QCOW2.qcow2 · .qcow

How to Extract Files from a QCOW2 (QEMU) Disk Image on macOS

QCOW2 (QEMU Copy-On-Write version 2) is the disk image format used by QEMU and KVM virtualization. It supports snapshots, compression, and encryption. If you're working with Linux virtual machines or cloud images on your Mac, you may encounter QCOW2 files.

The default way to open QCOW2 files on macOS

Tool: qemu-img via Homebrew (third-party)

$ qemu-img convert -f qcow2 -O raw disk.qcow2 disk.raw

Steps

  1. Install QEMU via Homebrew: brew install qemu
  2. Convert to raw: qemu-img convert -f qcow2 -O raw disk.qcow2 disk.raw
  3. Mount the raw image: hdiutil attach disk.raw
  4. Alternatively, use MacPacker to browse QCOW2 contents directly.
Note: Direct QCOW2 access requires conversion or specialized tools. MacPacker can browse QCOW2 images directly.

Extract individual files from a QCOW2 archive

The default macOS tools extract everything — there's no way to pick individual files. MacPacker lets you browse QCOW2 archive contents, preview files, and extract only what you need — without unpacking the entire archive.

A better way: open QCOW2 files with MacPacker

MacPacker is a free, open-source macOS archive manager that supports QCOW2 and 30+ other formats. Unlike the default tools, MacPacker lets you:

  • Browse archive contents like a folder
  • Preview files with Quick Look without extracting
  • Extract individual files via drag and drop
  • Navigate nested archives (archives within archives)
  • Enjoy a native SwiftUI interface that feels right at home on macOS

Get MacPacker

v0.15.1 · macOS 14+
$ brew install --cask macpacker
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Frequently asked questions

How do I open a QCOW2 file on Mac?

Use MacPacker to browse QCOW2 filesystem contents directly. Alternatively, install QEMU (brew install qemu) and convert to raw: qemu-img convert -f qcow2 -O raw disk.qcow2 disk.raw, then mount with hdiutil.

Related formats

VMDK.vmdk

VMDK is VMware's virtual disk format. Contains the filesystem of a virtual machine.

VHD.vhd

VHD is Microsoft's virtual disk format used by Hyper-V and Azure. Contains a complete filesystem image.

VDI.vdi

VDI is VirtualBox's native virtual disk format. Contains the filesystem of a VirtualBox virtual machine.