Instructions on How to Use Windows Sandbox on Windows 10

This guide provides a practical overview of Instructions on How to Use Windows Sandbox on Windows 10, including its main features, benefits, limitations, and important considerations.

What is Windows Sandbox?

From Windows 10 build 18305 onwards, Microsoft has incorporated the Windows Sandbox feature into the Supported operating systems. It has the function of creating a virtual environment, a new desktop environment, compact and completely independent of the machine's Supported operating systems so that you can install and set personal adjustments without affecting the original Supported operating systems. In other words, Windows Sandbox is a virtual machine. However, Windows Sandbox only appears on Win10 Profesional - Enterprise - Education editions but not on Home editions.

Conditions for running Windows Sandbox

• Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise Insider version 18305 or higher
• AMD64 architecture
• Virtualization is enabled in the BIOS
• At least 4GB of RAM (8GB recommended)
• At least 1 GB of free disk space (SSD recommended)
• At least 2 CPU cores (4 cores recommended with hyperthreading)

Basic features of Windows Sandbox

• Windows Sandbox has all the basic features of Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise. You do not need to use additional VHD.
• Windows Sandbox works independently of the Supported operating systems. You will have an extra virtual Windows 10 in your existing Windows 10.
• When closing the application, all software installed in the Sanbbox will be removed.
• Windows Sandbox virtualizes based on hardware for kernel isolation, based on Microsoft's virtualization to run separate kernels, isolating Windows Sandbox from real machines. Therefore the software does not take up a lot of machine resources.
• Windows Sandbox uses an integrated kernel scheduler, intelligent memory manager and virtual GPU.

How to enable Windows Sandbox feature

Step 1 : First, to use the Windows Sandbox feature, your computer needs to enable the Virtualization feature in the BIOS. To check if your computer has enabled virtualization you have done.

(1) Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to enter Task Manager .

(2) Switch to the Performance tab.

(3) Notice if the Virtualization line is Enabled ( disabled) and Disable (disabled).

Step 2 : Next, open Control Panel and click Programs .

Step 3 : Then select Turn Windows features on or off .

Step 4 : Then tick the Windows Sandbox . And restart Windows.

Step 5 : After restarting, go to Start Menu, type Sanbox and then click on the Sandbox icon to launch the program.

Step 6 : After use, close the Sandbox. However, as mentioned above, closing the Sandbox will remove the program and all the data you have used from the Sandbox. Any programs or files you downloaded during the session will be permanently deleted.

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