File Extension Database

Open ISO File

ISO file extension is most commonly associated with a disc image stored in the ISO-9660 (International Organization for Standardization) file system, which is usually used to store data on CD-ROM. Disc images may also be stored using the UDF file system, which is backwards compatible with ISO-9660. ISO files contain exact disc images of optical media, and are often used for backup purposes or to create duplicates of original media.

ISO files may also be referred to as archives, as they store all the information present on the original CD or DVD. This includes the file and folder structure as well as the original file system and any boot data or attributes. ISO files are uncompressed which results in large file sizes. However, the benefit of this is that no additional processing power is required to extract data from an ISO image, and that the ISO file itself can be mounted using a virtual drive and used by an operating system as though it were a physical disc.

ISO files are commonly used to store backup copies of optical media and for the distribution of CD and DVD-based media over the Internet, as they allow an exact disc image to be made and transferred as a single file which also retains any additional disc attributes which would be lost be conventional zipping of a disc's contents. ISO files are also sometimes created and used with virtual drives to bypass the need for the physical disc to be in the drive to run a given application or game.

ISO files make use of the ISO-9660 and UDF standards and as such are cross-platform compatible. You can open ISO file and mount it using software such as DAEMON Tools or Alcohol 120% which create virtual drives, or opened using an application such as ISOBuster or PowerISO. Most burning software such as Nero or Roxio allows opening ISO file and burning it directly to CD or DVD, or alternatively converting into another image format.

Typical ISO application file locations:

rundll32.exe "C:\Program Files\Alex Feinman\ISO Recorder\ISORecorder.dll"
"C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\Power2Go\Power2Go.exe"  "%1"

Typical ISO mime types:

CDRecordingWizard %1

Frequently used application names to open ISO files:

Alex Feinman - ISO Recorder
CyberLink

Frequently associated Windows objects:

isofile

How Can I Open ISO File on Windows

We researched and learned that the best way to open ISO file is to find a ISO file in question in Windows OS File Explorer and double click on it to launch the corresponding application.
If a ISO file is not opened in an application and you instead get a "Windows can't open a file" error message you should try looking for an application which can open the file in question.
If you know the application which can open ISO file then run it and see if there is a File->Open main menu option in the application.
If you don't know the application which function as ISO file opener then try to search online for "ISO viewer", "application to open ISO file" or "open ISO file" queries in the search engine you like.
Install the application you found and check if it can open ISO file

How Can I Open ISO File on Mac OS

We recommend to find a ISO file in question in Mac OS Finder and double click on it to launch the corresponding application.
If a ISO file is not opened in a Mac OS application and you instead get a "There is no application set to open the file" error message you can click on "Search App Store" in the error dialog and Mac OS will show you applications compatible with ISO file.
If you know the Mac OS application which can work as ISO file opener you can choose the "Choose Application..." option in the error box to associate the file extension and open ISO file in it.
If you don't know the application which can open ISO file then try to search for "ISO viewer", "application to open ISO file" or "read ISO file" queries in the online search engine you like.
Install the application you found and check if it can read ISO file

How Can I Open ISO File on Android

If you downloaded a ISO file on Android device you can open it by following steps below:

In the Android apps list on your Android device find "My Files" or "File manager" app and tap to start it.
Tap on "Downloads" folder inside the app.
You should see your downloaded ISO file in that folder.
Tap on the file. If Android device supports opening the file you downloaded it will open in the corresponding app.
If file does not open you can look for the corresponding app that can open the file by searching Android App Store for the "ISO".
If you cannot open the file with the apps from Android App Store it is possible that the file could only be opened on desktop platforms such as Windows or Mac OS. Try searching for "ISO viewer", "ISO file reader" online and see if any desktop applications can open it.
It is also possible that the file you downloaded is outdated and is no longer supported.

How to Open ISO File on iPhone or iPad

To open ISO File on iOS device follow steps below:

We advies to open Files app on your iPhone or iPad device. You can find it by swiping down on the home screen and typing "Files" in the search bar.
Tap on the Downloads folder on the Files app home screen.
You will see all files that you recently downloaded. Tap on the ISO file to view it.
If you have the right app that can open it it will automatically launch and open your file.
If you don't have the app which can open it you need to serch Apple app store for "ISO". This way you can find apps which can open ISO files.
If this doesn't help it is possible that your file could be opened only by the desktop application. To find an app which can open it on desktop look for "ISO viewer" or "ISO file" online in your favorite search engine.