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How to fix Windows 10/11 errors when mounting ISO files

7 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

With Windows 8 and later 10, Microsoft (beyond many other things) tried to cover as much field as it can, creating an ecosystem. This reduced the need for third-party tools, like virtual drive tools.

In theory, you can use Windows Explorer tomountISO/IMG files to the virtual drive. However, this doesn’t work out perfectly in practice. A crowd of users experienced an error whenmountingISO files in Windows 10, as they bumped into an error.

In order to address this, we prepared a list of possible solutions. Of course, you need to be certain that theISO fileat hand isn’t corrupted or incomplete.

If you’re positive aboutISO‘s health and still unable tomountit in Windows 10, make sure to try out these solutions.

How do I fixWindows 10 couldn’t mount filein Windows 10?

1. Extract the ISO file using Winzip

One surefire way of fixing any ISO-related issue if time is not something that you can spare is to simply extract the content of an ISO, like you would an archive.

That being said, one software tool that can help you out with the task is WinZip, the world’s best archiver.

Simply install WinZip so that it can become integrated into your OS’ context menu. Then right-click the ISO file and select to extract it using WinZip.

Once you’ve done that, go into the folder where you extracted the ISO file’s contents, and carry on from there.

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”WinZip”

2. Try to open ISO file with Windows Explorer

This error can merely be a small system misconception. Namely, Windows 10 lets you accessISO or Image(IMG) files through the explorer, without any need for a third-party ISO tool.

However, there seems to be a bug (depending on the system version i.e. major update you have) in Windows 10 concerning file association.

It seems that Windows 10 can’t always recognizeISO fileand thus there’s no default application for accessing ormountingit.

3. Unmount all drives

Some users managed to tackle the issue by simply unmounting all virtual drives. Namely, as it looks like, if you already havemountedISO fileon any of the available Virtual Drives, the newISO filewon’tmountover it.

This auto-replace function can be the core of the problem. By simply unmounting all drives, the issue should be addressed.

However, this worked for some users while the others needed a more adept approach in order to address theISO won’tmountin Windows 10.

4. Uninstall third-party ISO tool

If you ever used a third-party tool forISOmounting, like Alcohol 120% or Deamon Tools, and you’re experiencing the same error, we advise you to uninstall it.

As we already said in the first recommended solution, the file association is most likely the cause of the problem. Now, there’s a chance you already part your ways with the third-party Virtual Drive tool, but the registry entries might still be there.

And that’s what’s probably causing the problem. In order to address this, you should clean registry entries related toISO fileassociation. This can be done manually, by roaming through Registry Editor or, in a simple manner, by using IObit Uninstaller Pro.

We highly recommend this tool for the clean removal of all applications. On the other hand, you can use any tool of your choice.

5. Use a PowerShell tweak

Via PowerShell

With Batch file

There’s a thing called sparse flag which is imposed on NTFS partitions with large sections of binary zeros. The file containers, in this case, anISO file, are flagged and might not be accessed through Windows Explorer.

In order to address this, you’ll need to use PowerShell (or Command Prompt, for that matter) and remove the flag from theISO filein order to open it without issues.

6. Move the ISO file to other partition

For some peculiar reason, the localization can cause the issue with openingISO filesonWindows 10, as well. Nonetheless, this can be easily addressed by simply moving yourISOfrom one partition to another.

Also, if you’re using USB flash drive or DVD, make sure to copy theISO fileon your PC storage, and then try to access it or, in this case,mountit with Windows Explorer.

It’s hard to say why this is the problem, but we are already accustomed to various issues onWindows 10and this hardly comes as a surprise.

If you’re still unable tomountISO/IMG file on your PC, even after you moved theISO fileto an alternative location, make sure to continue with the provided steps.

7. Update Windows 10 or uninstall the latest security update

Alas, if you’ve updated Windows 10 and the resolution is nowhere to be seen, you can uninstall the latest security update and move from there. These steps should show you how:

Some reports also include a certain Windows security update that broke theISOmounting feature. However, since that was back in 2016, we can’t say with certainty that this is the case nowadays.

On the other hand, just for the sake of eliminating this from the list, we highly recommend checking for updates. That way, in the perfect scenario, the next security patch should fix the problem.

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How to fix Windows 10/11 errors when mounting ISO files#

How do I fixWindows 10 couldn’t mount filein Windows 10?#

1. Extract the ISO file using Winzip#

”WinZip”#

2. Try to open ISO file with Windows Explorer#

3. Unmount all drives#

4. Uninstall third-party ISO tool#

5. Use a PowerShell tweak#

6. Move the ISO file to other partition#

7. Update Windows 10 or uninstall the latest security update#