How to Open an Img File on PC or Mac

PDF download Download Article
A detailed guide to open an img file
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to open a disk image file (.img) on Windows or macOS. An .img file is exact image of a file system—you can either mount it as a drive or open it in an app like WinZip.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Mounting as a Drive (Windows)

PDF download Download Article
  1. This opens the Windows File Explorer. [1]
  2. Advertisement
  3. Windows will mount the .img as a disk and display its contents.
    • To copy a file from the .img to another folder on the computer, drag it to the desired location.
    • When you’re finished, unmount the .img file. To do this, scroll down the left panel of the File Explorer, right-click the mounted .img “drive,” then click Eject .
    4. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Extracting in WinZip (Windows)

PDF download Download Article
  1. You’ll usually find it in the All Apps area of the Start menu. [2]
  2. It’s the open blue folder near the top-left corner of WinZip.
  3. It’s at the bottom-right corner of the window.
  4. [3]
  5. A confirmation message will appear.
  6. This extracts the files to the specified folder (which will be created in the folder where the *.img file is saved). [4]
  7. This opens the File Explorer.
  8. A new folder (with the name of the .img file) now appears in this folder.
  9. The contents of the *.img file now appear. You can now double-click any of the files to open them in their default apps.
    10. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Mounting as a Drive (macOS)

PDF download Download Article
  1. It’s on the Dock, which you’ll usually find at the bottom of the screen. [5]
  3. This will mount the file as a drive (shown on your desktop). It also opens a window that contains the files inside the *.img. [6]
    • To copy a file from the .img to another folder on the computer, drag it to the desired location.
    • When you’re finished, unmount the .img file. To do this, go to the desktop, then drag the new drive (the .img) to the Eject icon at the bottom of the screen (where the Trash is usually located).
    4. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Other ways for Win7 with WinRAR

PDF download Download Article
  1. [7]
    • Now you can open the files inside the IMG file
    • To copy a file from the .img to another folder on the computer, drag it to the desired location.
    4. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    When I try to open the file, I get an error saying that "it does not appear to have a valid archive". What should I do?
    The coding cat
    Community Answer
    This issue may require an in-depth look, so contacting Microsoft support and explaining your issue to them. Hopefully they can be of assistance.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 4
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Open an ISO Files on Windows and Mac
      How to
      Find a File's Path on Windows
      How to
      Run a BAT File on Windows
      Easily Create a New File in Windows: User-Friendly Instructions
      How to
      Install MSI Files on Windows 10 or Windows 11
      A Guide to Rebuilding the Icon Cache on a Windows PC
      How to
      Delete Files That Cannot Be Deleted
      Block an .exe Running in Windows
      How to
      Install a Screensaver File in Windows
      How to
      Copy a Folder with Batch File
      How to
      Play WebM Files
      How to
      Locate Temporary Internet Files
      How to
      Delete a File or Folder Showing Error "Access Is Denied"
      How to
      Delete a File in Microsoft Windows Using Batch Files
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-and-open-file-explorer-ef370130-1cca-9dc5-e0df-2f7416fe1cb1
      2. ↑ https://www.winzip.com/en/learn/file-formats/img/
      3. ↑ https://kb.winzip.com/help/help_extract_7.htm
      4. ↑ https://www.winzip.com/en/learn/tips/extract-files/#how-to
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201732
      6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-hk/guide/mac-help/mchlp1700/mac
      7. ↑ https://www.rarlab.com/

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 248,820 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement