How to Open a DMG File in Windows

DMG files are commonly used on macOS to distribute applications and other data, but Windows does not support this format natively. This can sometimes create issues for users. In this article, we’ll go over how to open a DMG file on Windows and the programs you can use to do this effectively.

1. Use 7-Zip to Extract DMG File Contents

7-Zip is a free and popular tool for working with archives on Windows. Although it wasn’t specifically designed for DMG files, 7-Zip can handle some of them.

  1. Download and install 7-Zip on your computer.
  2. Locate the DMG file you want to open and right-click on it.
  3. Select 7-Zip → Open Archive from the context menu.
  4. View the file contents or extract them to a convenient location.

Note: Not all DMG files can be opened with 7-Zip, as some may be encrypted or contain complex file systems.

2. Use DMG Extractor

DMG Extractor is a dedicated tool specifically designed for working with DMG files. It offers both free and paid versions.

  1. Download and install DMG Extractor.
  2. Open the program, select File → Open, then navigate to your DMG file.
  3. Once opened, you can extract the contents by selecting the desired files and clicking on Extract.

Limitation: The free version has restrictions on the size of the file it can extract.

3. Convert DMG to ISO

To make the DMG file compatible with Windows, you can convert it to ISO format, which is natively supported on Windows. The AnyBurn software is suitable for this purpose.

  1. Download and install AnyBurn.
  2. Open the program and select Convert image file format.
  3. Select your DMG file and specify ISO as the output format.
  4. Click Convert and wait for the process to finish.
  5. You can now open the ISO file using Windows' standard tools.