“Windows Sandbox” is a feature in Windows 11 that creates a lightweight virtualization environment that allows you to install and test untrusted applications or websites without affecting the main installation. In other words, Windows Sandbox is a virtual machine that the Microsoft hypervisor creates on demand using the same image of Windows 11 that is installed on your computer. In this article we will teach you How to Set up Windows Sandbox on Windows 11.
The distinction is that this is a custom lightweight virtualization environment that has been optimized for performance and security. Although any other virtualization technology can be used, Windows Sandbox has some advantages. You don’t, for example, need another product key to activate the instance, and you don’t have to spend extra time configuring the virtual machine. When you open the sandbox, you will also start with a clean Windows 11 installation, and everything will be deleted when you close the feature. Below we have mention the steps to Set up Windows Sandbox on Windows 11.
How to Set up Windows Sandbox on Windows 11
Windows Sandbox is an optional feature, which means you’ll have to install it from the Optional features section. You can add and remove optional features from the Windows Features dialog. Alternatively, you can use PowerShell or Command Prompt for a swift installation of Windows Sandbox.
While the setup process is easier, your computer must meet some system requirements. Windows 11 Pro, Education, or Enterprise running computers with virtualization support are Windows Sandbox compatible. In most cases, if your system can run Windows Hyper-V, it should also run Windows Sandbox.
Enable Windows Sandbox Using the Windows Features Dialog
Windows Sandbox can be installed via the Windows Features dialog. This dialog contains the majority of the optional Windows features that are ready to install on your computer. To install Windows Sandbox using the Windows Features dialog, follow these steps:
- To open Run, press Win + R.
- To open Control Panel, type appwiz.cpl and press OK.
- Turn Windows features on or off in the left panel.
- Scroll down and find Windows Sandbox in the Turn Windows features on or off dialog.
- Check the Windows Sandbox box and then click OK.
- Windows will look for the files and install the dependencies required to run Windows Sandbox scenarios. Close the Windows features dialog and restart your computer once the changes have been applied.
- After restarting, press Win + S to launch Windows search.
- To launch the virtualization tool, type sandbox and then click on Windows Sandbox from the search results.
Install Windows Sandbox Using PowerShell
You can use the Enable WindowsOptionalFeature command in PowerShell to install Windows Sandbox in Windows. This method is useful if you find the sandbox option greyed out or unable to install it from the Windows Feature dialog. To install Windows Sandbox using PowerShell:
- To access the WinX menu, press Win + X.
- To open the Windows Terminal with administrative privileges, click on Windows Terminal (Admin). Because PowerShell is set as the default profile when you launch Windows, you can immediately execute PowerShell cmdlets in Windows Terminal.
- Copy and paste the following command into the Windows Terminal window, then press Enter:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName “Containers-DisposableClientVM” -All
- If no errors are encountered, Windows will install the necessary files to enable Windows Sandbox.
- After that, press Y and then Enter to restart your computer.
- After restarting, you can access Windows Sandbox via Windows Search.
Install Windows SandBox Using Command Prompt
Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a command-line utility that allows you to install optional features via the Command Prompt. You must use the Enable-Feature command in Command Prompt to install Windows Sandbox. Here’s how to go about it.
- To open Run, press Win + R.
- In the Run dialog, type cmd. To open Command Prompt as administrator, hold Ctrl + Shift and click OK.
- Type the following command into the Command Prompt and press Enter:
dism /online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName: “Containers-DisposableClientVM” -All
How to Use Windows Sandbox
Now that Windows Sandbox is installed, you can use it to test untrusted apps in isolation. To open the app, press Win + S to open Windows Search and type Windows Sandbox into the search box. To open the app, select it from the search results. When you first launch Windows Sandbox, it appears to be a lightweight version of your Windows machine. Using the built-in web browser, you can copy files from your host system or download them from the Internet.
Any actions you take in the sandbox will have no effect on your host system. When the testing is finished, close the Sandbox and confirm the action by clicking OK. Sandbox, unlike a VM, will delete all data (including apps and files) upon exit. As a result, you’ll always get a clean, isolated environment running the same Windows OS build as your host machine.
What is Windows Sandbox
Windows Sandbox is a safe, isolated environment within the host operating system (Windows 10 or Windows 11). You can run untrusted programs and scripts and download attachments without fear of infecting your computer with malware. It’s essentially a lightweight virtual machine with a protected state in which memory integrity is persistently enabled. No program or file running in Windows Sandbox can change or tamper with the host operating system.
Sandbox differs from standard virtual machine software in that it does not save any changes made within the environment. When you launch Windows Sandbox, it starts from scratch, discarding all previous data. Windows Sandbox is primarily used to test unknown apps and scripts, open suspicious websites, and download suspicious attachments from emails, among other things.
Final Words
If the problems still resides and you are not able to fix the problem by following the above steps the new one can go to their official website and ask for more. Windows Sandbox is an excellent tool for testing apps and files in an isolated environment without having to set up a virtual machine. While virtual machines have their advantages, Sandbox is lighter, faster, and loads a fresh copy of Windows OS each time it is launched. Windows 11 Home users, on the other hand, have been deprived of this fantastic feature.
I hope you understand this article, How to Set up Windows Sandbox on Windows 11.
