FC0-U71 Applications and Software Practice Question
A user is trying to install software on a macOS computer and has downloaded a file with a .dmg extension. What should the user do with this file to install the software?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that .dmg files are like .zip or .exe files; candidates might think they need to extract or rename the file, but the correct action is to mount the disk image.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Double-click the .dmg file to mount it, then run the installer inside.
A .dmg file is an Apple Disk Image, which acts as a virtual disk. To install software from a .dmg, the user must double-click it to mount the disk image, which then appears as a volume in Finder. Inside the mounted volume, the user typically finds an installer package or an application bundle that can be dragged to the Applications folder or run directly.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use the command line to run 'installer -pkg file.dmg'.
Why it's wrong here
The installer command targets .pkg and .mpkg archives, not .dmg disk images, so it cannot process this file. It is tempting because command-line installation is valid for macOS package files, and would be correct had the download been a .pkg rather than a .dmg.
- ✗
Extract the .dmg file using a decompression tool.
Why it's wrong here
A .dmg is a mountable disk image, not a compressed archive; decompression tools cannot open it. It is tempting because .dmg files are often compressed internally, and extraction would be correct for a .zip or .tar.gz archive rather than a disk image.
- ✗
Rename the file to .app and drag it to the Applications folder.
Why it's wrong here
Renaming the extension does not convert the disk image into an application bundle; the file's internal structure remains a mountable image. It is tempting because .app bundles are dragged to Applications, and that step would be correct after mounting the .dmg and copying the enclosed app.
- ✓
Double-click the .dmg file to mount it, then run the installer inside.
Why this is correct
A .dmg is a disk image, not an installer itself; double-clicking mounts it as a virtual volume in Finder. The user then opens that mounted volume and runs the .app or .pkg inside, which performs the actual installation.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This FC0-U71 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the FC0-U71 exam.