How to open .DMG files on Mac
To open .DMG files on Mac, double-click the .dmg file in Finder to mount it (it should appear as a disk/volume).
Step-by-step instructions
- Double-click the .dmg file in Finder to mount it (it should appear as a disk/volume).
- Open the mounted volume and follow the app’s instructions (commonly: drag the app to Applications or run an included installer).
- When finished, eject the mounted disk image in Finder.
Recommended software
- Archive Utility
- Keka
- The Unarchiver
Alternative methods
- Open .DMG in a browser-based viewer if desktop apps fail.
- Try opening .DMG on Mac with a secondary app to rule out app-specific issues.
- Convert .DMG only with trusted tools when direct opening is not possible.
Common issues
Double-clicking a DMG does nothing or shows an error (macOS)
This can happen if the download is incomplete/corrupted or if the disk image can’t be mounted by the system.
- Re-download the .dmg from the original source and try again.
- Try mounting it via Finder again; if it still fails, obtain a fresh copy or ask the publisher for an updated DMG.
DMG won’t open on Windows
Windows doesn’t natively mount Apple disk images, so you’ll need a tool that can read DMG contents.
- Use a Windows utility that explicitly supports DMG (for example, TransMac per its documentation).
- If you need to install a macOS app from the DMG, use a Mac instead—Windows can’t run macOS apps even if you extract them.
I can open the DMG but can’t use what’s inside
Many DMGs distribute macOS applications (.app bundles) or macOS installers that are not usable on Windows, Linux, iOS, or Android.
- Check what the DMG contains (for example, a macOS .app or installer).
- If it’s macOS-only software, open/install it on macOS; otherwise, look for a Windows/Linux version from the publisher.
Security note
Treat DMGs like software installers: a DMG may contain executable macOS apps or installers, so only open disk images you trust.