Converting ISO to DMG

**kzez1986** · February 14th, 2006, 09:24 AM

How to convert ISO files to DMG files. It is easy to convert DMG to ISO, but I can't fing ISO to DMG.

Thank you in advance for your help.

**ra3ndy** · February 14th, 2006, 02:04 PM

Based on some research I did, You can do this in the Terminal with this command:

hdiutil convert /folder/folder/file.iso -format UDRW -o /folder/folder/file.dmg

Make sure to replace /folder/folder/file.iso with the full filepath of the .iso file. To ensure correct filepath, simply drag the iso file into the terminal window at the point where you'd normally type the filepath.

NOTE: I haven't tested this yet. Make a copy of your .iso file before you use this command, just in case.

**fryke** · February 14th, 2006, 02:26 PM

Why _would_ you want to do this? You can simply burn .iso files in Disk Utility, Toast etc.

**localman** · January 23rd, 2010, 12:32 AM

The reason I wanted to convert is because there seems to be a difference in behavior between an .iso and a .dmg, specifically one in Universal Disk Format. With a .dmg in UDF you can mount a DVD image and then play it directly using DVD Player (File > Open DVD Media) without having to burn it first. That's a pretty convenient way to access all my iDVD creations, for example.

As far as I can tell, though, the above formula doesn't work -- i.e. the image still won't be playable from DVD Player, and shows up as ISO-9660 instead of UDF in Disk Utility.

I poked around a bit more and it seems that the only way I was able to do it was to:

1. mount the ISO
2. In Disk Utility choose New > Disk Image From Folder
3. Select the mounted source that you want to convert (not the image file)
4. Choose "hybrid" from the "image format" dropdown

It should then create a new .dmg file that should mount and be playable in DVD Player

**MisterMe** · January 23rd, 2010, 09:59 AM

ISO disc images of media DVDs play just fine in DVD Player on my system.

**localman** · January 23rd, 2010, 12:27 PM

Interesting -- perhaps I'm characterizing the issue incorrectly then. Basically I had several DVD images created in iDVD and only one of them didn't play when mounted. The only difference I could find was that the non-working one showed up as being ISO-9660 in Disk Utility while the working ones showed up as UDF. I actually have no idea why they would be different in the first place but I must have done something different when creating them.

Anyway, the above process allowed me to create a new image from the old one that played in DVD Player on my system.

Cheers

**ltlowaist** · October 21st, 2010, 12:35 AM

I've been searching on macbook air to see if they have a virtual dvd drive. because i have my entire dvd collection on my PC in an iso file and i'm contemplating getting a macbook air, but i would like to play my movies on my mac if i get one. can anyone help me?

**MisterMe** · October 21st, 2010, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by ltlowaist

I've been searching on macbook air to see if they have a virtual dvd drive. because i have my entire dvd collection on my PC in an iso file and i'm contemplating getting a macbook air, but i would like to play my movies on my mac if i get one. can anyone help me?

Just double-click on the .iso file. It will mount as a DVD on the Desktop. If you have an a legal .iso copy of a movie DVD, then the MacOS X DVD Player will play it just like a set top deck.