Files with iso extension are generally used for common CD/DVD disk image format. ISOs are used as a standard backup format of physical disks and are widely supported by burning or virtualization software.

There are 5 other file types using
the ISO file extension!

empty icon.iso - CALS ISO 8613 bitmap graphics

empty icon.iso - Cimagraphi CAD data

empty icon.iso - InstallShield uninstall data

empty icon.iso - Sega CD game disk image

iso icon.iso - ePSXe Sony Playstation game image

ISO file extension - CD/DVD/HD DVD/Blu-ray disc ISO binary image

What is iso file? How to open iso files?

File type specification:

Disk image (ISO) binary file type icon Disk image (ISO) binary file type

Backup file type icon Backup file type

iso file icon: iso filetype icon

File extension iso is mainly used for binary images of CD, DVD discs. The generic file format for most optical media, including CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Blu-ray Disc, HD DVD and UMD.

ISO 9660, a standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), defines a file system for CD-ROM media. It aims at supporting different computer operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, and systems that follow the Unix specification, so that data may be exchanged.

DVDs may also use the ISO 9660 file system. However, the UDF file system is also commonly used on DVDs.

What is ISO image archive file?

An ISO image is an archive file (a.k.a. disk image) of an optical disc using a conventional ISO (International Organization for Standardization) format that is supported by many software vendors.

ISO image is an unattached file format (like RAR and ZIP): it merges a series of files into one single file according to a definite format. ISO image files typically have a file extension of .ISO but Mac OS X (macOS) ISO images often have the extension .CDR.

The name "ISO" is taken from the ISO 9660 file system used with CD-ROM media. ISO 9660 is a standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), defines a file system for CD-ROM media. It aims at supporting different computer operating systems such as Windows, classic Mac OS, and Unix-like systems, so that data may be exchanged.

Mime type used for iso image files:
application/x-iso-image

Updated: November 8, 2023

The default software associated to open iso file:

ISOBuster icon

Smart Projects logoISOBuster  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Smart Projects

IsoBuster is a utility for CD and DVD data recovery which offers users many innovative features. A functionality-restricted version is available freely. Extra functionality may be unlocked through purchasing a license key.

PowerISO icon

PowerISO Computing, Inc. logoPowerISO  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
PowerISO Computing, Inc.

PowerISO is application used to manipulate CD/DVD images. PowerISO can create, emulate, compress, edit, extract and convert disk images. It supports many formats such as ISO, BIN, DAA, NRG, CDI etc.

Daemon Tools icon

DT Soft Ltd logoDaemon Tools  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
DT Soft Ltd

DAEMON Tools is an advanced application for Microsoft Windows that offers users one of the best optical media emulation capability in the industry.

With DAEMON Tools you can convert your physical CD/DVD disks into "virtual disks" so called "images". It also can emulate up to 4 virtual CD/DVD drives, so you can mount (insert) and unmount (eject) images. 

Apple Disk Utility icon

Apple, Inc. logoApple Disk Utility  Apple macOS / Mac OS X software

Company or developer:
Apple, Inc.

A disk utility distributed with Mac OS X / macOS operating system, Apple Disk Utility offers tool for configuration and format of new disk partitions, mount disk images, create, burn, or convert disk images.

DAEMON Tools for Mac icon

DT Soft Ltd logoDAEMON Tools for Mac  Apple macOS / Mac OS X software

Company or developer:
DT Soft Ltd

DAEMON Tools for Mac is software solution for mounting CD/DVD/HDD disk images. It is able to mount *.b5t, *.b6t, *.bwt, *.ccd, *.cdi, *.bin/*.cue, *.ape/*.cue, *.flac/*.cue, *.iso, *.isz, *.mds/*.mdf, *.mdx, *.nrg, *.pdi, *.dmg, *.vhd files.

Related articles:

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Create ISO's with AnyToISO

Mounting ISO files in Windows 10

How to play Sony Playstation games on Mac

Convert ISZ to ISO

Create bootable USB flash drive with multiple Windows installations

Convert BIN to ISO on Mac

Open NRG file on Mac

Convert any disk image file format to ISO

Extracting UIF files

Extracting DAA files

How to burn ISO disk image in Linux

How to burn ISO disk image in Mac OS X

How to burn ISO disk image in Windows

Help how to open:

ISO binary image file is disk image file format, that is widely supported by many applications, which are used to manage disk/CD/DVD image files, such as ISOBuster, Free ISO Burner, NERO, MagicISO, PowerISO, Alcohol 120% and etc.

Some compression utilities can open ISO binary image, such as WinRAR or ZipZag.

Microsoft Windows 7 and above supports ISO disk image format and can burn ISO disk image file to CD/DVD medium.

How to convert:

Applications, that can open ISO binary image file, have a support of another disk image formats, such as NRG, DAA, BIN, BWI, ISZ, MDF etc... and can convert ISO binary image file in to them.

Some compression utilities can open ISO image file. You can extract the contents of ISO image file.

Find conversions from iso file:

iso to apk

iso to cdi

iso to dmg

iso to img

iso to ova

iso to vdi

iso to wbfs

Find converter to iso file type:

7z to iso

ciso to iso

isz to iso

mdx to iso

pkg to iso

vdi to iso

vhd to iso

List of software applications associated to the .iso file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open iso file, edit iso file, convert iso file, view iso file, play iso file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting iso files.

Software that open iso file - CD/DVD/HD DVD/Blu-ray disc ISO binary image

Programs supporting the exension iso on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open iso file action.

Microsoft Windows:

Apple macOS / Mac OS X:

Main software associated with iso file by default:
Apple Disk Utility small icon Apple Disk Utility
DAEMON Tools for Mac small icon DAEMON Tools for Mac
Other suggested software:
Roxio Toast Titanium small icon Roxio Toast Titanium
Burn for Mac OS X small icon Burn for Mac OS X
Burn for Mac small icon Burn for Mac

Linux/Unix:

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