How to Open DMG Files in Windows - A Comprehensive Guide

Opening DMG Files on Windows

If you encounter a DMG file while using a Windows operating system, you might be wondering how to access its contents. These files are commonly associated with macOS, but they can be opened on Windows with the right tools.

Using 7-Zip

7-Zip provides a straightforward method for opening and extracting the contents of DMG files on Windows. This is a popular, free archiving tool.

To utilize 7-Zip, you may initially need to associate DMG files with the program. This can be achieved by right-clicking a DMG file, selecting "Open With," and then choosing 7-Zip from the list of applications.

Once the association is established, simply double-click the DMG file to initiate the extraction process. 7-Zip will then display the files contained within the archive.

Alternative: DMG Extractor

Another option for accessing DMG files on Windows is to employ a dedicated DMG extractor tool. Several such programs are available online.

These extractors are specifically designed to handle the DMG format, offering a user-friendly interface for opening and extracting the files. They provide an alternative if 7-Zip doesn't function as expected.

Why You Might Need to Open a DMG on Windows

There are several scenarios where you might need to open a DMG file on a Windows machine. Perhaps you are a developer working with macOS applications on a Windows PC.

Alternatively, you may have simply received a DMG file from a colleague or downloaded it from a website. Knowing how to access the contents is therefore quite beneficial.

In either case, utilizing 7-Zip or a DMG extractor provides a simple solution for accessing the data contained within these macOS disk images.

Understanding DMG Files

DMG files represent disk images specifically designed for the macOS operating system. They function similarly to ISO files, which are commonly used in Windows environments.

Typically, these disk images house the installation files necessary for macOS applications. However, they are also capable of storing compressed files of various types.

Attempting to install a macOS application from a DMG file on a Windows system will be unsuccessful. Nevertheless, it remains possible to access the contents of the DMG file even on Windows.

Native support for opening DMG files is not available within Windows. Therefore, utilizing a third-party application is required to access their contents.

How DMG Files Are Used

DMG files are frequently distributed as the primary method for delivering software to macOS users. This is because they provide a convenient and secure way to package and distribute applications.

When a user double-clicks a DMG file, it mounts as a virtual disk on their macOS system. This allows them to access the files within the image as if they were on a physical drive.

After installation, the DMG file can be unmounted and ejected, freeing up space on the user's system. DMG files offer a streamlined installation experience.

Opening DMG Files on Windows

Since Windows doesn't natively support DMG files, several third-party tools can be employed. These tools effectively emulate the macOS environment needed to access the file's contents.

Some popular options include:

7-Zip: A free and open-source file archiver that can handle various archive formats, including DMG.
Daemon Tools Lite: A program originally designed for optical disc imaging, but also supports DMG files.
PowerISO: A powerful disk image processing tool with DMG support.

Using these applications, users can explore the contents of a DMG file on Windows, although running the applications within may not be possible without a macOS environment.

Opening DMG Files in Windows Using 7-Zip or DMG Extractor

Several applications are available for extracting DMG files within a Windows environment. Among these, 7-Zip and DMG Extractor are highly recommended. During testing, certain DMG files were found to be accessible with one tool but not the other. However, both applications, combined, proved capable of opening all tested DMG files.

We suggest initiating the process with 7-Zip. The complimentary version of DMG Extractor has restrictions, notably limiting extraction to five files per operation. Should 7-Zip fail to extract your DMG file, DMG Extractor presents a viable alternative, with the option to consider purchasing the professional edition.

Extracting DMG Files with 7-Zip

7-Zip is a free and efficient compression utility. Beyond DMG files, it supports a wide range of compressed file types, including ZIP, CAB, ISO, RAR, and WIM, among others. Furthermore, it enables the creation of compressed files in formats like ZIP, WIM, and 7z.

Following installation, simply double-clicking a DMG file will open it, allowing you to view its contents.

To extract the files for easier access, right-click the DMG file. Navigate to the "7-Zip" menu and select your preferred extraction method. You can choose "Extract Files" to specify a destination folder, "Extract Here" to extract to the current directory, or "Extract to foldername" to create a new folder with the DMG's name.

The extraction speed is dependent on both the DMG file's size and your computer's processing capabilities.

Upon completion, the extracted files are readily accessible within a standard File Explorer window.

You can then view or modify these files using your preferred applications and File Explorer features.

Extracting DMG Files with DMG Extractor

DMG Extractor offers an alternative method for extracting DMG files. While the free version is functional, it includes certain limitations:

Files exceeding 4 GB in size cannot be extracted.
Encrypted files are not supported.
Extraction is limited to five files at a time, which can be inconvenient for complete DMG extractions.

If any of these features are required, purchasing the professional version ($9.95) is necessary. Therefore, we advise initially attempting the 7-Zip solution and utilizing DMG Extractor only if 7-Zip proves unsuccessful.

This tutorial will demonstrate the free version, but the professional version operates similarly, aside from the aforementioned restrictions.

After installing DMG Extractor, double-clicking a DMG file will open it. You can browse the contents directly within the DMG Extractor window to preview the files contained within.

To extract the files, click the "Extract" button on the toolbar and select an extraction option. You can extract all files to the desktop or a designated folder, or selectively extract specific files.

Remember that the free version restricts extraction to five files per operation.

These steps encompass the essential knowledge for extracting the contents of DMG files on your Windows PC. Alternatively, you can convert DMG files to ISO images, as detailed in our guide, and then mount the ISO in Windows to access the files.

Related: How to Mount an ISO image in Windows 7, 8, and 10