How to Create an ISO Image in Windows

ISO image files are basically virtual disks that store data in the same way as physical disks. You can even mount it on your Windows computer to access the data on it like a physical drive. However, it is usually used as a source file for burning some data to a CD or DVD.

Another popular use of ISO files is to install applications and even Windows OS through them. So, whatever your reason for wanting to create an ISO file, there are several ways you can go about it.

You can create an ISO file by default using the Windows ADK tool, or you can try one of the many third-party applications that provide this feature.

Using the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit

The only native way you can create an ISO image on Windows is by using the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK). Windows ADK is a set of tools provided by Microsoft for customizing and deploying the Windows operating system to other computers.

The Windows ADK contains a wide variety of tools, but we’ll look at the Deployment Tools feature. This feature has tools oscdimg which we will use to create the ISO image file.

If you want to use the Windows ADK for the sole purpose of creating an ISO file, you can choose to install only the Deployment Tools feature. So, let’s download and install Windows ADK first.

Press Windows + R to open the Run utility. Type winver and press Enter. Make a note of your Windows 10 or 11 version height. Open your preferred browser. Go to page Download and Install Windows ADK. Make sure to download the Windows ADK for your specific version of Windows. (If you’re using Windows 10, scroll down to the section Another ADK download.) Once the download is complete, run the setup file. Click Furthermore to install the Windows ADK in the default location. (If you want to install the Windows ADK in a separate location, click Options Browse and choose your location.) Select the option whether or not Microsoft can gather insights for Windows kits, and press it Next. Accept License Agreement. Be sure to choose Deployment Tool and deselect all other options. (If you want to install other Windows ADK features, you can also select them.) Click Installand select Yes on popup. After the installation is complete, click Closed.

Now that you have installed the Windows ADK Deployment tool, let’s see how you can use it to create an ISO image file.

Make sure all the files you want to put in the ISO File are contained in one folder. Open FileExplorer and navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits. (If you have already installed the Windows ADK in a different location, go there.) Double-click the numbered folder in Windows Kits. (The numbered folder will differ depending on your Windows ADK version.) Open it Assessment and Deployment Kits > Deployment Tools > amd64. Right click the folder oscdimg and choose Copy as path. Now, press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt with admin access. Now, you need to change your current directory to the location OSCDIMG tool . Type the command cd /d and right click on Command prompts to enter the path of the file you just copied. Press Enter to change the current directory to location OSCDIMG tool. Now, enter the command OSCDIMG-ndm”Source File Location“”ISO File Location with Name.iso“Change “Source File Location“with the actual file path of the folder you want to convert to an ISO image. If you don’t know how to get the file path of the folder, you can use the same method as above to do it. Change”ISO File Location with Name.iso“with the location where you want the iso file with the name. For example, OSCDIMG-ndm”C:\Users\Username\Documents\Project 1″“D:\ISO File.iso” will create an ISO file from the contents inside Project 1 Folder and save in E drives as ISO File. iso. Your ISO file has been created successfully.

Using Third Party Applications

Another way you can create an ISO file in Windows is by using a third-party application that provides this feature. There are tons of third-party applications such as ISO Workshop, Ultimate ISO Maker, and PowerISO Maker that you can use to create ISO files.

These third-party applications are especially useful if you value convenience, as you can create ISO files with the click of a button. However, while using free apps that provide this feature, you may encounter obstacles such as ISO file size limitations.