Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 can have the mount option of ISO files by default. You can just right-click any ISO file and select Mount from the context menu. Previously it was done using third-party software which would create additional virtual CD/DVD ROM drives in which the ISO files were inserted virtually. But now, Windows Explorer has the capability of creating a virtual DVD ROM and automatically inserting the ISO file.
Sometimes, a third-party application will mess up the default options and the mount option will seem missing in Windows 10 or Windows 8.1. In this article, we’ll see how to fix the mount option missing in Windows 10 which had been messed up by a third-party app.
If you do not have the mounting option in your context menu for an ISO file, you can follow the steps below to enable it. There are several ways to fix the issue.
Add Mount ISO Option to Context Menu Using Settings App
Follow the steps below to select File Explorer as the default app for ISO and IMG files, which in turn will show the “Mount” option in the context menu when you right-click an IMG or ISO image:
- Navigate to the following:
Settings app >> Apps >> Default Apps >> Set defaults by apps - Here, scroll down and click Windows Disc Image Burner. Then click Manage under it.
- Now, make sure that Windows Explorer is selected as the Default app for .img abd .iso files. If not, click on the option and select it.
Now you can mount any ISO file easily and use this Windows feature.
Add Mount ISO Option to Context Menu Using Control Panel
Note: This method has been deprecated as Microsoft has shifted the relevant controls to the Settings app from the legacy Control Panel.
Follow the steps below to add the “Mount” option to the context menu using the Control Panel:
- Go to the Start Menu and search for default program.
- Open the default program and click on set your default programs
- And then select” Windows disc image burner” and click “Choose default app for this program”
- You will see a list of default programs and click on check all. and save it
- And now mount option is enabled in your system.yo can check by clicking right on any ISO file, you will see that “mount” option is available there now.
Closing Words
Although there are other files formats available on the internet, such as DMG, but are not natively supported by Windows. Thankfully, ISO and IMG files are very commonly used, and thus Microsoft had decided to support these image files. For that reason, users can directly mount such images to their PCs and can use them, without any third-party applications.
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7 comments
Chris
Thanks Mike. Sorry author. Article is useless for Windows 10.
Ralph
Option does not work 100% I can mount the .ISO after following “Mikes” correct steps.
I can then install the software, but when I go to run it, even though the .iso is still mounted and in explorer/ This PC, the program says it cannot find the disc.
So problem not fixed if MS can’t mount .ISO so the mounted .ISO can be found by the software that is installed from the mounted, and left mounted, .ISO.
Need fix for that problem.
PS. Damon tools and WinCDEmu both have same issue…
Running Win 10 1903 Ent, 32 bit in VM to run old educational learning software.
Mark
Why is every single solution to this in Google supplying this garbage incorrect info? Just wasted half an hour trying this crap before I found Mikes comments with the actual answer…
Mike
This article is worthless doesn’t work at all.
If you want to mount an ISO simply do this.
right-click the iso, and select properties in the menu.
Under Opens with, select Change to change the file association
select Windows Explorer
After that you will have the Mount Icon back
Gwen
Thanks, this worked for me too.
manjj
thanks, this solved issue.
Hunk
Windows disc image burner is NOT an option in Default Programs…