A .DMG file is a container file commonly used to distribute applications for Mac OS X. Installing software from one of these requires you to mount the image and move its contents to your computer's 'Applications' directory.
To install from a.dmg file you usually do the following: double click the.dmg to make its content available (name will show up in the Finder sidebar), usually a window opens showing the content as well; drag the application from the.dmg window into /Applications to install (may need an administrator password) wait for the copy process to finish. When the Internet recovery is stuck and fails to download the OS files, you could use Windows to make a bootable macOS USB installer. Out of the two or three software for handling macOS installer dmg in Windows, Transmac is the best one. Transmac is not free, but the developers offer a 15-day trial period, and that is sufficient for one-time use. Installing is simple: just mount the DMG, then drag the program to your Applications folder. Start the program and it should find the installer you downloaded above. If you've put the installer somewhere besides the Applications folder, you can direct DiskMaker X to the file manually. After that, you'll be asked which disk you'd like to use. To create a bootable USB drive from a DMG file on Windows, you will need to have the right utility. That's because DMG is not native on Windows. It is the Mac equivalent of an ISO file that has been in use since Apple transitioned from the IMG format with Mac OS X. A DMG file, like ISO, can be used to install macOS operating system or Mac apps.
One of the most common mistakes I see among new Mac users is fumbling with how to install and open .dmg files or new software. The process for installing new applications on your Mac can be confusing at first because it differs greatly from Windows' software installation process. Nevertheless, the Mac method of installing software is actually quite simple and intuitive once you are accustomed to it. If your desktop is littered with DMG files and white 'drive'-looking icons, read on!
Contents
What are .DMG Files?
DMG stands for Disk Image, and is a format commonly used to distribute files and applications among Apple computers. A DMG file is like a virtual DVD or hard drive. They can be 'mounted' on your Mac in order to work with their contents, or even burned to an actual physical disc.
In order to understand the concept of a DMG disk image, think of a storage volume such as a CD, DVD, hard drive, or external drive. A DMG file is like one of these devices in that it serves as a means to encapsulate documents, images, software, and other files. The difference is that with a DMG, there is no physical storage medium. There is only the DMG file, which can be written to a hard drive, burned to a CD or DVD, or sent over the Internet.
In order to work with the contents of a DMG file, you must mount the the disk image to your system. This may sound daunting, however 'mounting' a DMG file with Mac OS X is no more complicated than double-clicking it' icon. The operating system will load the load image and place a new icon both on your desktop, and in the sidebar of the Finder. The icon will have the same name as the DMG, and you'll be able to browse through its contents like any other folder.
Once you are done working with the contents of the file, you will want to remove or 'unmount' it from your system. Do this by opening the Finder and clicking the eject icon next to the virtual drive's icon. Or, go to the Desktop, click once on the icon, and press CMD+E.
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How to Install and Open .dmg Files on a Mac
Software installation with Mac OS X is very different than in the Windows world. On a Windows PC you run an installer, tick off a few checkboxes, and wait for the progress meter to reach completion. There usually is no such 'installation wizard' on a Mac &emdash; you simply drag and drop the program into your computer's 'Applications' directory. The trick is that most Mac applications are distributed as images called DMG files, and many new Mac users end up running applications directly from the image instead of installing them to the 'Applications' directory.
Enough explanation, here's how to install an OS X app from a DMG file:
- Find the downloaded file, which usually ends up in your Desktop or Downloads folder.
- Double-click the .DMG file to mount it. A new Finder window showing its contents should appear.
- If the window also contains a shortcut icon to 'Applications', drag and drop the app onto the shortcut.
- If not, double-click the mounted volume on your desktop and drag the app icon from there to the 'Applications' icon in the Finder sidebar.
Further Explanation
Alright, that was the abridged version. Here's the long version. I've just downloaded the DeskLickr application, and the DeskLickr_1.2.dmg is sitting on my desktop. I double-click it and a new icon labeled 'DeskLickr 1.2' appears on my desktop. Here's what my desktop looks like at this point:
Since most of the time a new Finder window also pops up when the image is ready for use, this one is now sitting on my desktop:
Different applications are going to show you slightly different Finder windows. Each application's designers like to add their own artwork. Glitter aside, most applications are trying to tell you the same thing. See the arrow pointing from the DeskLickr icon to the 'Applications' shortcut? It's telling you to drag and drop the icon into that folder. Once you've done so, the app will be installed.
