ZIP to ISO

Convert ZIP to ISO online: build an ISO 9660 disc image from the contents of a ZIP archive, ready to burn or mount. Free and private, in your browser.

Files are processed in your browser and never uploaded.

How to convert ZIP to ISO

  1. Select a .zip archive with Choose a file, or drag it onto the drop zone.
  2. Enter the password in Password (only if the archive is encrypted) if the ZIP is protected; leave it blank otherwise.
  3. Click Convert to ISO. The ZIP is unpacked and its files are laid out in a new disc image.
  4. Click Download to save the image, for example drivers.zip becomes drivers.iso.

The ZIP is read by zip.js and the image is built by libarchive compiled to WebAssembly, both inside your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

What you can do with the ISO

An ISO is a disc image: a single file that behaves like a CD or DVD. Typical reasons to turn a ZIP into one:

  • Virtual machines. VirtualBox, VMware, Hyper-V, QEMU and similar tools can attach an ISO as a virtual optical drive. That is often the simplest way to get files such as drivers, scripts or installers into a guest system that has no shared folders or network access.
  • Mounting as a drive. Windows 10 and 11 and macOS mount an ISO with a double-click, presenting its contents as a read-only drive.
  • Burning to disc. Disc-burning software can write the image to a CD or DVD for archiving or for legacy hardware.

The image uses the ISO 9660 file system with the Joliet and Rock Ridge extensions, so long file names display correctly on Windows, macOS and Linux rather than being cut to the old 8.3 format.

Limitations to keep in mind

The ISO is a data disc only. It is not bootable, so a ZIP containing an operating system installer will not become a working boot image; download the official ISO for that purpose. ISO images are also uncompressed, so the file will usually be larger than the ZIP, roughly the total size of the files inside.

Original modification dates are not stored in ISO images created here, even though the ZIP had them, so files may show 1970 or no date when you browse the mounted image. Empty folders, macOS junk entries (__MACOSX/ folders and ._ files) and the ZIP's password are not carried over. Disc images are read-only by nature, so the files cannot be changed while the ISO is mounted.

Tips

  • To make an image straight from files and folders on your computer, use Create ISO, which supports adding whole folders.
  • Need to get files out of an existing image? Extract ISO or ISO to ZIP will do it.
  • Rename or remove files before building the image with Edit ZIP.
  • If the dates matter, keep the files in a ZIP or convert to TAR with ZIP to TAR, which preserves them.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a bootable ISO from a ZIP?

No. The image has no boot record. It works for data, drivers and documents, not for booting a computer or virtual machine.

Why is the ISO larger than my ZIP?

ISO images store files without compression, while the ZIP compressed them. The ISO's size is close to the combined size of the files.

Will the image work on a Mac or Linux?

Yes. ISO 9660 with Joliet and Rock Ridge is readable on Windows, macOS and Linux, with long file names intact.

What size limit applies?

The ZIP and the image are built in browser memory. Up to around 700 MB works well, which also fits a standard CD. Larger inputs are slower, and over 2 GB is refused.

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