If you want to convert DMG to ISO, it's good to learn a little about disk image file types and what they're meant for. Essentially, a disk image is a snapshot of the content on a DVD, CD, BRD or even a hard drive. It could be just a set of media files, but it can also contain software installation files. In the second case, the disk image will also need to contain boot information in order to boot from the media.
Specifically, DMG is what Apple uses for the macOS environment, while ISO is more widely used in Windows-based and Linux environment. At times, you may need to convert DMG to ISO so you can mount it as a virtual drive on a Windows machine to extract the contents, view them or burn them to create bootable media. The process to convert DMG to ISO is different based on which operating system you're using for the conversion. This article shows you how to convert DMG files to ISO files on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Method 1: How to Convert DMG to ISO on Windows 10 (DMG2IMG)
DMG2IMG is a software utility that converts DMG files into Apple's older IMG format as well as the universally used ISO format. The process is simple, but it requires some command line work. The steps to use DMG2IMG to convert DMG to ISO have been detailed below:
Step 1. Download and install DMG2IMG on your Windows computer. Once the installation is done, open File Explorer and go to the location where you downloaded the application.
DMG file format is one of the most well-known container format to distribute and compress software on Mac operating system. You can compare DMG files with ISO files in Windows computers. The only difference is DMG is compatible with Mac computers and ISO is compatible with Windows computers. Global Nav Open Menu Global Nav Close Menu; Apple; Shopping Bag +. MagicISO is a program that is capable of working with various formats of disc image.
Step 2. Right-click on the folder where the software has been downloaded, and select 'Open command window here…' to launch Command Prompt.
Step 3. In Command Prompt, execute the following command (click Enter after typing in the command):
dmg2img 'C:UsersSample UserDesktopsample.dmg' 'C:UsersSample UserDocumentsConvertedRandom.iso'
Step 4. Please note that the double-quotes are required only if you have a space in your file path. In this example, there's a space between Sample and User, so the quotes are needed. If there are no spaces, you can do away with the quotes.
This method only works in 32-bit Windows versions. The conversion is usually done accurately, but you may come across errors that can corrupt the output ISO file. If you're going to be doing a lot of such conversions from DMG to ISO, we recommend getting a proper software utility.
Method 2: How to Convert DMG to ISO on macOS (Disk Utility)
Mac OS X and macOS offer an easier way to convert DMG to ISO, which is only natural because DMG is the native disk image format used by Apple. The Disk Utility that's built into Mac will help you do the conversion from DMG to ISO. Follow the steps below to convert your disk image files:
Step 1. Launch Disk Utility in Mac from Applications > Utilities.
Step 2. Open a Finder window and double-click on the DMG file to mount it. You should be able to see it on the left panel in Disk Utility.
Step 3. Right-click the DMG file in the left panel and select 'Convert'. In the new window that appears, select 'DVD/CD Master' as your output and click on Save. This will save your DMG file in a format with the extension .cdr.
Step 4. Rename the file by replacing .cdr with .iso. The file is now in the ISO format.
The exported ISO file can now be burned to a disk, or mounted within Mac as a virtual drive so you can view or extract the contents. The conversion process is quick, and it's convenient because it does not require any additional software.
Method 3: How to Convert DMG Files to ISO on Linux
In a Linux machine, you can use Terminal to convert DMG to ISO. For this, you will first need the Linux version of DMG2IMG. You can get it using a Terminal command, as shown below:
Step 1. Execute the following command in Terminal:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install dmg2img
Step 2. You can now proceed with the conversion command: dmg2img example.dmg example.iso
Step 3. You can also define a specific file path for the output (converted) file, but this basic command is what you need to use for the conversion.
As with any file conversion, the process to convert DMG to ISO could present some hurdles, such as corrupted files at output. If you see this happening multiple times, it's possible that the source file itself is corrupted. In such cases, it's better to try and get an authentic download rather than struggle with a corrupt file. In any case, if you're sure the DMG file is verified, these methods to convert DMG to ISO in Windows, macOS and Linux should work for you.
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Description
When using your Mac you have so much at your fingertips that it really makes you wonder how you ever used Windows.
Maybe you didn’t use Windows! But most of us have at one time or another.
This very short article give you two different ways to convert an ISO file to a DMG file using your Mac, OS X and no additional software to download. It’s built right into OS X.
Steps:
Option 1 – Using Disk Utility
OS X’s Disk Utility is a powerful tool. Be cautious when using this as you could easily wipe out data on some of your disks if you’re not careful!
- Open Finder and then open Disk Utility by clicking Go > Utilities > Disk Utility
- When Disk Utility opens, click the Convert icon on the toolbar
- When prompted, browse to the ISO file you would like to convert, select it and click the Convert button
- Now you will be prompted for a name. Ensure you give it a name with the extension .dmg
- Select Compressed from the Image format dropdown box and click Save
- Depending on the size of your file, you’ll soon have a DMG file version of your ISO file!
Convert Iso File To Dmg On A Mac
Option 2 – Using Terminal
Change Dmg To Iso
From the lovely graphics of Disk Utility to the plain and simple command line of Terminal…
Iso To Dmg File Converter For Mac
- Open Finder and then open Terminal by clicking Go > Terminal
- Type the following command but replace the filenames and paths with your own:
- Wait a few minutes (or few hours) depending on the size of your ISO and you will be returned to the terminal prompt when it’s finished.
hdiutil convert /path/filename.iso -format UDRW -o /path/filename.dmg