Best Free DMG Extractor Tools for PC — No Mac NeededApple’s DMG (disk image) format is common for distributing macOS apps and files, but Windows doesn’t natively support .dmg files. Whether you received a DMG from a colleague, downloaded an old macOS app, or need to access files inside an image, free DMG extractor tools let you open, extract, and sometimes convert DMG archives on a PC without needing a Mac. This article walks through the best free options, how they work, their strengths and limitations, and practical tips for extracting DMG contents safely.
Why you might need a DMG extractor on Windows
- You received a .dmg file and need to retrieve documents, installers, or assets.
- You’re trying to inspect macOS apps or packages for compatibility or analysis.
- You want to convert a DMG to a more Windows-friendly format (ISO, folder).
- You need to extract resource files (images, binaries, certificates) for development or forensic work.
Note: Not all DMG files are simple compressed archives—some are Apple Disk Images with HFS+ / APFS file systems, compressed chunks, or encrypted contents. That affects which tools will work.
Top free DMG extractor tools for Windows
Below are the most reliable free tools available as of August 2025. They differ in features: some only extract simple DMG archives, while others can mount or convert images and handle macOS file systems.
1) 7-Zip
7-Zip is a lightweight, open-source file archiver widely used on Windows.
- What it does: Opens many DMG files and extracts files from DMG archives that use supported compression and container layouts.
- Strengths: Fast, minimal install size, integrates with Windows Explorer (right-click extract). Open-source and well-maintained.
- Limitations: Cannot mount DMG files that contain full macOS HFS+ or APFS filesystems or certain compressed/encrypted DMG variants. Metadata and macOS-specific permissions may be lost.
Use-case: Quick extraction of simple DMG archives or retrieving embedded files (images, PDFs, installers).
2) HFSExplorer
HFSExplorer is a Java-based tool that reads HFS, HFS+ (macOS), and can extract files from images.
- What it does: Reads HFS/HFS+ file systems inside DMG or IMG files and extracts files and folders with preserved macOS filenames.
- Strengths: Good for DMG images that contain HFS+ partitions; handles resource forks and macOS-specific file layout better than generic archivers.
- Limitations: Requires Java runtime; read-only; cannot handle APFS; GUI is dated.
Use-case: Extracting files from older macOS disk images formatted with HFS+.
3) 7zX / PeaZip
PeaZip and related frontends provide similar functionality to 7-Zip, sometimes with added format support.
- What it does: Extracts many archive formats including several DMG types; some builds include additional plugins for improved compatibility.
- Strengths: Friendly GUI, batch extraction, portable builds available.
- Limitations: Same core limitations as 7-Zip for full macOS file system images.
Use-case: Users who prefer a more modern interface or portable tools for extraction.
4) dmg2img + Windows mounting tools
dmg2img is a command-line utility that converts DMG files to raw IMG or ISO images. Once converted, Windows tools can mount or open them.
- What it does: Converts compressed DMG to a standard image (IMG/ISO) that Windows can mount or tools can open.
- Strengths: Effective when DMG uses a supported compression; allows subsequent mounting with built-in Windows or other mounting software.
- Limitations: Won’t handle encrypted DMGs without the password; conversion may fail for APFS-based images.
Typical workflow:
- Run dmg2img to convert: dmg -> img
- Mount the resulting image in Windows (File Explorer, or tools like OSFMount)
- Extract files from the mounted image
Use-case: When you need to mount an image or convert DMG into a format usable by other Windows tools.
5) TransMac (trial) — note about licensing
TransMac is a commercial tool that can read and extract from DMG, DMG encrypted images, and Mac-formatted disks. It offers a free trial period.
- What it does: Reads and extracts files from DMG, supports HFS/HFS+, and can write to Mac-formatted media.
- Strengths: Broad compatibility, GUI, can burn DMGs to discs or USB.
- Limitations: Not fully free for long-term use—trial only; paid license required for continued use.
Use-case: Occasional users who need a robust GUI tool and broader image support and are okay with trial limitations.
Quick comparison
| Tool | DMG types supported | Mount/Convert | APFS support | Requires extra runtime | Free? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Zip | Many compressed DMG archives | No | No | No | Yes |
| HFSExplorer | HFS/HFS+ images | No (extract only) | No | Yes (Java) | Yes |
| PeaZip / 7zX | Similar to 7-Zip (GUI) | No | No | No | Yes |
| dmg2img + OSFMount | Converts many DMGs to IMG/ISO | Yes (after convert) | No | No | Yes |
| TransMac (trial) | Broad, includes encrypted DMG | Yes | No | No | Trial (not fully free) |
Handling encrypted or APFS DMGs
- Encrypted DMG: Tools usually require the password. TransMac (trial) may prompt and work; command-line macOS-native tools are most reliable but require macOS.
- APFS-formatted DMG: APFS is Apple’s newer file system; very few Windows tools can read it. If you must access APFS content, options are:
- Use a Mac or a macOS virtual machine (virtualize macOS if you have a license and legal right).
- Use a cloud-based macOS build service or borrow a Mac.
- Wait for third-party Windows software to add APFS read support—rare and often paid.
Step-by-step: Extract a DMG on Windows (recommended simple flow)
-
Try 7-Zip:
- Right-click the .dmg → 7-Zip → Open archive or Extract.
- If extraction succeeds, retrieve files.
-
If 7-Zip fails, try HFSExplorer:
- Install Java if needed.
- Open HFSExplorer → File → Load file system from file → select DMG → Extract.
-
If HFSExplorer can’t read it, convert with dmg2img:
- Run: dmg2img input.dmg output.img
- Mount output.img in Windows or open with an archiver.
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If image is encrypted or still unreadable, consider TransMac (trial) or access via macOS.
Safety and best practices
- Scan extracted files with antivirus before opening.
- Don’t run macOS .app installers on Windows — they won’t run and may contain unknown code.
- Keep backups of the DMG before modifying or converting it.
- Respect software licensing and distribution rights—don’t use extractors to bypass licensing or copy-protected content.
Troubleshooting tips
- If filenames appear garbled: the DMG may use macOS-specific metadata; try HFSExplorer which handles macOS naming better.
- If extraction stalls or fails: the DMG may be corrupted—try re-downloading or checking file integrity (checksums if available).
- If a tool reports unsupported format: suspect APFS or a proprietary compression/encryption. Try conversion (dmg2img) or TransMac.
Conclusion
For most straightforward DMG files, 7-Zip and PeaZip provide fast and free extraction. For HFS+/older macOS images, HFSExplorer is a better fit. When you need to mount or convert images, use dmg2img plus a mounting tool. For more complex cases (encrypted DMG or broader compatibility), evaluate TransMac during its trial or use an actual macOS environment. Choose the tool based on the DMG’s internals: compression-only images are simple; full-disk HFS+/APFS images are harder and may require macOS.
If you tell me the exact DMG file (size, where it came from, any error messages), I can suggest the precise next steps.
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