Dmg File On Windows



When you download an app or a piece of software on your Mac, the file is usually downloaded as a DMG file. DMG files serve as containers for apps in macOS. You just need to double-click the downloaded DMG file, drag the app to the Applications folder, then unmount the installer. This way, the installation process has been simplified and users don’t have to suffer the hassle of installation wizards that are plaguing Windows users.

Although the installation process sounds simple, it is much more complicated than that. The contents of the DMG goes through a checksum process to verify that the file is 100% intact and that it hasn’t been tampered with. Once the file has been verified, it is then decompressed. DMG files are designed for macOS and you can’t run them on Windows devices.

DMG files make app installations on macOS a lot quicker and easier. However, there have been several reports from users about the .dmg file not opening on Mac. There are different versions to this error, but the end scenario is the same: for some reason, users are unable to open the .dmg file on Mac. This guide will discuss why some users have trouble opening a DMG file and how to resolve this issue.

Unable to Open .DMG File on Mac

DMG file is a compressed file format being used widely on Mac computer. Windows OS doesn't natively support DMG disk image files, so if you need to create a bootable USB drive from a DMG file, mostly for bootable Mac OS X or macOS installation USB, you need a special utility to help you complete the task. DMG files are macOS disk image files. They are much like ISO files—their Windows-based counterpart. These disk images normally contain program installation files for macOS apps, but they can also be used to hold compressed files. If it’s an app written for macOS, you obviously won’t be able to install and run the app on Windows.

Installing a DMG file on Mac should be as easy as double-clicking the file and dragging the app to the Applications folder. However, the process is not as smooth for some Mac users because they are not able to open the DMG file to start with. According to user reports, the download process was completed and there were no issues with unzipping. But when it comes to opening the unzipped files, nothing happens. Some users who encounter this issue get the resource temporarily unavailable error while others noted no activity happening no matter how many times the file is clicked.

Others encounter this error message when opening the DMG file:

There is no default application specified to open the document.

When the user tries to open it, either the options are grayed out or nothing happens when any of the options are clicked. This error has caused the affected Mac users to be frustrated. The users who encountered this error tried to redownload the file using a different Mac and the DMG file seems to be working fine, which means that the problem lies with the device itself. But what causes DMG files to not open on Mac?

Why Your .DMG File Is Not Opening on Mac

Some users noted that they cannot open the .dmg file on Mac after updating to Catalina, but there are also those who encountered this error when running an older version of macOS. This means that the problem is not unique to Catalina but it is something that affects the entire macOS system.

Here are some of the possible reasons why some users are having trouble opening DMG files:

  • If your Mac is running Catalina, check the version of the app you are trying to open. Catalina no longer supports 32-bit apps. So if you’re trying to download and install a 32-bit app, then you might not be able to install it on Catalina.
  • If you have poor or unstable internet connection, it is possible that the file was not downloaded completely, resulting in errors when accessing the file.
  • If you downloaded the file from an untrustworthy source, it might be a fake DMG file or it could be loaded with malware.
  • It is also likely that the DMG file you downloaded is corrupted. An interrupted download process and malware infection are the two leading causes of file corruption.

Hence, before you start the troubleshooting process, here are some things you need to consider:

  • Download the file once again using a different internet connection. Try using a wired connection if possible.
  • Scan the file for malware infection, especially if the file was downloaded from an untrustworthy source.
  • Download the file from another source. If the app is not available on the Mac App Store, visit the developer’s website and download the installer from there instead.
  • If you’re running macOS Catalina, make sure that you are downloading the 64-bit version of the app.

How to Open .DMG File on Mac

If you’re having trouble opening the DMG file on Mac, here are some of the things you can do:

Method #1. Use DiskImageMounter.

  1. After downloading the DMG file, right-click or Command + click on the file.
  2. Choose Open With from the menu, then select DiskImageMounter.
  3. Depending on the size of your file, you should see the mounted Disk Image appear on your Desktop.
  4. If you don’t see the Disk Image, choose Other from the right-click menu.
  5. Navigate to /System/Library/CoreServices/DiskImageMounter.app
  6. The DMG file should now be mounted.

Method #2. Mount the .DMG File via Terminal

If the right-click menu is grayed out or nothing happens when you click any of the Open With options, you can try mounting the file using Terminal instead. Drag the file to the Desktop and follow the steps below:

  1. Open the Terminal app by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities.
  2. In the Terminal window, type in the following command and press Enter: cd ~/Desktop
  3. Next, type in this command, then press Enter: hdiutil attach filename.dmg
  4. Replace filename.dmg with the actual .dmg file name.
  5. After executing the two command lines, your .dmg file will now be mounted on your Mac.

Method #3: Use a Third-Party Tool.

If you cannot open the DMG file using the two methods above, you can try using a third-party utility instead. Here are some of the apps you can try:

Summary

Installing applications on macOS is a lot simpler compared to installing programs on Windows, thanks to the DMG file. However, it is normal to run into errors when opening a DMG file, especially if the file has been corrupted or has not been completely downloaded on your device. If this is the case, you can try any of the three methods listed above to open the problematic DMG file.

