Windows Sandbox is a great new Windows 10 feature that allows you to quickly run an isolated and secure test environment for any apps that you'd like to try without interacting with your main Windows 10 system. It's a virtualized Windows 10 installation that you are free to use as a "sandbox" (think of it as a disposable Windows 10 instance). You can run the sandbox, play around and then close the Windows 10 test environment - the next time you load the app, you'll have a fresh sandbox (nothing remains from previous launches). It's a little like the "In Private" mode of a browser, but for a full Windows 10 installation.
If you are unsure about the trustworthiness of an application, this is a great way to run it without the risk of any consequences for your main Windows 10 installation. None of your files will be accessible, unless you explicitly copy them across.
You'll require a PC that has virtualization capabilities (most modern PCs do), as well as 4GB RAM and 2+ CPU cores. These are fairly modest requirements, but you need a little more power than normal as you are running 2 instances of Windows 10 at the same time. You must also be running Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise (version 1903 or later).
To begin, you'll need to enable this new feature. Click Start and type "Turn windows features on or off" in the search box, then click this entry (see below). Alternatively, you go to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off.
You'll now be shown a list with lots of optional Windows 10 features. Search for Windows Sandbox and tick the checkbox next to this. Then, click OK.
Windows may prompt you to restart your PC to complete the installation. Please do so if this is the case.
Once your PC has restarted, you can search for Windows Sandbox on the start menu to launch the new app. It may take a few seconds to launch, as it has to "boot" the virtual Windows 10 install. This is what you should see once it has launched:
Feel free to play around in this sandbox - it's a great way to test out things without risking your primary operating system.
If you are unsure about the trustworthiness of an application, this is a great way to run it without the risk of any consequences for your main Windows 10 installation. None of your files will be accessible, unless you explicitly copy them across.
You'll require a PC that has virtualization capabilities (most modern PCs do), as well as 4GB RAM and 2+ CPU cores. These are fairly modest requirements, but you need a little more power than normal as you are running 2 instances of Windows 10 at the same time. You must also be running Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise (version 1903 or later).
To begin, you'll need to enable this new feature. Click Start and type "Turn windows features on or off" in the search box, then click this entry (see below). Alternatively, you go to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off.
You'll now be shown a list with lots of optional Windows 10 features. Search for Windows Sandbox and tick the checkbox next to this. Then, click OK.
Windows may prompt you to restart your PC to complete the installation. Please do so if this is the case.
Once your PC has restarted, you can search for Windows Sandbox on the start menu to launch the new app. It may take a few seconds to launch, as it has to "boot" the virtual Windows 10 install. This is what you should see once it has launched:
Feel free to play around in this sandbox - it's a great way to test out things without risking your primary operating system.
