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How to Convert ISO to ZIP Format? Simplified Guide

  Amit Patra
Written By Amit Patra
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh  
Modified On October 7th, 2025
Reading Time 5 Minutes Reading

Overview: If you are looking for an easy way to convert ISO to ZIP format. Then, this article is just for you! ISO files are full disk images which are typically used for software installation and backup purposes. you need to restore from your computer. Whereas, ZIP archives files play the role of compressing files together. So, they take up less space and move around faster between people on the web.

If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to upload or email a large ISO file. Exporting it has the added advantage of saving disk space. We’ll cover why people would want to perform this conversion and look at various manual ways to go before introducing you to a faster, & more professional solution.

And if you’re looking for solutions on how to convert ISO to CUE, this post will offer tips on that too.

Table of Contents
  1. Reasons to Export ISO to ZIP File
  2. Automated Solution
  3. Steps to Convert ISO File
  4. Convert ISO to ZIP Format Manually
  5. Using File Explorer
  6. End

Why ISO to ZIP Conversion?

Here are some common situations to convert ISO to ZIP. You may encounter these situations while using or sharing disk image files:

  • It is ZIP-compressed for quick downloading or delivery to cloud drives. Also, by email or on a portable device.
  • These files are natively supported in all OS versions. That is why ZIP is great for sharing purposes.
  • You can also open ZIP files by double-clicking them. You don’t need a third-party application to browse their contents.
  • If you have several ISO files or would like them to be in archive format. Then, converting it is useful to manage your data better.
  • These files can also be password protected to keep ISO content safe while transporting or from storage.

Smart Way to Convert ISO to ZIP Efficiently

There is no direct way to export your ISO files with the help of manual methods. As, it has limitations like converting large sized files. If you are looking for a fast and safe conversion solution. This is precisely where SysTools ISO Converter comes into play. By this, users can easily export their ISO files into other common formats, such as ZIP, CUE, IMG and many more. It guarantees the stability of file source and output file and provides fast converting speed even if the data is huge.

Main Features:

  • Batch processing for multiple ISOs at once
  • No loss of data during the entire process.
  • Preserves the complete ISO structure
  • Quick and accurate conversion engine.
  • All Windows & Mac versions are supported.

How to Export ISO to ZIP Files? Full Steps

1. Download & Install our software into your PC.

step 1

2. To load .iso files, click on the Add File(s) button.

step 2

3. You can choose more than one ISO at a time. Once you get to the right folder, click on the Open button.

step 3

4. Simply click Next & the tool will convert ISO to ZIP quickly.

step 4

5. Next, it will give you various export options like ISO, BIN/CUE, IMG, ZIP-ISO and 7Z-ISO.

step 5

6. Choose the final path to store your data. Then hit the Convert button.

step 6

7. The file you’ve selected is converted as a ZIP. Just hit the OK.

step 7

8. And also, tap the “View Report” to get an even more detailed report on this conversion.

step 8

9. Now, head over to your destination folder and there you should find the data in the form of an Excel file.

step 9

Convert ISO to ZIP Files Using Manual Steps

There’s no one-click solution in Windows directly, but you can use some indirect methods to complete the file conversion.

#1. Using File Explorer (Built-In Method)

Windows 10 and 11 can mount ISO files without the need of any external software. Here is how you can do manually:

  1. Right-click the ISO file, and then click Mount.
  2. Windows would recognize this as a virtual CD/DVD drive.
  3. Open the mounted drive, and copy all its components to a new folder on your computer.
  4. Once it’s copied, right-click that folder and choose Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder.
  5. Windows will then immediately produce the ZIP file containing all the ISO data.

And that’s how you can convert ISO to ZIP on most Windows-based operating systems without third-party software required.

Pros:

  • No external software required.
  • It is suitable for small, or medium ISO files.

Cons:

  • You lose the structure of the disk image.
  • To drag and drop every file manually takes time with big files.
  • Chances to miss some hidden/system files.

Final Verdict

When you convert ISO to ZIP file, it doesn’t just get smaller. It becomes easier to access and share. There are manual ways to do this, such as through the File Explorer, but the process can be slow and sometimes it generates errors too. And there is no better choice than using our professional solution. So, it’s great for large ISO files and ensures high speed and secure conversion. It can export into various other image formats while keeping data and folder structure.

  Amit Patra

By Amit Patra

An adept expert with an extensive experience in solving a wide range of technical challenges. Passionate about emerging technologies, creating practical solutions, and simplifying complex concepts in layman's terms for users. Skilled in cybersecurity, data management, cloud platforms, and other domains, with proven expertise in providing user-focused content. His insights are a blend of hands-on experience, research and continuous learning.