How to Open DMG Files on Mac Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur/Catalina [4 Solutions]

On your Mac, a DMG file is typically downloaded when you install a program or software. If you wish to open the DMG file on Mac manually, refer to the quick navigation below:

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Overview: What is a DMG File on a Mac?

In macOS, app containers are stored in DMG files, akin to a Windows ISO file. These DMGs contain the software installation package, and macOS treats them as a virtual disk. Once opened, you drag the application to your Applications folder before ejecting the DMG.

To ensure the file downloads correctly and remains unmodified, macOS employs DMG files. A checksum is an integral part of DMG files, which essentially verifies the file's integrity. Whenever you open a DMG file, it will automatically mount and appear in the "Locations" tab of Finder alongside other physical disks. It will also be visible within Disk Utility.

4 Ways to Open DMG Files on a Mac

A DMG file is thus commonly regarded as a virtual disk image. To install a program from a DMG file on a Mac, simply dragging the applications to the Applications folder should suffice. However, some Mac users may encounter difficulties in accessing the DMG file initially. There are various scenarios for Mac users. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to open DMG files on Mac.

Method 1: Double-click the DMG Files

Double-clicking the DMG files in their location, such as the Downloads folder or desktop, will initiate their opening. Subsequently, a dialog box displaying "opening-name.dmg" will pop up. Once the verification process is successful and the DMG file is automatically unlocked, you can proceed to open it on your Mac.

Method 2: Open DMG Files Using Disk Image Mounter

If you double-clicked the disk image but were unable to open it on your Mac and received an error like "No mountable file system," the file might already be corrupted. It's available for download again, so you can attempt using Mac's built-in tool, the Disk Image Mounter, to try resolving the issue.

Step 1. To open a DMG file, right-click on it or press Command + click.

Step 2. From the list of options under the "Open With" button, select "Disk Image Mounter".

Step 3. The contents of the DMG file will be directly visible and available for you to use once it has been mounted.

Method 3: Mount DMG File using Mac Terminal

If the right-click menu is grayed out or if none of the "Open With" options have any effect, try mounting the DMG files using Terminal. After dragging the file to your desktop, follow these steps:

Step 1. Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities and launch the Terminal application.

Step 2. In the Terminal window, type the command: "cd ~/Desktop" and press Enter.

Step 3. Type the following command: "hdiutil attach filename.dmg" and press Enter. (Note: Replace "filename.dmg" with the actual name of the .dmg file).

Step 4. Your DMG files will now be mounted on your Mac after running the two command lines.

Method 4: Open DMG Files When You Encounter the Error Message

When you double-click on DMG files, you might encounter a message saying, "[Name] can't be opened because it wasn't downloaded from the App Store."

Then you can perform these actions:

Step 1. Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen, and then select System Preferences from the dropdown menu.

Step 2. Choose Security & Privacy under System Preferences.

Step 3. Click the lock icon in the bottom-left corner of the window.

Step 4. To make any changes on this page, you'll need to enter your password.

Step 5. Choose "Anyway," and then open the DMG files.

Bonus Tips: Recover Deleted DMG Files on Mac

There are numerous reasons why files can be lost or irreparably damaged. Data loss is a common occurrence, and DMG files are no exception; hence, data recovery sometimes becomes essential. This section will demonstrate how to utilize Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, a potent file recovery utility, to retrieve lost data.

You can recover DMG files on macOS using powerful data recovery software, especially if you've attempted to open DMG files on your Mac using Mac's Terminal command lines, which might have resulted in the system becoming unresponsive.

