How to open ISO files?
Update: Are you new to ISO? We have more resources that will help you deal with ISO files, click here to read them.
An ISO image is an image of files that can be burnt to a CD. If you’ve just downloaded an ISO file, and be able to open the ISO file and edit its contents, before burning it off on a CD, here’s a quick guide telling you how you can open an ISO file.
First, you should know that there are quite a handful of programs that let you open ISO files, but I’m going to talk only about WinRAR here, because it’s a simple tool and just does the job intended.
- Get your copy of WinRAR from this page, double click on the setup file and the installation proceeds.
- During the setup process, WinRAR will ask you to set file associations, make sure that ISO is checked. Click ‘Done’ in the next window.
- Now, navigate to the folder where your ISO file is present. Notice that there’s a WinRAR icon indicating the ISO file.
- Double click to open the ISO file.
- WinRAR opens and the contents of the file are displayed.

Here are some more resources that will help you deal with ISO files.
- Mount ISO files as a virtual CD/DVD Rom Drive – If you do not have a CD/DVD writer you can still run ISO files like you would through a CD, read this article to know more about it.
- Free ISO Burner & Burn ISO Files to CD/DVD Free tool – Using these tools you can easily burn a ISO file to a CD or DVD.
- Create ISO Files from any Folder – Want to create your own ISO files? Use this handy tool to create them.
- Find Which Programs Can open Unknown File Types – Have you ever come across files that you are not aware of or have never seen before? Use this excellent free utility to find which application can open that file.
- For more information related to ISO, please visit the ISO section on Techie Buzz, additionally visit the Home Page to view the latest content or browse our huge gallery of Tips and Tricks posts. We also have a huge list of hand-picked popular posts, don’t forget to visit theĀ Top Posts section to read them.
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Yo yo Man
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:40 pm #
Yo what up G, nice guide.
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Ayas
December 29th, 2008 at 4:03 am #
Hey thanks ..simple and helpful..keep it up
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Understood?
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:35 am #
Umm… Is that WinRAR free?
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Rayne
February 9th, 2009 at 8:33 pm #
thanks! very helpful info!
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Deepak Sharma
March 3rd, 2009 at 5:58 pm #
Excellent instructions.
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munevar800
April 12th, 2009 at 12:38 pm #
winRAR is a freeware..
you can have it free,,, ^^.
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kamishikome
May 5th, 2009 at 9:33 am #
Thanks for this little guide
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ePunk
May 7th, 2009 at 9:50 am #
very simple but extremely helpful !!
thank you very much
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Zack
May 19th, 2009 at 11:01 am #
Hey, nice guide, and yes win-rar is free.. here is the website you can download it there –> http://www.win-rar.com
Thanks for the guide it did help me opening the iso.
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Fahad Hasan
May 24th, 2009 at 1:12 pm #
Great info. I was seraching whole day how to open ISO files but thisi is very simple.
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haidy
June 8th, 2009 at 2:37 am #
WinMount can also open an iso file.
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haidy
June 8th, 2009 at 2:39 am #
WinMount supports mounting ISO file as a virtual disk, there are 4 ways:
1. Using file association
1) Open WinMount main window, Click the “Option” drop down menu, Select “Options-File Association”, tip ISO to be associated with Mount.
2) Double-click a ISO file, WinMount will mount it to a new virtual disk.
2. Using right-click menu
On ISO right-click drop down menu, click “WinMount3 -> Mount to new drive”, WinMount will mount it to a new virtual disk.
. Mount to new drive : Mount the ISO file to a new virtual drive.
. Mount to…: Assign a disk letter for the ISO file. (Refer to “How to assign a disk?” on the bottom of this page.)
3. Using toolbar
1) Click the button “Mount File” on the toolbar of WinMount main interface;
2) Select a ISO files, click “ok”. WinMount will mount it to a new virtual disk.
4. Using drag
Drag a ISO file to WinMount main interface, WinMount will mount it to a new virtual disk.
How to assign a disk?
Of course, you can assign a disk for the ISO file, such as H: or K: or whatever you like.
1) Click the button “Mount to” on the toolbar of WinMount main interface( or right-click the ISO file and select “Mount to…”).
2) Select a ISO file, select a drive, then WinMount would mount the ISO file to the assigned disk.
You can also input a path for the ISO file.
For example, select “H:\” and input “folder\folder1″, then the ISO file would be mount to “H:\folder\folder1″.
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kathryn
June 19th, 2009 at 10:13 pm #
thanks, worked like a charm!
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Jacques Snyman | 3Q
June 28th, 2009 at 1:27 pm #
WinRAR works for me too. But WinMount has got merit as well. For quick and easy WinRAR is king though!
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Blends
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:06 pm #
Many user just run the setup but not tick the ISO on the setup. Maybe the file seem not really important to them.
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capik
August 27th, 2009 at 10:02 am #
Why when I wanna open the ISO file with WinRar the warning message shows that “The archieve is either unkonown format or damaged”?What should Ido?
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