In this post, we will see what Windows Sandbox is and also learn how to enable Windows Sandbox in Windows 10.
We often come across software that is not trustworthy and tends to harm our system, but we can’t ensure whether it is safe to run those software or not, and in the process of checking such software, we might harm our main system.
What is Windows Sandbox?
Windows Sandbox is a built-in functionality of Windows 10 through which it creates a virtual environment for testing software without affecting your main system.
It provides us a secure and safe way to run untrusted programs with ease. Microsoft created an inbuilt sandbox with the sole purpose of providing an environment to users where they can test untrusted software before installing on the main OS.
Why we need Windows Sandbox?
While installing software from unknown sources, we might come across software that has a virus in it, and it could damage our main system, thus harming all your data and windows.
So we need a method through which we can test that software before installing on the main system, that’s where Windows Sandbox comes into play.
Windows Sandbox creates a Virtual Box environment where we can install software from unknown sources and test them out in that Virtual Environment before installing on the main system. On closing of that Virtual Environment, all data related to that software will get destroyed so it won’t be able to harm our main system.
This way, we can protect our system from being penalized by viruses or trojans and install only those software that is safe for our system.
Windows Sandbox Requirements:-
- Windows 10 Version 1903 build 18305 and above (Pro and Enterprise Edition) (Windows Sandbox is currently not supported on Home SKUs)
- AMD64 architecture
- 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)
- Virtualization Must be Enabled in BIOS – Your system must have virtualization enabled for Windows Sandbox to Work
Features of Windows Sandbox:-
- It’s an inbuilt functionality of Windows 10.
- It is small in size and very easy to Use.
- On Closing Windows Sandbox, all its associated data gets destroyed.
- Provides Safe Environment for Testing Softwares
- Lightweight takes only 1-2 GB of Space for creating the Virtual Environment of Windows 10.
Also Read :- How to Download Windows Drivers for Your Device
How to Enable Windows Sandbox in Windows 10?
Windows Sandbox is present in Windows 10 version 1903 and above Pro and Enterprise editions; however, it is not enabled by default.
So if you meet the above system requirements, then let’s see how we can enable Windows Sandbox in Windows 10.
Step1:-
Open Seach Bar and Search for “Turn Windows Features on or off” and open the program.
Step2:-
Look for Windows Sandbox and Select Windows Sandbox Option to Enable it and restart your system. (Additionally, you may need to enable “Virtual Machine Platform” and “Windows Hypervisor Platform” if Windows Sandbox doesn’t work after restart.)
Step3:-
After Restarting your system, Open the start menu and search for “Windows Sandbox” and open it.
Step4:-
Now, it will take a while and launch Windows Sandbox, A Windows 10 minimal Interface. You can further copy your software or download them through the Edge browser and test them inside the Windows Sandbox.
Note:- After Testing your application when you close Windows Sandbox, it will delete all the data created by Windows Sandbox and recover any used space.
Alternatives to Windows Sandbox
Virtual Machine Softwares
There are many Virtual Machine Softwares that you can install and create a safe and separate environment to test software which are from unknown publishers.
Software’s:-
Virtual Box:- https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
VMWare:- https://www.vmware.com
Pros:-
- Separate and Safe Environment
Cons:-
- Heavy on System
- Needs Separate Windows Installation
- Takes large Space
- Slow on Performance
Sandbox Softwares
Virtual Machine Softwares are heavy on the system, so there are some excellent alternatives for Windows Sandbox, which are lightweight and easy to use.
Software’s:-
Sandboxie:- https://www.sandboxie.com/
Shadow Defender:- http://www.shadowdefender.com/
Pros:-
- Small on Size
- Quick setup and start
- Quickly and Easily Destroy the Sandbox Data
Cons:-
- Some users find it hard to understand their working and functionality