How to Convert IMG to ISO File in Windows and Mount It

You don’t see it that often but the IMG format is widely used to distribute image files. For instance, Microsoft Office downloads are generally in IMG format.

While Windows 11 and 10 support the IMG file format natively, older versions of Windows, like 7 and 8, do not. Additionally, many popular applications like VirtualBox don’t support the IMG file format.

The good thing is that you can convert IMG to ISO with just a few clicks. Once you convert the IMG file to ISO file format, you can mount and open it in almost any application you want, including VirtualBox.

So, without further ado, follow these steps to convert IMG to ISO in Windows.

Table of contents:

1. IMG vs. ISO file format
2. How to convert IMG to ISO on Windows
3. Conclusion

IMG vs. ISO file format

Both IMG and ISO file formats are used for disc images to create CDs or DVDs.

So, are IMG and ISO the same?

Though they are identical or near identical and serve the same purpose, there is one main difference between IMG and ISO. i.e., the way they store the data.

An IMG file is a raw image file that contains a copy of the data on a disc. It is not a standardized format, so the exact structure of the file may vary depending on the program used to create it.

On the other hand, ISO is an international standard file format for disc images. ISO files use the ISO-9660 file system, a standard format for data stored on CDs and DVDs. ISO files can be opened and used on a wide range of software and devices and can be used to create a new disc with the same data.

How to convert IMG to ISO on Windows

Though it may surprise you, Windows has no built-in tools to convert IMG to ISO. However, there’s a free and easy solution that can help you get the job done in no time. The software is called OSFMount, and it’s a lightweight and user-friendly tool that makes the process of converting IMG to ISO quick and simple.

With OSFMount, you first mount the IMG file and then convert the mounted image to ISO file format. The process is straightforward and easy to follow, even if you’re not particularly tech-savvy.

Here’s how to convert IMG to ISO on Windows:

1. Get and install OSFMount software.
2. Open the OSFMount application.
3. Click the “Mount new” button.
4. Select the “Disk image file” option.
5. Click the “Browse” button next to the blank field.
6. Select the IMG file.
7. Press the “Open” button.
8. Click on the “Next” button.
9. Choose the “Mount entire image as virtual disk” option.
10. Press the “Next” button.
11. Click on the “Mount” button.
12. Right-click on the mounted file.
13. Select the “Save to image file” option.
14. Type a name in the “File name” field.
15. Select “RAW CD Image (*iso)” from the “Save as type” dropdown.
16. Click on the “Save” button.
17. Click on the “Ok” button in the success window.
18. With that, you’ve converted IMG to ISO.

Download OSFMount: https://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/Virtual-CD-DVD-Rom/OSFMount.shtml

Steps with more details:

To start off, download the OSFMount application. After downloading the software, double-click on it and follow the installation wizard to install it.

After installing OSFMount, open it. You can double-click on the OSFMount desktop shortcut or search for it in the start menu.

Once the OSFMount application is opened, we can mount the IMG file. To do that, Click on the “Mount New” button at the bottom of the window.

Select the “Disk Image File” radio option in the Mount Drive and click on the “Browse” button (three horizontal dots).

Find the IMG file, select it and click on the “Open” button.

The above action will add the file path to the blank field in the main window. Click on the “Next” button in the main window.

Here, select the Mount entire image as a virtual disk option and click on the “Next” button.

In this window, let the default options be and click on the “Mount” to continue.

As soon as you click on the button, OSFMount will mount the IMG file. You can also see it in the File Explorer as a separate drive.

Since we want to convert IMG to ISO, right-click on the mounted file in the OSFMount application and select the “Save to image file” option.

Now, we need to select a location to save the converted IMG file. So, go to the location where you want to save the file, enter a name in the “File name” field, select “RAW CD Image (ISO)” from the “Save as type” dropdown menu, and click on the “Save” button.

OSFMount will start the IMG to ISO conversion process. Depending on the IMG file size, the procedure can take some time. So, sit back and wait.

Once the IMG to ISO conversion is done, the program will show a success message. Click on the “Ok” button to close it.

With that, you’ve successfully converted an IMG file to ISO. If you go to the destination you selected in step 9, you will see the converted ISO file.

To mount the converted ISO file, right-click on it and select the “Mount” option.

The above action will mount the file, and you should immediately see it as a separate drive in File Explorer.

Easily convert IMG to ISO – Conclusion

In summary, converting IMG files to ISO format is a simple process that can be done using a free and lightweight software like OSFMount. With this tool, you can quickly and easily mount the IMG file and then convert the mounted image to ISO file format, allowing you to use it with almost any application.

This method is a great solution for those with IMG files that they need to open or use but don’t have native support for IMG files.

I hope this has been helpful in showing you how to convert IMG to ISO in Windows.

If you like this article, check out how to open multiple File Explorer windows and how to enable predictive text on a Windows laptop.