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Turn On Windows Sandbox

Windows Sandbox is a throw-away Windows desktop where you can test risky apps safely.

Windows Hosting2 min read12 steps9 screenshots

What it is

Windows Sandbox is a light virtual machine built into Windows 10 and 11 (Pro and Enterprise). Each time you open it, you get a clean copy of Windows. When you close it, everything inside is deleted. It came with Windows 10 version 1903.

What you need

  1. Windows 10 or 11 Pro or Enterprise.
  2. A 64-bit processor.
  3. Hardware virtualization turned on in the BIOS or UEFI.
  4. At least 2 CPU cores (4 are better).
  5. At least 4 GB of RAM.
  6. At least 1 GB of free disk space.

Check virtualization

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. On the Performance tab, look under the CPU graph. It should say Virtualization: Enabled.

Virtualization shown as enabled in Task Manager

If it says Disabled, restart the PC, open the BIOS or UEFI settings and enable virtualization (often called Intel VT-x or AMD-V).

Method 1: Windows Features

  1. Open Control Panel, then Programs, then Programs and Features. Click Turn Windows features on or off.
    Control Panel, Programs and Features

You can also search for "Turn Windows features on or off" in the Start menu.

The Windows features search
  1. Scroll down and tick Windows Sandbox. Click OK.
    The Windows Sandbox check box
  2. Wait for the installation, then restart the PC if Windows asks.

Method 2: PowerShell

  1. Search for PowerShell in the Start menu. Right-click it and choose Run as administrator.
    Opening PowerShell as administrator
  2. Run:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "Containers-DisposableClientVM" -All -Online
The PowerShell command
  1. Restart the PC when it asks.

Start Windows Sandbox

Open the Start menu and click Windows Sandbox.

Windows Sandbox in the Start menu

A new window opens with a clean Windows desktop.

The sandbox environment

Install and test any software inside it. Nothing changes on your main system. When you close the window, all data in the sandbox is erased.

An isolated sandbox

Tips

  • Download test files inside the sandbox browser, not on your main PC.
  • The clipboard is shared between the host and the sandbox. You can copy and paste files in.
  • For network, folder sharing and other options, use a .wsb configuration file.

Quick recap

  • Needs Windows Pro or Enterprise and virtualization.
  • Turn it on in Windows Features or with PowerShell.
  • Everything inside is deleted when you close it.