.ISO File

What is it?

An ISO file is an exact, uncompressed image of an optical disc (CD, DVD, or Blu-ray) — commonly used to distribute operating system installers and software that would otherwise ship on physical media.

How do I open it?

Windows 10/11 can mount an ISO natively by double-clicking, showing it as a virtual disc drive; tools like 7-Zip or PowerISO also open and extract them.

Is it safe?

The ISO format itself is safe, but like any archive it can contain anything — only download ISOs from official, trusted sources.

Can I delete it?

Safe to delete once you've installed from it or burned it to media and no longer need the source file — ISOs are often several gigabytes.