Here's a step-by-step guide on utilizing a professional DMG recovery application to retrieve deleted DMG files on a Mac: 1. **Select a Reliable DMG Recovery Tool**: First and foremost, choose a reputable and reliable DMG recovery software such as Disk Drill, Stellar Data Recovery, or tools Data Recovery Wizard. Make sure the software is compatible with your Mac operating system. 2. **Download and Install**: Visit the official website of the chosen software and download the appropriate version for your Mac. Follow the installation instructions to set it up on your computer. 3. **Launch the Application**: Once installed, open the DMG recovery tool. You will typically find its icon in the Applications folder. 4. **Connect the Storage Device**: If the deleted DMG file was stored on an external drive, connect it to your Mac via USB, Thunderbolt, or any other suitable connection. 5. **Scan the Drive**: In the software interface, select the drive where the DMG file was originally located. Click on the "Scan" or "Start Scan" button to initiate a comprehensive search for lost or deleted files. 6. **Deep Scan (if necessary)**: If the initial scan does not find the DMG file, opt for a deep scan or a more advanced scanning mode. This may take longer but will search deeper into the drive's data structures. 7. **Preview Recoverable Files**: As the scan progresses, the software will display found files. Look for your deleted DMG file in the list. Many tools offer a preview option to confirm the correctness of the file before recovery. 8. **Select and Recover the DMG File**: Once you locate the DMG file, check the box next to it. You might also be able to filter or search for specific file types to make the process easier. Then, click on the "Recover" or "Save" button to initiate the recovery process. 9. **Choose a Save Location**: The software will prompt you to select a location to save the recovered DMG file. Choose a different drive or folder than the original location to avoid overwriting any data. 10. **Wait for the Recovery Process to Complete**: The time taken for recovery depends on the size of the DMG file. Be patient and do not interrupt the process. 11. **Verify the Recovered DMG File**: After the recovery is complete, open the saved DMG file to ensure that it is accessible and contains the expected content. By following these steps, you should be able to successfully recover your deleted DMG files on your Mac using a professional recovery application.

Note: You can first create a backup by clicking "Disk Backup" on the left. The software will then recover the deleted files from the backup image. This helps prevent further damage to your disk and data, making the process safer and more reliable.

Step 1. Scan for deleted files

Select the hard drive, external drive, or SSD where your important data and files were deleted, and click "Search for lost files."

Step 2. Filter the lost files

The software will perform quick and comprehensive scans, exerting great effort to locate as many deleted files as possible on the selected volume. You can filter desired files using the "Type" and "Path" options.

Step 3. Recover Deleted Files

Double-click on the deleted files to preview them, and then click the "Recover" button to restore them.

底线，结论

Thanks to the DMG file format, installing software on macOS is generally more straightforward than on Windows. However, issues can arise when opening a DMG file, especially if it's corrupted or didn't download completely to your device. You can try any of the four methods mentioned above to open the troublesome DMG file. In case you accidentally lost your files, you can utilize tools like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to recover them.

1. What is a DMG file? A DMG file is an Apple Disk Image format used on macOS and iOS systems to distribute software, store files, and create backups. It acts as a container for various files and applications. 2. How do I open a DMG file on a Mac? To open a DMG file on a Mac, follow these steps: - Double-click the DMG file. - The file will mount on your desktop or in the Finder. - Drag the contained application or files to your Applications folder or desired location. - To remove the DMG file, right-click it and select "Eject" or click the eject icon next to it in the Finder. 3. Can I open a DMG file on Windows? Yes, you can use third-party software like WinRAR, 7-Zip, or Magic DMG Converter to open and extract DMG files on Windows. 4. How do I convert a DMG file to ISO? To convert a DMG file to ISO on macOS, use the terminal with the following command: ``` hdiutil convert -format UDTO -o output.iso input.dmg ``` Replace "input.dmg" with your DMG file's name and "output.iso" with the desired name for the ISO file. 5. How do I burn a DMG file to a CD or DVD on a Mac? - Open "Disk Utility" (found in /Applications/Utilities). - Select "File" > "Open Image" and choose your DMG file. - Click "Burn" and insert a blank CD or DVD. - Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the burning process. 6. Can I extract files from a DMG without mounting it? No, you need to mount the DMG file first to access its contents. Once mounted, you can copy or extract files from it. 7. Why can't I open a DMG file? It says "The disk image cannot be mounted." This error might occur due to corruption, incorrect file type, or lack of permissions. Try downloading the file again, using a different software to open it, or checking your system's permissions settings. If the issue persists, contact the software provider for assistance.

