On Windows 11, you can enable Windows Sandbox, a secure environment that separates running apps from the rest of the system. It’s great for trying out new apps and software that you’re not sure about. So, in this post, you will learn How to Enable Windows Sandbox in Windows 11.
Windows Sandbox was initially introduced by Microsoft in Windows 10. It’s possible you’ve heard about it before. If not, it’s a lightweight temporary desktop session that allows you to run apps of your choice in a separate environment.
The term “separated” refers to the fact that the app will function without access to your main Windows OS’s files, Registry, or other resources. When you close the Sandbox, all of the data linked with it is automatically erased. You can’t launch an app directly in Windows Sandbox because of this functionality. Before launching it, you must first install it in the Sandbox. Apps that you’ve already installed on your host PC won’t work in the Sandbox.
How to Enable Windows Sandbox in Windows 11
Follow the easy steps with the photos below to install Windows Sandbox in Windows 11 easily.
- Press the Win + R shortcut keys and type
optionalfeatures.exeinto the Run dialog then hit Enter.
- Place the check-mark next to the Windows Sandbox option to enable it and click OK.
- Now, click on the Restart now.
To install and enable the Windows Sandbox feature in Windows 11, your computer will reboot.
Note: If Windows Sandbox is greyed out on your PC or you can’t select it, your computer either doesn’t support Hardware Virtualization or BIOS/UEFI isn’t enabled.
- To access the Windows Sandbox, click on the Start button and type Sandbox. From the search result, click on Windows Sandbox to launch it.
- That’s it. Windows Sandbox will now launch, allowing you to download and run potentially harmful programs. Because it operates in its own environment, it has no effect on the host PC. When you close the Sandbox application, all data is automatically erased.
Additional Information About Windows Sandbox
Windows Sandbox is a mix of a program and a virtual machine in a nutshell. It enables you to quickly image a virtual clean OS from your current system state, allowing you to test apps or data in a secure environment apart from your primary system. When you close the sandbox, the state is lost. Nothing can be transferred from the sandbox to your regular Windows system, and nothing can be retained once it has been closed.
Additionally, the Windows Sandbox feature debuted in Windows 10 and continues to be accessible in Windows 11. This is a useful feature in remote locations. Using Microsoft’s hypervisor and hardware virtualization, it’s akin to a virtual machine that runs a separate kernel to isolate a Windows Sandbox session from the host. It’s roughly 100MB in size and installs and runs untrustworthy conventional programs separately from the main installation.
Summary
That’s up. This was all about How to Enable Windows Sandbox in Windows 11. Windows Sandbox is great for trying out new apps and software that you’re not sure about. I hope you found this article to be helpful. Thanks.
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