How to open a .wim file (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Q: Why can't I open my .wim file?

Usually your computer lacks an app that understands WIM. Install one of the apps listed here, or convert the file to a more common format.

A .wim file is a Windows Imaging Format File. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads WIM yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.

Open a .wim file step by step

Confirm the file really is a .wim. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
On Windows, open it with DISM (mount/apply) or 7-Zip.
On Mac, use 7-Zip via CLI ports or wimlib.
On Linux, try wimlib (wimlib-imagex) or 7-Zip.
Still stuck? Convert the .wim to esd (compress), which opens more widely.

Best apps to open .wim files

Windows

DISM (mount/apply)
7-Zip
Windows Setup

macOS

7-Zip via CLI ports
wimlib

Linux

wimlib (wimlib-imagex)
7-Zip

Before you open it: Safe as a file: it is an image archive. Applying an image wipes the target volume, so the caution sits in the deployment step, not the file.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I open my .wim file?

Almost always because no installed app understands WIM. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.

How do I open a .wim file?

For a quick look, open it in 7-Zip. To work with it properly, mount it with DISM (dism /Mount-Wim) or wimlib, edit, then commit or discard the changes.

What is install.wim?

The core image on Windows installation media: it holds the complete OS, often multiple editions in one file. Setup applies it to your disk during installation.