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How to Open a DMG in Ubuntu and Convert to ISO
If you’ve ever downloaded a DMG file—usually from a Mac—and needed to access its contents on Ubuntu, you might’ve run into a wall. Ubuntu doesn’t support DMG files natively, but don’t worry: opening them and even converting them to ISO is straightforward if you know the steps. Here’s how to do it.
What’s a DMG File?
A DMG file is a disk image commonly used on macOS for distributing software. While Windows and Linux generally use ISO files for the same purpose, DMG files aren’t directly compatible with Ubuntu.
Step 1: Install the Required Tools
First, you’ll need two tools:
- dmg2img – converts DMG to IMG (which is basically an ISO).
- mount – for mounting the IMG/ISO files.
Install them using the terminal:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install dmg2img
Step 2: Convert DMG to ISO
The simplest way is to convert DMG to IMG, then rename it as ISO (the formats are almost identical). Here’s how:
- Convert DMG to IMG:
dmg2img input_file.dmg output_file.img
- Rename IMG to ISO:
mv output_file.img output_file.iso
That’s it—the file is now in ISO format and ready for use.
Step 3: Mount the ISO (Optional)
If you just want to access the files inside, you can mount the ISO directly:
- Create a mount point:
mkdir ~/iso_mount
- Mount the ISO:
sudo mount -o loop output_file.iso ~/iso_mount
- Access your files:
Browse to~/iso_mount
in your file manager or via the terminal. - When finished, unmount:
sudo umount ~/iso_mount
Troubleshooting Tips
- Corrupt DMG files may not convert cleanly. Make sure your DMG isn’t damaged.
- Encrypted DMGs won’t work with this method.
- If you get a “Permission denied” error when mounting, try with
sudo
.
Wrapping Up
Converting a DMG to an ISO in Ubuntu isn’t difficult, and with a couple of quick commands, you can open, convert, and use Mac disk images like a pro. No special tricks, no proprietary software—just simple, open-source tools.
Got stuck or have a tip? Drop it in the comments below!
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