How to use Windows Sandbox - a lightweight virtual machine

In this step-by-step tutorial, learn how to use Windows 10 Sandbox. Windows Sandbox provides a lightweight desktop environment to safely run applications in isolation. Software installed inside the Windows Sandbox environment remains "sandboxed" and runs separately from the host machine.

A sandbox is temporary. When it's closed, all the software and files and the state are deleted. You get a brand-new instance of the sandbox every time you open the application.

Software and applications installed on the host aren't directly available in the sandbox. If you need specific applications available inside the Windows Sandbox environment, they must be explicitly installed within the environment.

Windows Sandbox has the following properties:
- Part of Windows: Everything required for this feature is included in Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise. There's no need to download a VHD.
- Pristine: Every time Windows Sandbox runs, it's as clean as a brand-new installation of Windows.
- Disposable: Nothing persists on the device. Everything is discarded when the user closes the application.
- Secure: Uses hardware-based virtualization for kernel isolation. It relies on the Microsoft hypervisor to run a separate kernel that isolates Windows Sandbox from the host.
- Efficient: Uses the integrated kernel scheduler, smart memory management, and virtual GPU.

Prerequisites
- Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise or Education build 18305 or later (Windows Sandbox is currently not supported on Home SKUs)
- AMD64 architecture
- Virtualization capabilities enabled in BIOS
- At least 4 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended)
- At least 1 GB of free disk space (SSD recommended)
- At least two CPU cores (four cores with hyperthreading recommended)
Installation
- Ensure that your machine is using Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, build version 18305 or later.

Usage
- Copy an executable file (and any other files needed to run the application) from the host and paste them into the Windows Sandbox window.
- Run the executable file or installer inside the sandbox.
- When you're finished experimenting, close the sandbox. A dialog box will state that all sandbox content will be discarded and permanently deleted.
- Select ok.
- Confirm that your host machine doesn't exhibit any of the modifications that you made in Windows Sandbox.

⌚ Timestamps
0:00 Introduction
1:02 Check Windows version
1:32 Upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro
2:18 Turn Sandbox feature on
3:02 Use Windows Sandbox
6:08 Wrap up

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#windows10

[mathguy]

Excellent work. I use the sandbox frequently to check files and programs. It is an underrated feature.

[gagatek]

Guys if you have Win 10 Pro and still can't find the windows sandbox it might be caused because of translation on your own language! (Please like to help others!)

[stanbice]

This is a VERY useful feature. Being in IT, I have used virtual machines for years. This is great for a quick setup, test files or applications, then quickly tear it down. Thank you Kevin!

[LearningandTechnology]

Excellent video - a skill that I wish more users would consider before opening unknown files - haha! One caution that I seem to be running into with some students - if you have other virtualization software (VMWare is the one we were using) on the computer, adding sandbox "seems" to have caused a few to get STOP errors (blue screen). If that happens, boot to Safe Mode and delete the feature (you can just remove it). I haven't isolated the problem, but it's happened more than once. I'm not sure if it's the other software or if it's an incomplete add/remove process.

Anyhow - sandbox is a must-use feature for scenarios such as the one you show here.

Also - I'm glad that employee is no longer with you. I think the cookies actually taste better since she left.

[waynegeordiesdad]

Thank you SO much. I have wanted a virtual machine for a long time but thought it was either expensive or complicated to use. This part-time virtual with its temporary memory is PERFECT and exactly what i want.
Cheers my friend from Canada North where the snow flies freely

[amualla]

Thanks so much for the information, much appreciated easy and simple like always.
Just to add that most will see it grayed out as it’s not enabled in Bios. So just head on to bios on your machine before Windows start “Del or F2 .. mostly depending on the motherboard” and search for virtual machine or something similar to enable. Once done you will be able to enable it from windows features.

[mervstar]

Damn, Adele is really rolling in the deep here.

[Knowledge_Nuggies]

Kevin really deserves that leather jacket in his picture - he is a total rockstar.

[rezzano]

I did not know what a sandbox is. Short. Educational video. Very good job. Thank you

[cashsurya]

You saved my life brother ! 😭🙏🏻 I thought it was a complicated process, thank god I had windows 10 pro 😭 let's goo

[Seawolf]

Been binge watching your stuff recently. Great tutorials!

[martylynchian]

Listen up Theo Joe, This is not a Sandbox, its the Holodeck for apps.

[TechforSenior]

You are amazing, Well done. I love the KCC. A great resource you can keep using in your videos.

[kevmorris]

This is so cool! Thank you so much for showing us all this functionality in Microsoft products that many of us never heard of. You mentioned more advanced virtual machines using Hyper-V. Will you be making a video about that as well?

[geekatari]

Just the other day I got a file that was in Russian. I didn't trust to open it because some years back I received a Russian file and when I opened it it turned my Windows into a Russian version, it actually looked super different and I had to format. I considered a VM to try it and here I found today about Windows Sandbox! Thank you!

[aln]

Thought you needed Hyper V for this, thanks for the tutorial!

[MrDerekLRobinson]

Pretty cool underrated feature for sure.
Good job on covering this. 👍

[jamesmccourt]

I just learned about this. How come I never heard of this before! Thank you!

[ozchapman]

Was trying Sandboxie-Plus but found this video and it's twenty times simpler. Thank you very much for sharing your time and knowledge! Will be used.. Repeatedly! Kudos

[VictorIsiborReviews]

MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL is always here to learn new stuff.
Good job Kevin.