Tips to open DMG file

Can't open the DMG file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open DMG files as well as a list of programs that support DMG files.

DMG file extension

File Name Mac OS X Disk Image
File Developer Apple
File Category Disk Image Files

The DMG file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the DMG files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the DMG file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 5
  • 5
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is DMG file?

A .DMG file is a disk image used on a Mac operating system. The content of the file is mounted as a virtual drive in the system. There are no rules on what should be in the disk image, but it is common practice to use it as an application installer. The file can be compressed to reduce its size. The content can also be verified for any unauthorized modifications. This type of file is most often downloaded from the Internet. In order to use the file on another operating system, it must be converted.

How to open DMG file?

The main problem with Mac OS X Disk Image is that the DMG file is incorrectly associated with programs. This causes the file DMG to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the DMG file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Toast 11

The first step is to check if the computer has the Toast 11 program installed. This can be achieved by typing Toast 11 into the operating system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open DMG files.

Step 2. Create association of Toast 11 with DMG files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the DMG file still does not use the Toast 11 program, it means no association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the DMG file with the Toast 11 application.

Step 3. Update Toast 11 to the latest version

If, despite the association of the Toast 11 program with the Mac OS X Disk Image file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the DMG file

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. File problems can be divided into the following:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This suggests truncating the DMG file contents when downloading or copying. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the DMG file that we want to open. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover DMG files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the DMG files changes over time. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for this. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair DMG file corruption.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted DMG files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. It is best to move DMG to a different directory.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the DMG file again. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the DMG file for a certain period of time. If this does not work either, restart the device.