ISO image from the context menu that appears.

Unfortunately, WinCDEmu does not provide a dedicated in-app interface for modifying ISOs. Therefore, you need to do everything in File Explorer itself.

Although WinCDEmu has help for some ISO needs, the article advises you not to use it if you are savvy and are looking for a more flexible program. The reason the article includes this option is because of its simplicity and ease of use, which can attract newbies.

Samuel Daniel

Update 27 June 2023