Mount popular image types
Attach ISO, MDS, MDX and dozens of companion formats to virtual DT or SCSI drives without a physical disc.
Virtual drive utility
Mount disc images as real drive letters on Windows
DAEMON Tools Lite mounts ISO, MDS, MDX, MDF, NRG, CCD, BIN/CUE, VHD and ZIP archives on virtual DT and SCSI devices so Explorer treats them like optical discs.
Version 12.6.0.2451 · 43.99 MB · Free license available · Windows 10 / 11 64-bit
Works on Windows 10 / 11
Integrity and security notes
Quick Mount
Drop an image
F:
setup_win11.iso
G:
NewVHD.vhd
H:
Empty DT drive
USB
Bootable stick
Overview
What is DAEMON Tools?
DAEMON Tools is a disc imaging suite from Disc Soft. The Lite edition mounts popular image types, keeps a catalog of favorites, and can grab physical discs to ISO, MDX, MDS and related formats. Free license covers the must-have mount and catalog tools; optional Pro modules add burn, VHD, bootable USB, iSCSI and more.
- Mount
- ISO, MDS, MDX, MDF, NRG, CCD, BIN/CUE, APE/CUE, VHD, VMDK, ZIP and more
- Devices
- Up to 4 DT + SCSI + HDD devices on Free; paid Unlimited Devices raises the ceiling
- Audience
- Gamers with ISO installs, technicians imaging optical media, anyone past Windows-native ISO-only mount
Grab discs to ISO, MDX, MDS
Create images from optical media with advanced options, then keep them in the Images catalog.
Virtual HDD, RAM disk, containers
Optional modules create VHD files, RAM disks and TrueCrypt-style containers for portable storage.
Bootable USB and disc burn
Write OS installers to USB, burn images or audio, erase rewritables, and test burns on a Virtual Burner.
Drives view adds DT devices and advanced mount options. See the Drives section.
Licenses
Choose how to use DAEMON Tools Lite
Free core tools, paid licenses without partner offers, or the All-In pack for every Pro module.
Commercial License
- For business institutions and developers
- Lifetime updates included
- Dedicated technical support
from $19.99
Personal License
- Lifetime updates for 3 PCs
- No third-party offers
- 24/7 support
from $8.99
Free License
- Must-have free tools
- Partner offers included
- Limited support
All-In Features Pack
- All Pro features at half price
- Lifetime updates for 3 PCs
- No ads & full support
Buy now
from $26.00
Who uses it
Real situations where virtual drives replace a tray
Game and software ISOs
Windows can mount ISO only. Older titles still ship MDS/MDF, MDX, CCD or NRG. DAEMON Tools mounts those formats to a drive letter so installers and DRM checks that expect a disc path keep working.
Lab imaging without media wear
Technicians grab discs once to ISO or MDS, then remount forever. Virtual Burner lets you validate a layout before committing a blank disc.
Bootable USB and VHD backups
Write a bootable OS image to a stick, or create a VHD partition file for portable storage. Optional password protection covers sensitive USB data.
Compare
DAEMON Tools vs common alternatives
Specific criteria based on what each tool actually does for disc images on Windows.
| Criterion | DAEMON Tools Lite Recommended | Windows ISO mount | Virtual CloneDrive | UltraISO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formats beyond ISO | MDS, MDX, MDF, NRG, CCD, BIN/CUE, VHD, ZIP… | ISO only | Common image types, mount-focused | Strong ISO editor, mount is secondary |
| Create images from disc | ISO, MDX, MDS (and paid editor tools) | No | No | Yes (ISO-centric) |
| Virtual drive count | 4 free; up to 256 DT with Unlimited Devices | Per mounted ISO | Configurable virtual drives | Limited virtual CD helper |
| Burn / bootable USB | Optional Burn and Bootable USB modules | Separate OS tools | No | Burn and USB writing |
| License model | Free core + optional paid packs | Built into Windows | Freeware | Paid (trial) |
Transparency
Trust before you install
Publishers and antivirus engines have long flagged low-level virtual drive drivers and free-installer partner offers. We document what that means instead of hiding it.
Read trust and securityVersion 12.6 security fix
Build 12.6.0 addresses the 12.5.1 free-installer integrity incident. Prefer 12.6.0.2451 or newer and verify the SHA256 on the download page.
Free vs paid install
Free License may show optional partner offers. Decline them in the wizard, or use a Personal / Commercial license for an ads-free path.
Integrity check
SHA256 · a22b555a11458b0d7f3db0d76f78fb8519ae352ca249e9527efff600ccee5757
How to verify the fileFrom the field
What people say about DAEMON Tools
Paraphrased from published reviews and long-running user feedback. Hover the strip to pause.
“Led the pack by a comfortable margin with 40% of the vote” when Lifehacker readers picked favorite disk image tools.
Softpedia called out advanced features that deal with virtually all image formats on the market and reliable virtual CD/DVD emulation.
Download.com noted you can burn images you are using or test an image before committing it to optical media.
Software.Informer observed Lite is more comprehensive than many competitors while still offering a free core, which is rare in this category.
Works great for MDS/MDF game ISOs Windows will not touch. The free installer still pushes partner offers if you click next too fast. Decline them and you are fine.
Bytesin.com listed low resource use, stability, and a simple functional interface among the practical pros.
Download DAEMON Tools Lite 12.6
43.99 MB EXE · Windows 10 / 11 64-bit · SHA256 published on the download page