This guide provides a step-by-step process on creating an ISO file from a folder, CD, or DVD on Windows or Mac computers, allowing users to make a disc image that can be mounted or burned later.
Before starting, ensure you have a folder containing the desired files or insert the CD/DVD you wish to copy. Note that creating an ISO from copyright-protected discs is not possible.
Creating an ISO from a copyright-protected disc is illegal in many regions. On Windows, you need to install third-party software, while on Mac, using the Terminal command line is required, which carries a risk of data loss if commands are entered incorrectly.
To create an ISO file, follow the instructions below based on your operating system. For Windows using WinCDEmu, start by downloading the software from wincdemu.sysprogs.org. Click the green Download button and save the file to your computer. Double-click the downloaded file and click Yes to give it permission to run. Then, click the Install button and click OK when the installation is complete.
Insert the disc you want to copy if you are duplicating a CD or DVD. Open File Explorer by pressing Windows key + E. Right-click the folder containing your files or the optical drive containing your disc. Select Create ISO Image or Build ISO Image from the context menu. If you’re using Windows 11, click Show more options first to see the WinCDEmu menu.
Enter a File Name for your ISO and choose a save location. Click Save to begin the process. Wait for the progress bar to finish, then click Close.
For Mac users, open Finder and organize the files you want into a single folder. Open Disk Utility by searching via Spotlight or navigating to Go > Utilities > Disk Utility. Click the File menu and select New Image. Select Image from Folder or Image from [disc] if using a CD/DVD.
Select the folder or disc and click Open. Enter a Name for the image and set the Where location to Desktop. Set the Format to DVD/CD master. Click Save, which creates a file with a .cdr extension on your Desktop.
Open Terminal and type cd ~/Desktop, then press Return. Type the command hdiutil makehybrid -iso -joliet -o [filename].iso [filename].cdr, replacing [filename] with your actual file name, and press Return to convert the CDR file to ISO format.
If you’re on a Mac and plan to use the image file only on other Macs, you don’t need to convert the CDR file to ISO, as Macs can mount CDR files natively.
Creating ISO files is a vital skill for digital archiving and software distribution, preserving the exact structure of a physical disc or a collection of files without needing the original media. Using ISOs is also essential for virtualization and testing environments, allowing you to mount images directly in software like VirtualBox or VMware to test operating systems or applications without burning a physical disc.
