How to open ISO files on Mac with the help of Commander One

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Updated on: January 22, 2023
Time to read: 5 minutes

If you need to know how to open a Mac OS ISO file, we’ve got you covered with a series of different solutions. Find out how to install an ISO file on Mac using Disk Utility, Terminal, and an ISO file reader for Mac, Commander One.

Table of contents

How to open an ISO file on Mac using Disk Utility

From the dock, click on Finder and go to the sidebar’s “Applications” menu. Enter the folder titled “Utilities” and double-click on “Disk Utility”. Once the program is open, go to the menu bar above and click on the “File” tab can click “Open Disk Image”. Then just choose the .ISO file on Mac that you want to mount and press “Open”.

How to open an ISO file on Mac via Terminal

You can use Terminal commands to open an ISO file in Mac, but first you need to save the destination mount point so that you can unmount the disk. So with this information, input the following command to mount the ISO file: 

hdiutil mount ~/(-path to your ISO file-)/filename.iso

When you’re done with the ISO, unmount it with this command: 

hdiutil unmount /Volumes/(-your mount point-)
That’s all there is to it.

How to open an ISO file on Mac with Commander One

Opening an ISO file in Mac with Commander One couldn’t be easier.

1. Simply right-click on the ISO you want to open and select “Open with”.

2. From there, you’ll be able to see Commander One among the list of available programs for opening the file.

Open an ISO file

3. Select Commander One as your ISO file opener for Mac and you’re done.

What is an ISO file?

An ISO file is a complete data rendering of a physical disc of storage such as a CD, DVD, or Blu-Ray. An ISO file for macOS includes all the data on a disc, as well as the file structure just as it is on the physical storage. ISO files are usually used for storing and distributing big file volumes or media like films and games. Because the file functions the same as a disk, you need a piece of software or utility to open an ISO file on Mac that can “mount” the file as if it was a disk drive. So let’s look at three methods you can employ to easily mount ISO files on a Mac device.

Conclusion

Any of these three methods should allow you to easily open an ISO file on Mac. Terminal is a bit trickier to use as an ISO file opener for Mac than a program like Commander One, but it’s worth experimenting to see which approach is easiest. Mac OS ISO files can be a very useful file format to work with, so you’ll want to make sure that you can manage them with ease.

Frequently Asked Questions

An ISO is an image of the contents of an optical disk like a Blu-Ray or DVD. It includes the original file structure present on the disk, as well as all the files.

To open an ISO file on Mac, either use Disk Utility, Terminal commands, or an ISO file reader for Mac such as Commander One.

Commander One can convert DMG files to ISO, which will allow you to transfer and view the file on non-Mac devices.

An ISO file is not usually bootable, although you can use third-party tools to create bootable ISO drives on USB sticks. Otherwise, you will have to mount a file with a program to use it.

ISO files are generally very safe because, as image files, they don’t include any executable code. This makes it harder to both hide viruses in an ISO when you extract an ISO file on Mac, making it unlikely to pose a threat to your device.

You can open ISO files directly using Commander One. It’s a file manager for macOS, and it has plenty of other features.