Add or Remove Mount Context Menu in Windows 10

Paul Black · 29 Sep 2020

f14tomcat said:

May be irrelevant, but.... certain apps, 7-Zip as a prime example, will hijack the ISO "mount" command and turn it into "Open with 7z". That comes up often when an OP says "There is no Mount command". We ask, "Do you have 7-Zip or anything like it installed?". Invariably, they do. At that point, it's easier to just tell them to right-click and open with Explorer.

Good information. Thanks for sharing.

GranitStatColin · 10 Apr 2023

Brink said:

Hello Dick,

Good point. I added a warning at the top of the tutorial for this to help.

Brink, I think your warning implies this, but it may not be clear to readers. IF that's the reason (some app install has become the default app for ISO, VHD, or VHDX extensions), then simply reseting the default app back to Windows Explorer for the respective file extension is a permanent fix. One of the easiest ways to do this is to follow your step in the warning, select "Choose another app, even if Windows Explorer appears in the list, then select Windows Explorer AND BE SURE TO CHECK THE BOX "Always use this app to open <ISO/VHD/VHDX> files."

Another is to right-click on the file and select Properties. Then, on the General tab, near the top it will show "Opens with:" and an app name. Click "Change..." next to that and select Windows Explorer.

With the file extension restored using either of those methods, the Mount option will be there again. I suggest that's faster and easier and safer for users uncomfortable with making Registry edits than applying a Registry change. On the other hand, it's not a savable solution or easily applied in bulk to many users. In those cases, the applying registry file is clearly the better solution.