If a program doesn't provide a shortcut to the Applications folder, you'll need to pop open a new Finder window. Press CMD+N to open a new window, then drag the program over to 'Applications' in the left-hand side of the window.
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House Cleaning
Once the new program is installed it's time to do some house cleaning. You no longer need the disk image you downloaded, so follow these steps:
- Close any Finder windows that have been left open.
- Eject the disk image (not the .DMG file). Click on its desktop icon, then press CMD+E.
- Delete the .DMG file by dragging it to the trash.
That's it! Your new Mac application is ready to use. But wait…
Bonus Tip: Add Your New Application to the Dock
I knew you were going to ask, so I figured I would cut you off at the pass. In order to add the new application to the dock, follow these steps:
- Open up a new Finder window.
- Click on 'Applications'.
- Locate your new program's icon.
- Drag the icon to your Dock, and drop it wherever you like.
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If you're still using a Mac OS X the time will come when your computer won't boot, or a problem may arise where you can't take control of the device, and booting from an OS X installation media will be required.
This is why it's recommended that you make a Mac OS X bootable USB when your Mac is in working conditions. However, if you find yourself on a scenario where your device (iMac, MacBook Pro, Air, Mac Pro or Mini) is not responding and you happen to have a Windows 10 device, then you can still be able to make a USB bootable installation media for your Mac OS X to reinstall the operating system using the Recovery Assistant.
These instructions will also work for Windows users who are running Mac OS X on a virtual machine and need to upgrade to the latest version. For instance, to OS X Yosemite.
Requirements
Before you dive into this guide, you'll need a few things:
- A broken Mac computer with Mac OS X.
- A trial copy of the TransMac software.
- One high quality USB flash drive with 16GB of storage.
- A copy of Apple's macOS (DMG file).
Now that you have all the necessary ingredients, you're ready to make a Mac OS X bootable USB using the DMG file of the operating system with the steps below.
Create Mac OS X bootable USB installation media
Before you can use TransMac, you first need to partition your USB flash drive with a GPT partition, as a normal MBR partition may not work. To do this, you'll need to use the Diskpart command-line utility on Windows 10.
Setting up GPT partition
Use these steps to set up a USB drive with a GPT partition:
High Sierra Installer Dmg
Open Start on Windows 10.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result and select the Run as Administrator option.
Type the following command to open Diskpart and press Enter:
Type the following command to determine the USB flash drive and press Enter:
Type the following command to select the storage and press Enter:
Quick tip: Theselect disk 1command as an example, but you have to replace 1 with the number of the flash drive you want to use.Type the following commands to delete everything from the USB thumb drive and press Enter:
Type the following command to convert the drive into a GPT partition and press Enter:
Type the following command to select the new partition and press Enter:
After you complete the steps, the USB flash drive from MBR to GPT format, you can use the steps below to create a bootable USB installation media to install Mac OS X.
Create USB install media
Use these steps to create a bootable media to install Mac OS X:
Download and install a copy of TransMac.
Quick note: TransMac is a paid software, but it has a 15-day trial solution, that give us more than enough time to move the DMG files to the USB drive from Windows. (If you want to support the developer, you can purchase the full version.)Insert the USB drive that you'll use to fix your installation of OS X. (Remember that all the data in the USB will be erased. Make sure you take off any important documents.)
Right-click the TransMac software icon and Run as administrator. (You'll be prompted to Enter Key or Run, because we'll be using it once, click the Run option.)
On the left pane, you'll see all the Windows PC drives listed, right-click the USB drive that you're intending to use to reinstall Apple's OS X and select the Restore with Disk Image option.
In the warning dialog box, click the Yes button.
Use the Restore Disk Image to Drive dialog box to browse for the DMG file with the installation files for Mac OS X Yosemite in this case, and click the OK button to create a bootable USB of the operating system.
Now, you'll have to wait a long time. No kidding. It could take one or two hours to complete the process depending on your computer and other variables.
Macos Installer Dmg
Once your bootable USB installation media is ready, remove it and insert it into your Mac, power it on, holding down the Option key, and select the USB you just created to reinstall Mac OS X.
If you're having issues trying to create a bootable media, you can get a USB flash drive that comes with Mac OSX ready to install.
