How to Create an ISO Image From a Folder Using the Windows Command Prompt
The Windows OS natively supports the ISO file format. You can mount an ISO image to perform a Windows upgrade, install applications, access media content, and more. However, to create an ISO from a folder, you will need to use a third-party application.
If you don’t want to use a third-party app, you can create an ISO image from the folder using the Command Prompt in Windows. Below we discuss the prerequisites and process required to perform this task in detail.
Why Do You Need to Create an ISO Image From a Folder?
you may create an ISO image containing a group of files in a single compressed image and share it over the network or via flash storage drives. Since Windows has the built-in mount and burn option, the recipient canmount the ISO image to view its contentright away.
On a more advanced level, it lets you extract an existing ISO image, make modifications, and recreate the ISO image. This way, you can extract an ISO file, add additional files, and then repack it.
While there are plenty ofthird-party applications to create an ISO image from a folder, the free ones are riddled with limitations, and the premium ones are relatively expensive for one-time use. That said, it does offer the convenience of one-click conversion and plenty of customization.
If you don’t want to splurge on a third-party ISO conversion tool, you can create an ISO image from the folder using the Command Prompt. For this, you will need to install and configure the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) on your PC.
So, we’ll begin by installing Windows ADK and then proceed to create an ISO image using the Command Prompt.
How to Install the Windows Assessment and Development Kit
The Windows ADK features the tools required to customize the Windows operating system images for large-scale deployment in an organization, etc. It also includes the OSCDIMG tool - A command-line utility you can use to create an ISO image from a folder using Command Prompt.
So, for this guide, you don’t need to install all the components of Windows ADK, but only the Deployment Tools feature, which also consists of the OSCDMIMG tool.
Note that Microsoft releases a compatible version of the Windows ADK for every major release of the OS. So, make sure to download the ADK version compatible with your Windows OS. Alternatively, follow our guide tocheck the build and version of Windows 11if you don’t know the OS version installed on your PC.
To download and install Windows ADK:
How to Create an ISO Image from Folder Using Command Prompt
Now that you have Windows ADK installed, you may create ISO from folders. To create an ISO image using the command processor, you will need to use the OSCDIMG tool.
To create an ISO image from the folder:
You can locate the newly created ISO at your selected location and mount it to your PC or burn it to a disc.
Quickly Create ISO Images From Folders Without Using Third-Party Apps
While plenty of third-party ISO conversion apps support the command processor and offer tons of customization options, with these tools you are likely to run into the free version limitations.
The OSCDIMG command-line tool is a better option as it is developed by Microsoft and is less likely to run into issues. You are also not limited by folder size and can create large ISO files, such as a bootable ISO image, after modifications.
Need to back up and restore Windows without backup tools? Learn how to make an ISO image of your Windows PC.
Not Linux, not Windows. Something better.
My foolproof plan is to use Windows 10 until 2030, with the latest security updates.
The best features aren’t the ones being advertised.
Don’t let someone else take over your phone number.
You can’t call this offline, Notion.
