How to Mount ISO Images in Windows 11 and 10
Open ISO disc images as virtual drives using File Explorer or PowerShell — no extra software.
Overview
Windows can mount ISO files natively as virtual DVD drives, so you can browse and run their contents without burning a disc. This guide shows how to mount ISOs via File Explorer and PowerShell, and how to extract them.
Mounting an ISO image in Windows.
Key Takeaways
- Windows mounts ISOs natively — no third-party app needed.
- Double-click or right-click > Mount in File Explorer.
- PowerShell’s Mount-DiskImage works for scripts.
- Eject when done, or extract the contents instead.
Mount via File Explorer
1. Locate the .iso file in File Explorer.
2. Double-click it (or right-click > Mount).
3. It appears as a new virtual drive under This PC.
4. Open the drive to browse or run its contents.
Mount via PowerShell
1. Open PowerShell.
2. Mount: Mount-DiskImage -ImagePath "C:\path\file.iso"
3. Find the drive letter: (Get-DiskImage "C:\path\file.iso" | Get-Volume).DriveLetter
4. Dismount: Dismount-DiskImage -ImagePath "C:\path\file.iso"
Eject / Unmount
1. In File Explorer, right-click the mounted virtual drive.
2. Choose "Eject".
3. The virtual drive is removed.
Extract an ISO Instead
1. To copy files out, mount the ISO and copy them to a folder.
2. Or use an archiver (7-Zip/WinRAR) to extract the ISO without mounting.
3. Extraction is handy when you need editable files.
Troubleshooting
Problem: "Mount" option is missing.
Solution: A third-party app may own the .iso association — set Windows Explorer as the default for .iso files.
Problem: Mount is greyed out.
Solution: Copy the ISO to a local NTFS drive (not a network/compressed location) and retry.
Problem: "Couldn’t mount file".
Solution: The ISO may be corrupt — re-download it or verify its checksum.
Problem: Drive won’t eject.
Solution: Close any apps/files open from the virtual drive, then Eject or use Dismount-DiskImage.
Conclusion
Windows mounts ISO images natively: double-click or right-click > Mount in File Explorer, or use Mount-DiskImage in PowerShell for automation. Eject when finished, or extract the contents with an archiver when you need the files directly.
