What are DMG files? How to open and convert DMG files to ISO on your computer

If you are a regular user of Apple devices such as  Macbook ,  iMac ,  iPhone , . you must have met through DMG file format once. The following article will give you the concept of what a DMG file is, with instructions on how to open and convert DMG files on your computer. Let's follow along!

1. What is a DMG file?

Define

The DMG file format was created by Apple primarily for use with computers and Macintosh computing devices. DMG files are a disk image format that enables Mac devices to install various image files or software downloaded from the internet.

Specifications

The DMG file format is specially designed for Mac computers and not for Windows. In some cases, users can convert files for the sake of finding add-ons, allowing files to be accessed from selected devices. But if, the original DMG file is password protected by Apple, the conversion application cannot work.

2. Some software to read DMG files on Windows computers

DMG Extractor

DMG Extractor is a tool to extract files and read DMG files directly on Windows.

- Salient features:

+ Read, browse and decompress DMG files on  Windows operating systems .

+ Does not require users to have a lot of skills and experience.

Download DMG Extractor HERE.

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HFSExplorer

HFSExplorer allows opening DMG files encrypted with AES-128 algorithm, a simple way to be able to read DMG files without a Mac computer.

- Salient features:

+ Simple interface, easy to use, does not require many skills.

+ Encrypt and read DMG files on Windows.

+ Requires users to install Java SE Runtime Environment.

Download HFSExplorer HERE.

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7-Zip

7-Zip is a software known for its main feature of compressing and decompressing many different types of data. However, few people know that 7-Zip is also an application capable of reading DMG files on Windows.

- Salient features:

+ Compatible with many operating systems.

+ Support reading DMG file format on Windows.

+ Features to compress and decompress text files, installation files, audio videos, etc. quickly and simply.

Download 7-Zip HERE.

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3. Is it possible to use DMG files on Windows?

DMG files are not designed for use on Windows, most of them contain MacOS applications. In some cases, if you need to open a DMG file on Windows, software that supports reading and extracting DMG format such as 7-Zip, HFSExplorer or DMG Extractor can help you. In addition, there are some software that can help you convert DMG files into other formats more suitable for Windows.

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4. How to open DMG files on your computer

On a Windows computer

The DMG file format is used for MacOS, so when you want to open DMG files on a Windows computer, you need to install 3rd software. The instructions below are for 7-Zip software, an application. popular for reading DMG files on Windows.

Step 1: Right-click on the DMG file > Select 7-Zip > Open archive.

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Step 2: Select any folders to open.

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On Macbook

- DMG files are mainly used to install applications on Mac, so they can be easily opened by: Double-clicking on the file > View the contents of the file (image, text file or file with extension) .app is the app to install).

- In case of Double-clicking the DMG file > Display a message of the form "[Filename] + can't be opened because it was not downloaded from the App Store." > Unable to open the file because it was not downloaded from the App Store, perform the following steps:

Step 1: Click OK when the message is displayed.

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Step 2: Open the Apple menu > Click the Apple logo in the upper left corner > Select System Preferences.

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Step 3: The System Preferences dialog box opens > Select Security & Privacy.

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Step 4: Click the padlock icon in the lower left corner of the dialog box.

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Step 5: Enter your password in the pop-up window > Click Unlock.

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Step 6: To the right of the DMG file name at the bottom of the page > Select Open Anyway.

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Step 7: Select Open when a message is displayed to open the file.

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5. How to use DMG files on MacOS

How to open files

On MacOS, normally the DMG file is located on the Desktop or the Finder bar in the hard drive > Go to either of these places > Double-click to open the DMG file.

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How to install apps in file

The DMG file usually contains the application and the folders associated with the application. To install the app > drag the app to the Applications folder > Launch the app from Launchpad or Spotlight.

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Note: Do not launch the application right from the DMG because the application will no longer exist when the DMG file is deleted.

DMG file cleanup

After installing the application in the DMG file, you can remove the copy of the DMG because there is already a copy in the Applications folder. To remove a DMG file > Right-click the file > Select the Eject command or press the Eject button next to the drive in Finder.

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6. How to create a DMG . file

Step 1: Open Disk Utility and select File > New Image > Image from Folder (or Blank Image if you want to create an empty DMG file that you can add content to later).

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Step 2: In the new window > Select the folder you want to encrypt > Click Choose.

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Step 3: Choose some additional options like where to save the file and whether to use encryption or not. If you want to read and write to the DMG file, change the Image Format entry from Compressed to Read/Write.

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Step 4: Enter the password for your DMG file > Click Save.

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7. How to convert DMG files to ISO

The DMG image file is the most common format for distributing software on Mac OS, and computers using Windows operating systems cannot read this file extension. So converting DMG files to ISO is a way to open DMG file content on Windows or to burn image files to disc.

Step 1: Go HERE.

Step 2: Click on the link win32 binary to download the file.

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Step 3: Right-click the downloaded file > Select Extract All.

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Step 4: Select the location of the folder where you will extract the downloaded file > Here instructions select the Download folder > Click Extract.

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Step 5: Press Shift + Right-click Downloads (The folder containing the extracted files) > Select Open command window here.

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Step 6: Use the command with the syntax dmg2img​ to change the file. In this tutorial, we are changing a DMG file on the desktop named random.dmg and saving the created ISO file in the Documents folder so the command will be:

dmg2img 'C:UsersTaylor GibbDesktoprandom.dmg' 'C:UsersTaylor GibbDocumentsConvertedRandom.iso

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Press Enter and wait for the file to convert.

The above article has provided you with interesting information about the DMG file format and detailed instructions on how to open and convert this file for ease of use. Wishing you success!

Kareem Winters

Update 06 July 2021