When you download an app or a piece of software on your Mac, the file is usually downloaded as a DMG file. DMG files serve as containers for apps in macOS. You just need to double-click the downloaded DMG file, drag the app to the Applications folder, then unmount the installer. This way, the installation process has been simplified and users don’t have to suffer the hassle of installation wizards that are plaguing Windows users.

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Although the installation process sounds simple, it is much more complicated than that. The contents of the DMG goes through a checksum process to verify that the file is 100% intact and that it hasn’t been tampered with. Once the file has been verified, it is then decompressed. DMG files are designed for macOS and you can’t run them on Windows devices.

DMG files make app installations on macOS a lot quicker and easier. However, there have been several reports from users about the .dmg file not opening on Mac. There are different versions to this error, but the end scenario is the same: for some reason, users are unable to open the .dmg file on Mac. This guide will discuss why some users have trouble opening a DMG file and how to resolve this issue.

Unable to Open .DMG File on Mac

Installing a DMG file on Mac should be as easy as double-clicking the file and dragging the app to the Applications folder. However, the process is not as smooth for some Mac users because they are not able to open the DMG file to start with. According to user reports, the download process was completed and there were no issues with unzipping. But when it comes to opening the unzipped files, nothing happens. Some users who encounter this issue get the resource temporarily unavailable error while others noted no activity happening no matter how many times the file is clicked.

Others encounter this error message when opening the DMG file:

There is no default application specified to open the document.

When the user tries to open it, either the options are grayed out or nothing happens when any of the options are clicked. This error has caused the affected Mac users to be frustrated. The users who encountered this error tried to redownload the file using a different Mac and the DMG file seems to be working fine, which means that the problem lies with the device itself. But what causes DMG files to not open on Mac?

Dmg File Won T Open Mac

Why Your .DMG File Is Not Opening on Mac

Some users noted that they cannot open the .dmg file on Mac after updating to Catalina, but there are also those who encountered this error when running an older version of macOS. This means that the problem is not unique to Catalina but it is something that affects the entire macOS system.

Here are some of the possible reasons why some users are having trouble opening DMG files:

• If your Mac is running Catalina, check the version of the app you are trying to open. Catalina no longer supports 32-bit apps. So if you’re trying to download and install a 32-bit app, then you might not be able to install it on Catalina.
• If you have poor or unstable internet connection, it is possible that the file was not downloaded completely, resulting in errors when accessing the file.
• If you downloaded the file from an untrustworthy source, it might be a fake DMG file or it could be loaded with malware.
• It is also likely that the DMG file you downloaded is corrupted. An interrupted download process and malware infection are the two leading causes of file corruption.

Hence, before you start the troubleshooting process, here are some things you need to consider:

Dmg File Won T Open

• Download the file once again using a different internet connection. Try using a wired connection if possible.
• Scan the file for malware infection, especially if the file was downloaded from an untrustworthy source.
• Download the file from another source. If the app is not available on the Mac App Store, visit the developer’s website and download the installer from there instead.
• If you’re running macOS Catalina, make sure that you are downloading the 64-bit version of the app.

How to Open .DMG File on Mac

If you’re having trouble opening the DMG file on Mac, here are some of the things you can do:

Method #1. Use DiskImageMounter.

1. After downloading the DMG file, right-click or Command + click on the file.
2. Choose Open With from the menu, then select DiskImageMounter.
3. Depending on the size of your file, you should see the mounted Disk Image appear on your Desktop.
4. If you don’t see the Disk Image, choose Other from the right-click menu.
5. Navigate to /System/Library/CoreServices/DiskImageMounter.app
6. The DMG file should now be mounted.

Method #2. Mount the .DMG File via Terminal

Mac Won't Open Dmg File Not Recognized

If the right-click menu is grayed out or nothing happens when you click any of the Open With options, you can try mounting the file using Terminal instead. Drag the file to the Desktop and follow the steps below:

1. Open the Terminal app by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities.
2. In the Terminal window, type in the following command and press Enter: cd ~/Desktop
3. Next, type in this command, then press Enter: hdiutil attach filename.dmg
4. Replace filename.dmg with the actual .dmg file name.
5. After executing the two command lines, your .dmg file will now be mounted on your Mac.

Method #3: Use a Third-Party Tool.

If you cannot open the DMG file using the two methods above, you can try using a third-party utility instead. Here are some of the apps you can try:

Summary

Installing applications on macOS is a lot simpler compared to installing programs on Windows, thanks to the DMG file. However, it is normal to run into errors when opening a DMG file, especially if the file has been corrupted or has not been completely downloaded on your device. If this is the case, you can try any of the three methods listed above to open the problematic DMG file.