The best way to instantly spin up an environment where users can test a suspicious website or URL or new software or a programming feature that you do not want to test directly on your main windows OS with the fear of affecting the OS or affecting other programs on your system is the Windows Sandbox. This Windows Sandbox is available both on Windows 10 and 11, it provides you with a safe environment that is isolated from the main system. Windows Sandbox is a virtual environment where you can carry out installation, download, and test-run new apps. The Sandbox will always be the same version as the host operating system.
The Windows Sandbox is very easy and quick to spin up if you follow the below steps which will guide you on setting one for yourself. You may want to know How to use the Windows Sandbox as a security feature in Windows 10 and 11 If you want to read more on virtual environments then read these: 3 Ways to Convert VMware VMs to Hyper-V, How to install Oracle VirtualBox on a Mac device, How to set up a VM via PXE boot on a Generation 1 VM, Enable HyperV on Windows: How to install Windows 11 on HyperV
Follow these steps in configuring your first Windows Sandbox
1. Confirm if your system meets these requirements for optimum performance
- Windows 11 or 10 Pro or Enterprise
- AMD64 CPU and above
- Virtualization enabled in BIOS
- A minimum of 4 GB of RAM but 8 GB is recommended.
- SSD is the recommended disk with 1 GB of free disk space
- 2 CPU Cores
2. Enable the Windows Sandbox through the Windows feature. Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. Click the Turn Windows features on or off
3. Check the Windows Sandbox Checkbox and click OK.
4. After installing Sandbox you will be prompted to reboot your PC to complete the installation.
5. After you reboot your system and you try to search for Windows Sandbox you will see the Windows Sandbox App icon. Click it and the environment will be launched.
6. Windows Sandbox finally launched.
7. Another way we can configure Windows Sandbox is via Windows PowerShell. Make sure you run the PowerShell as Administrator and run this command. Type Y to complete the operation.
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Containers-DisposableClientVM" -All
Here is a YouTube video of how to configure Windows Sandbox.
I hope you found this blog post How to configure Windows Sandbox interesting and helpful. In case you have any questions do not hesitate to ask in the comment section.