How to install CAB file for updates and drivers on Windows 10

If you have a CAB package, use these steps to install or extract it on Windows 10.

Avatar for Mauro Huc
@pureinfotech
Pureinfotech Logo
Install CAB file on Windows 10

On Windows 10, you can install “.cab” files using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) command-line tool available with Command Prompt, and here’s how. A “.cab” extension file refers to the cabinet archiving file format that efficiently packages and compresses multiple files in a file library.

Developers often use cabinet files to build their app installers, and Microsoft, for example, sometimes uses the format to distribute standalone updates for Windows 10 and other packages.

If you have a Windows 10 update in a CAB format, you can use the DISM command-line tool to install packages on your device quickly.

This guide will teach you how to install a cabinet file on Windows 10.

Install CAB file using DISM command 

To install a “.cab” file with Command Prompt on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Start on Windows 10.

  2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

  3. Type the following command to install the CAB file and press Enter: dism /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:"PATH\TO\CAB"

    For example, this command installs the update KB4562830 on Windows 10: dism /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:"C:\Users\username\Downloads\windows10.0-kb4562830.cab"

    dism install CAB file command

Once you complete the steps, the package will install on the computer. If this is an update, you might need to restart your device to complete the installation.

Extract CAB file on Windows 10

Although you may have received a “.cab” file, it doesn’t mean you have to install it. Some developers may use the cabinet container as a compressed folder to distribute specific content.

To extract a “.cab” file on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open File Explorer.

  2. Browse to the folder with the cabinet file.

  3. Double-click the “.cab” file.

  4. Select all the contents (“Ctrl + A” keyboard shortcut).

  5. Right-click the selection and select the Extract option.

    Extract CAB file on Windows 10

  6. Select the folder destination to extract the files.

  7. Click the Extract button.

    Extract CAB file destination

After you complete the steps, you can use the files to install the app, set up a new driver, or apply a system update.

Install CAB file for driver update

If the package fails to install using the DISM tool during an installation of a driver, you might be able to extract the contents of the CAB file to install the driver manually.

To update a driver using a CAB file on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open File Explorer.

  2. Navigate to the folder with the achieve file.

  3. Double-click the CAB file to open it.

  4. Select all the contents (“Ctrl + A” keyboard shortcut).

  5. Right-click the selection and select the Extract option.

    Extract CAB file on Windows 10

  6. Select the folder destination to extract the files.

  7. Click the Extract button.

  8. Open Start.

  9. Search for Device Manager and select the top result.

  10. Right-click the device and select the Update driver option.

    Update driver option

  11. Click the “Browse my computer for drivers” option.

    Browse computer for drivers

  12. Click the Browse button.

    Select extracted CAB folder

  13. Select the folder with extracted files from the CAB file.

  14. Click the OK button.

  15. Click the Next button.

  16. Click the Close button.

After you complete the steps, Device Manager will detect and install the driver components to set up the device.