What Is a DMG File?

What Is a DMG File? thumbnail
What Is a DMG File?

A .DMG file is one of the many file types you will find when using a Mac. A .DMG file is a proprietary format, which means it is intended to be used solely with the Mac operating system, though it is possible for Windows and Linux users to enjoy the benefits of these files as well.

  1. History

    • A .DMG file is a disk image file. This is a file containing the entire contents of a CD or DVD that have been compressed into one file on a computer. .DMG is a format invented by Apple and used primarily with the Mac operating system. The Windows equivalent of a .DMG file would be an .ISO file.

    Security

    • One benefit a .DMG file has is that it can be encrypted. This means you can't open it or use it unless you have a specific password. This is a benefit that isn't even possible when burning files to a physical CD or DVD.

    Function

    • Many users use .DMG files for sharing software over the Internet. As opposed to sending CDs and DVDs to someone, you can rip the contents of the disc to your computer, turn it into a .DMG file, and simply send one file over an Internet connection. These files are also easier to store since you can put them on a hard drive instead of trying to keep track of many different physical CDs and DVDs.

    Disk Utility

    • If you want to create a .DMG file from a CD or DVD, you can do it on a Mac computer using a program called Disk Utility. You do not need to download anything to use Disk Utility---it is built into the operating system. Disk Utility can create .DMG files and also do the reverse by burning them onto a CD or DVD.

    Considerations

    • .DMG files can also be opened by computers not running on the Mac operating system. Windows users can work with .DMG files by downloading a number of programs, including HFSExplorer and UltraISO. These are free programs that can be downloaded via the Internet. If you're running on a Linux operating system, you can download Cdrecord.

Related Searches:
  • Photo Credit www.apple.com

Comments

You May Also Like

  • How to Open .Dmg Files

    Mac users see DMG files on a regular basis. These archived files are commonly used to hold OS X applications and other...

  • How to Open DMG Files on Windows

    DMG files are similar to EXE files of the Windows operating systems, but DMG files are designed primarily for use on Mac...

  • What Is a DMG File Extension?

    The hundreds of different extensions that are given to files on computers can be overwhelming to the average computer user. Ten files...

  • How to Extract DMG Files

    The DMG file is the default image file used by the Macintosh operating system, replacing the IMG image file. Most commonly, the...

  • How to View DMG Files

    The DMG file is a Mac OS X image file (replacing the old .IMG image file format), most commonly used to install...

  • What Is a DMG File on Mac?

    When dealing with a Macintosh operating system, you will notice that there are a number of files with extensions you may never...

  • What Is DMG?

    You may have come across the file extension "DMG" in your Internet surfing and been frustrated by your inability to open it...

  • How to Download DMG Files

    DMG stands for "Disk iMaGe." Think of .dmg files as virtual CDs or DVDs---portable media without a physical presence. They're also somewhat...

  • How to Mount DMG Files

    A DMG file is a disk image file used by the Mac operating system. It is best described as a virtual storage...

  • How to Convert a DMG File to ISO

    DMG files are disk images associated with the Mac OS X operating system. They are not readable by Windows-based computers. If you've...

  • How to Open a DMG File on a Mac

    A .dmg file is a copy of a physical disk, such as a CD or DVD, contained in a single file. The...

  • How to Split DMG Files

    The .dmg file type is an image file native to the Mac OS X. Although it's a Mac file, it is possible...

  • How to Convert DMG to Zip

    DMG is a disk image format created in a Mac OS. The disk image contains all of the information relating to the...

  • How to Burn a Disk Image File

    A disk image file is an exact copy of a physical CD or DVD that is saved to your computer. Typically bearing...

  • How to Burn DMG Files in Windows

    DMG images are the standard method for storing large amounts of data on a Mac computer. On a Mac, double-clicking a DMG...

  • How to Open DMG in Windows

    The DMG image file format is an Apple Mac OS X format and not compatible on Windows-based systems. The DMG is usually...

  • How to Use DMG Files in Windows

    A file with the extension .dmg is known as an Apple Disk Image file and is almost always associated with the Mac...

  • How to Burn a DMG File to CD

    A DMG file is a file associated with Macintosh OS X by Apple. A DMG file is like an ISO file in...

Related Ads

Featured