If you’re running into errors and your system is suspiciously slow, your computer needs some maintenance work. Download Outbyte PC Repair for Windows, Outbyte Antivirus for Windows, or Outbyte MacRepair for macOS to resolve common computer performance issues. Fix computer troubles by downloading the compatible tool for your device.
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Home > Resources > Make Bootable USB Installer from DMG
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DMG file is a compressed file format being used widely on Mac computer. Windows OS doesn't natively support DMG disk image files, so if you need to create a bootable USB drive from a DMG file, mostly for bootable Mac OS X or macOS installation USB, you need a special utility to help you complete the task.

There is also the possibility of converting the file into a format more suitable for Windows, which is the ISO file format for disk images. Considering the above, let's look at different ways to create a bootable drive from a DMG file on a Windows computer.

Part 1: Convert DMG to ISO and Make Bootable USB from ISO

Dmg File On Windows

Since Windows doesn't offer native support for DMG files, you can first convert the file to ISO. Why? A lot of easier to find an app for making a bootable USB from ISO file. The easy way to do this is to use Command Prompt. Don't be intimidated by the non-GUI environment even if you don't have any experience. If you follow the steps below, you can convert any DMG file to ISO and then create a bootable USB using the converted file.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt by typing cmd in the Run windows and hitting Enter.

Step 2: In the command interface, go to the directory in which the DMG file is saved. You can do this by using the 'cd' command followed by the file path, then pressing Enter. For example, if your disk image is in D: and Command Prompt is currently in 'C:', then type 'd:' (no quotes) and press Enter. If it is in a subfolder, type 'cd subfolder', and so on.

Run Dmg File On Windows

Step 3: Use the following command to convert the DMG file to ISO:

hdiutil convert /path/sourceimagefile.dmg -format UDTO -o /path/targetmage.iso

Step 4: Once the ISO file has been created, you can use a burning tool to create the bootable USB drive. To do that, continue with this guide.

Cons:

  • File damged or broken after conversion.
  • Failed booting from burned USB disk.
  • May not work with the latest DMG file.
  • Complex and take more time.

Part 2: Create Mac OS X Bootable USB Installer from DMG

Dmg File On Windows

Androidphonesoft DMG Editor is a powerful software application for Windows that will allow you to manage the non-native DMG format even if you have no experience. The interface is uncluttered, and you can even use the tool to view files, extract them, edit the DMG and even copy it to a disk. The burn function has one of the highest success rates in the industry, which makes this an ideal utility for our purpose.

Created by the talented team of developers at Androidphonesoft, DMG Editor is currently the most intuitive Windows app for handling Apple's disk image format. Each of its functions have been tested on various Windows versions, with different types of DMG files and on different PC brands. This thorough testing means no wasted DVDs or corrupted files. As long as your DMG file is in good shape, you can directly create a bootable disk.

Step 1 Install DMG Editor

Download and install DMG Editor on your Windows PC.

Step 2 Plug in USB Drive

Launch the application and click on the 'Burn' section. You will also see other modules such as Edit, Extract.

Step 3 Load DMG File

Now import the DMG file by clicking the 'Browse' button and choose the USB drive name.

How to install dmg file on windows

Step 4 Start Burning DMG to USB Drive

Install dmg file on windows

Click 'Burn' button at the bottom of window to start burning DMG file to USB drive. Once it get started, it displays a progress bar and you have to wait for the task to be finished. Usually, it takes 20 minutes depending on how large the file is.

In a few moments, your bootable USB flash drive will be ready for use. Since you haven't done any conversion, you can use this directly on a Mac for program installation, which you cannot do with the first method.

Part 3: Create Bootable USB from DMG in Windows Via PowerISO

Another well-known disk image utility is PowerISO. Apart from being ideal for burning ISO files, it can also burn a DMG file to USB to create a bootable drive. There are some settings that you have to keep in mind when burning with this software, but it's easy to get the hang of it once you do it a couple of times.

Step 1: Download PowerISO and install it in your Windows PC. Launch the app and insert a USB drive into a free USB slot in your computer.

Step 2: You can import the DMG file directly by clicking on ‘Burn' in the toolbar or going to Tools >Burn. In the Burn window, select the DMG file from the Source File section.

Step 3:Now review the settings to select the burn speed. The default will be the maximum your hardware can handle, so you can reduce that. You can also choose to finalize the disk and verify it. Finalizing means you can't save any more files on the drive, but it primarily applies to DVDs and CDs. Choosing ‘Verify' will prompt the software to execute an additional process after the burning is done. Any errors in the bootable USB will show up at that point.

Dmg

Step 4: Now click on 'Burn' and wait for the progress bar to reach 100%. Your bootable USB is now ready.

Cons:

  • Expensive for a single license.
  • Higher failure rate for bootable device.
  • Ugly user interface.

The Bottom Line:

The second two methods are recommended if you don't have much experience working with DMG files, but DMG Editor will appeal to novices and experts alike. The clean interface and minimal user input means a lower chance of errors while creating the bootable media.

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