Here are 4 additional questions and answers to assist you in understanding how to open DMG files: 1. **Question:** What is a DMG file? **Answer:** DMG (Disk Image) is a file format used by Apple's macOS operating system to distribute software, store disk backups, or create virtual disks. It contains an exact copy of the data on a disk or CD. 2. **Question:** How do I open a DMG file on a Mac? **Answer:** To open a DMG file on a Mac, simply double-click the file, and it will mount as a virtual drive on your desktop. You can then drag the contained application or files to your Applications folder or desired location. 3. **Question:** Can I open a DMG file on Windows? **Answer:** Yes, you can use third-party tools like WinRAR, 7-Zip, or Magic DMG Converter to open and extract the contents of a DMG file on Windows. Alternatively, you can convert the DMG file to an ISO format that is more compatible with Windows using tools like DMG Extractor or DMG2ISO. 4. **Question:** What if I receive a security warning while opening a DMG file? **Answer:** If macOS prompts you with a security warning, it might be because the DMG file is from an unidentified developer. To proceed, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy, click "Allow Anyway" (if available), or temporarily disable the gatekeeper by right-clicking the DMG file and selecting "Open." However, always exercise caution when opening files from unknown sources.

1. How can I open a DMG file on Windows? To open a DMG file on Windows, you can follow these steps: 1. Download a DMG file opener: There are several tools available that allow you to open and extract DMG files on Windows, such as WinRAR, 7-Zip, or Daemon Tools. You can choose any of these based on your preference. 2. Install the software: Once you've downloaded the appropriate tool, install it on your Windows computer by following the installation wizard's instructions. 3. Open the DMG file: Navigate to the location where the DMG file is saved on your computer using File Explorer. Right-click on the DMG file, and from the context menu, select the option to open it with the software you just installed (e.g., "Open with WinRAR" or "Open with 7-Zip"). 4. Extract the contents: The software will typically display the contents of the DMG file. To extract the files, choose the extraction option (usually "Extract Here" or "Extract All"). Follow the prompts to complete the extraction process. 5. Access the extracted files: After extraction, you'll find the files and folders in the chosen destination folder on your Windows system. You can now access and use them as needed. Please note that some DMG files may contain macOS applications, which won't run on Windows directly. In those cases, you might need additional software, like Wine, to run the Mac apps on Windows, or simply extract any data or other compatible files from the DMG.

DMG files are exclusive to Mac and aren't intended for use with Windows. Verify if a Windows version of the software is available on the website before downloading a DMG file.

2. What can DMG files do on Mac or Windows?

• DMG files benefit from enhanced compression and encryption, with their main advantage being that they can be treated as removable disks.
• DMG files allow for reading and writing data, enabling you to add files to them as required.
• Removing unnecessary DMG files can significantly reduce your PC's storage space.

3. How to open DMG files on Mac that are not recognized? If you're encountering issues with opening DMG files on your Mac that aren't being recognized, follow these steps: 1. **Check the file extension**: Make sure the file you're trying to open actually has the ".dmg" extension. Sometimes, the file might be renamed or have an incorrect extension. 2. **Verify the file's source**: Ensure the DMG file comes from a trusted source. Malicious files can cause recognition issues. If in doubt, download it again from a reputable website. 3. **Update macOS**: Go to "System Preferences," then "Software Update" to ensure your Mac is running the latest version. Updates often fix compatibility issues. 4. **Use Disk Utility**: Open "Disk Utility" (found in /Applications/Utilities/). Click "File" and select "Open," then choose the DMG file. If it appears in the left pane, try mounting it by clicking the "Mount" button. 5. **Third-party software**: Download and install a third-party DMG opener like "The Unarchiver" or "DMG Extractor." These tools can sometimes handle unrecognized DMG files. 6. **Resetting the PRAM/NVRAM**: Restart your Mac and immediately press and hold these keys together: Command + Option + P + R. Release when you hear the startup sound for the second time. This can resolve system-related issues. 7. **Contact Support**: If none of the above works, contact Apple Support or the software developer for further assistance. They may provide specific guidance for the issue you're facing. Remember, always exercise caution when downloading and opening files from unknown sources to protect your Mac from potential threats.

1. Step 1: Locate and select any ".dmg" file. 2. Step 2: Open Finder, then go to File > Get Info. 3. Step 3: When the "Get Info" window appears, find the "Open with" section. 4. Step 4: From the "Open with:" drop-down menu, choose "Disk Image Mounter." Click the "Change All" button, and then confirm by clicking the "Continue" button.

4. Can I delete DMG files after software installation?

Yes, you can. After installing software from a DMG file, it can be safely deleted as it serves its purpose and becomes unnecessary. Removing it can help free up storage space on your computer.

Note: If you accidentally deleted DMG files, try the method mentioned above to recover the deleted files.