How to turn on / off Windows Sandbox on Windows 10

Starting with Windows 10 build 18305, Microsoft introduced Windows Sandbox. Windows Sandbox is a new lightweight desktop environment, designed for applications to run separately and safely. Starting with Windows 10 build 18936, running Windows Sandbox no longer requires admin rights.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the Windows Sandbox feature on Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise.

Turn on or off Windows Sandbox in Windows Features

1. If you are planning to turn on Windows Sandbox, you first need to make sure Virtualization is enabled in UEFI / BIOS settings. You can confirm whether Virtualization is enabled in Task Manager.

You can confirm whether Virtualization is enabled in Task Manager

You may need to refer to your motherboard or PC manual to know exactly how to turn on the Virtualization UEFI / BIOS setting.

2. Open Control Panel (icon view) and click the Programs and Features icon .

3. Click the Turn Windows features on or off link on the left.

This will open the C: WindowsSystem32OptionalFeatures.exe file .

4. Select (enable) or deselect (disable - default) Windows Sandbox and click OK when done.

Select (enable) or deselect (disable - default) Windows Sandbox

5. When ready, click Restart to restart the computer and apply changes.

Turn on or off Windows Sandbox in PowerShell

1. If you are planning to turn on Windows Sandbox, you first need to make sure Virtualization is enabled in UEFI / BIOS settings (as above).

2. Open PowerShell as admin.

3. Copy and paste the command below you want to use into PowerShell and press Enter.

1. Turn on Windows Sandbox

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature –FeatureName "Containers-DisposableClientVM" -All -Online

1. Turn off Windows Sandbox - default

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature –FeatureName "Containers-DisposableClientVM" -Online

Turn on or off Windows Sandbox in PowerShell

4. When prompted to restart the computer, type Yand press Enter.

Turn on or off Windows Sandbox in the Command Prompt

Note : Enable Virtualization in UEFI / BIOS settings.

1. Open Command Prompt with admin rights.

2. Copy and paste the command you want to use into the Command Prompt and press Enter.

1. Turn on Windows Sandbox

Dism /online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"Containers-DisposableClientVM" -All

1. Turn off Windows Sandbox - default

Dism /online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"Containers-DisposableClientVM"

Turn on or off Windows Sandbox in the Command Prompt

3. When prompted to restart the computer, enter Yto do so.