In Windows 7 and previous versions of Windows, one had to use third-party software in order to mount an ISO or IMG file. Luckily, both Windows 8 and Windows 10 support mounting ISO and IMG files out of the box, meaning you can now mount ISO and IMG files without having to install third-party applications.
Mounting an ISO or IMG file is extremely easy in Windows 10. You just need to right-click an ISO or IMG file, and then click Mount option to see the contents of the ISO or IMG file in File Explorer. To unmount the ISO or IMG, simply right-click on the mounted drive in This PC, and then click Eject button.
Although the Mount feature works without any issues, at times, you might not see the Mount option when you right-click on an ISO or IMG file. This happens when the Windows Disc Image Burner is not the default program for ISO or IMG file types.
If the Mount option is missing from the context menu in Windows 10/8, complete the below-mentioned directions to restore it with ease. The procedure is similar to the one we used to fix the Burn ISO option missing from the context menu.
Method 1 of 3
Add the missing Mount option to context menu in Windows 10
Step 1: Open the File Explorer and navigate to the folder containing ISO or IMG file. Right-click on the ISO or IMG file and then click Properties to open the Properties dialog.
Step 2: Here, click the Change button next to the Opens with option.
Step 3: Select Windows Explorer from the list. Click the OK button. Click the Apply button the Properties dialog. That’s it! If you cannot see the Windows Explorer entry, click the More apps link.
Right-clicking on the ISO/IMG file should now display the Mount option.
Method 2 of 3
Restore the Mount option in Windows 10 context menu
Step 1: Right-click on the ISO/IMG file, select Open with and then click Choose another app option even if Windows Explorer entry shows up in the list.
Step 2: Select Windows Explorer from the list, select Always use this app to open ISO/IMG files and then click the OK button.
Method 3 of 3
Restore the missing Mount option in the context menu in Windows 10
Step 1: Open Default Programs. To do so, type Default Programs in the Start menu or the taskbar search box to see Default Programs entry in search results, and click on the desktop version of Default Programs to open the same.
Alternatively, open Control Panel, change the View by to Small icons, and then click Default Programs.
Step 2: Once Default Programs is launched, click the first link labeled Set your default programs.
Step 3: In the following screen, under Programs, select Windows Disc Image Burner, and then click Choose default for this program on the right side.
Step 4: Clicking Choose default for this program will open this screen. Check the option labeled Select All, and then click Save button. That’s it!
You should now be able to see Mount option when you right-click on an ISO or IMG file.
random joe says
Epic, thanks for this. Worked today 14/06/2023 in Windows 11. For some reason windows does not automatically set it by default? jeez
Amir Zadah says
Really thankful! I spent a lot of time trying to open an .img file not knowing what the issue was.
mandar says
Thanks..
Jay says
Any updates on this? There is no windows explorer option when to select as default.
Tomek says
Great job! Works! Fu..in Roxio hid this feature. After associating iso type files with windows explorer the option appeared again.
Umair Gul says
I appreciated issue resolved
Thanks
Robert Allgeier says
As mentioned, selecting File Explorer from the list of possible apps from the .iso file type results in the appearance of the Mount command when an .iso file is right clicked.
I’m grateful for that information because the usual logical approach doesn’t work and I share the frustration with the other comment writers.
Josh says
Star answer, thanks for this simple fix.
jason says
Doesn’t Work, For some reason I only have burn option there is no mount option even though I reassociated with built in windows program. I think installing winrar might of messed it up so my only option is to extract the iso file using winrar. Last few updates of windows really fucked shit up.
abu mulham says
very great job , you are brilliant and you solved a great issue for me , million thanks
numberonexxx says
Thanks for help
Jay says
thanks!
my version of windows 10 looks different than your screenshots but i was still able to restore the mounting option! it was assigned to winrar previously and i didn’t realize windows 10 can do this natively.
so much easier right-clicking and mounting that way instead of extracting the iso using winrar.
Qasim Haji says
This works
Menus have changed since this came out
Goto Choose default apps by file type
then scroll down the list to iso and select windows explorer
No need for Power ISO anymore!!!
Gretz says
Doesn’t work for windows 10. After picking “Defaults by app”, and finding windows disk image burner, then ‘manage’, the next window does not allow any choices but “Windows explorer, 7Zip and ‘Search Micro$oft store'”.
The store, of course, does not list Windows Disk Image Burner, but a whole host of other crapplets.
There’s no other option, no option to search the disk, no select box for that app, or the select all.
(7zip came on the corp image.)
ok says
Thanks, worked well. Was using Daemon Tools before.