3 Ways to Burn ISO File to DVD on Mac and Windows

An ISO image is an archive file of an optical disc, a type of disk image composed of the data contents from every written sector on an optical disc, including the optical disc file system. ISO image files usually have a file extension of .iso. Users are able to download the ISO image, burn it to a DVD, then use it like traditional, physical DVD disc.

ISO images can be created from optical discs by disc imaging software, or from a collection of files by optical disc authoring software, or from a different disk image file by means of conversion. Software distributed on bootable discs is often available for download in ISO image format. And like any other ISO image, it may be written to an optical disc such as CD or DVD.

This post would show you 3 different methods to burn ISO image file to DVD disc on Mac and Windows computer. You could freely select the method that suits your needs most. These 3 ways would help you solve most ISO to DVD disc burning issues.

#1. Windows Disc Image Burner for Windows 7 and Windows 8

On Windows 7 and Windows 8, you could make use of Windows Disc Image Burner to burn ISO image file to DVD disc.

1. Insert a recordable CD, DVD, or Blu‑ray Disc into your disc burner. Make sure you use media that is compatible with your burner.

2. Locate the ISO file. In Windows Explorer, find the disc image file, and then double-click it.

3. Select your disc burner. If you have more than one disc burner, from the Disc burner list in Windows Disc Image Burner, click the burner that you want to use.

4. Verify the burn (optional). If you want to verify that the disc image was burned correctly to the disc, select the Verify disc after burning check box.

• If the integrity of disc image file is critical (for example, the disc image file contains a firmware update), you should select this check box.

5. Click Burn to burn the disc.

#2. iDVD for Mac OS 10.7 and before

Mac users could make use of iDVD to burn ISO to DVD disc on Mac OS 10.7 and previous versions. The latest Mac OS versions have not included iDVD any more. But users could still get iDVD in iLife pack from other stores like Amazon. 

1. Obtain a blank single-layer or dual-layer DVD. Be sure the DVD has enough storage space to fit your .iso image. Note: a dual-layer DVD typically stores approximately 8GB of data.

2. Insert your DVD. Open the tray, and drop the disc into your DVD drive or DVD writer.

• Check if your computer has a DVD drive capable of burning DVDs by clicking the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen, and select About This Mac. Click on More Info... then click Storage. The drive and all formats it can write to will be listed in the bottom.

3. Open the Disk Utility app by navigating to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility (or from the Finder, just press Command(⌘)-U to open the Utilities folder).

4. Click File from the Disk Utility menu. Select Open Disk Image.

5. Browse for and select the ISO image you want to burn. Click the Open button to mount it in Disk Utility.

6. Select the ISO image from the pane on the left of Disk Utility and click the Burn button to burn your DVD.

#3. DVD Creator for all Windows and Mac versions

Windows Disc Image Burner is only applicable for Windows 7 and later, while iDVD is not available in latest Mac OS X. DVD Creator solves this problem and offers exactly the same role as Windows Disc Image Burner and iDVD on Windows and Mac computer.

1. Download and install DVD Creator. 

2. Insert a blank writable DVD disc into DVD recorder drive.

3. Get source ISO image files ready and launch DVD Creator.

4. Click the inverted triangle arrow next to the "Add Video" button and then select "Add iso file" button. 

5. Browse and locate your ISO image file, and then click OK button. On the popup "Add iso file" interface, set Disc Label and Copy to options. Select the writable DVD disc hard drive as output in Copy to option.

6. Click the "Burn" button to start burning ISO image file to DVD disc.