Since the launch of Windows 10, the Microsoft operating system allows image files to be mounted quickly and easily using its own resources. This possibility has greatly simplified this type of process, which previously had to be carried out through specific software. In this post we are going to see how to mount an ISO image in Windows without external programs.
We are also going to briefly review what exactly an ISO file is and what the main advantages they offer us before explaining the mounting method in both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
What is an ISO file?
Un ISO file or ISO image (both names are valid), is a specific type of file used to store an exact copy or exact image of a file system within an optical drive. They are identified by having the extension .iso.
When we copy, for example, the content of a CD or DVD using this format, we generate an exact copy of it. This means that, when it comes to mounting it on the computer, it will recognize it as if it were the original disk.
The ISO nomenclature is due to the use of the ISO 966880 protocol or Universal Disk Format Protocol (UDF). This is a popular file system that uses CD and DVD burners as storage devices. Furthermore, although ISO 9660 nominally has a "read-only" format, it is possible to read and modify its content on other media, including a computer's hard drive or an external memory device.
The degree of fidelity of these copies makes this the most used file format when distributing copies of operating systems such as Windows 10 or Windows 11. Keep in mind that to mount an ISO image in a previous version of Windows it will be necessary to use a third-party program.
Advantages of using an ISO file
It is always preferable to burn an ISO image than to burn content directly to the disc. Apart from the fact that its conservation is simpler, it is a much more solid and reliable resource. Below we list some of its main advantages:
- They offer an exact copy of the disk. An ISO image is identical to the one on the disk, but without the physical format.
- Includes complete file data, also the header information, something that is normally lost when we make a normal copy.
- It can be saved both on a hard drive and in the cloud.
- It is better preserved, since it does not wear out. That means we can turn to it whenever we need it.
- You can "mount" the ISO image like a normal disk, with the help of third-party programs or from the operating system itself. We talk precisely about that in the following paragraphs:
Steps to mount an ISO image in Windows 11
Despite its somewhat hesitant beginnings, it must be recognized that Windows 11 introduced many improvements compared to Windows 10 in many aspects. Regarding the topic that concerns us in this article, there is no doubt, since the entire process is executed with just a few clicks. This is how you do it:
- To begin, we look for the folder that contains the downloaded ISO file.
- Next we do double click on the file with the aim of being able to mount it on a virtual drive. This will be displayed in File Explorer, in the left menu. If double-clicking does not work, we can try right-clicking and, in the pop-up menu, selecting the option «Mount".
- Once the ISO image is mounted, it is necessary delete file from virtual drive, which we can do by selecting it in the Explorer with the right click on it and choosing the option «Expel«.
Steps to mount an ISO file in Windows 10
Before Windows 11, it was already possible to mount an image or ISO file natively with Windows 10. The process of how to mount an ISO image in Windows 10 It is also very simple. Once we locate the file in question, we must follow these steps:
- First of all, we do double click on the ISO file. Under normal circumstances, this should be enough for Windows to start the process of mounting its contents as a virtual drive in Windows Explorer.
- If the above does not work, we try to do right click on the ISO file and, in the options box that appears, select "Mount".
- Once the process is finished, we do right click on the virtual drive in Windows Explorer and select the option «Expel«. From that moment on, the ISO file will no longer be available.
Important: Sometimes the mounting method does not work because the ISO files are linked to a compression program such as WinZip or similar. If this happens, before starting the process it will be necessary to deactivate this program.