Enable Printer Sharing in Windows Sandbox

How to turn on or off printer sharing with Sandbox in 🪟 Windows 11

To turn on printer sharing Windows Sandbox features, you need to update the configuration file so your isolated desktop can access your physical printers. By default, Windows Sandbox blocks access to local hardware for security. Changing this setting lets you send print jobs directly from the sandbox to any printer installed on your main computer without needing to transfer files first.

Below, the Sandbox is isolated; you can’t print from it. If you want to print, you must enable printer sharing between the host and sandboxed environment.

Here’s how to do that.

First, open Local Group Policy Editor by clicking the Start Menu ⊞ and searching for Edit group policy, as highlighted below.

Under Best match, select Edit group policy to launch Local Group Policy Editor.

In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, expand the tree:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Sandbox

Then, in the Windows Sandbox details pane on the right, find and double-click the "Allow printer sharing with Windows Sandbox" setting.

In the Allow printer sharing with Windows Sandbox window, choose either Not Configured, Enabled, or Disabled.

• Not Configured (default)
• Enabled  - host printers will be shared into Windows Sandbox.
• Disabled - Sandbox will not view printers from the host.

Enable or disable printer sharing with Sandbox via Windows Registry

You can enable printer sharing Windows Sandbox settings using the Registry Editor if your version of Windows lacks the Group Policy Editor. Open the Registry Editor and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsSandbox to create or modify the printer redirection key. This method applies the necessary system policy changes directly through the registry database.

Open the Windows Registry and navigate to the folder path (like a file folder) shown below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsSandbox

If you don't see a Sandbox folder key, right-click on the Windows key and create a new subfolder named Sandbox.

In the right pane of the Sandbox folder, right-click and choose New › DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name this new key AllowPrinterRedirection.

Double-click it and set the Value data to 1 to turn on sharing.

That should do it!

Reference:

Microsoft.com

Conclusion:

• Enabling printer sharing between the host and sandbox environment in Windows 11 provides the ability to print from the isolated sandbox environment.
• The process involves accessing the Local Group Policy Editor or the Windows Registry to configure the printer-sharing settings accordingly.
• These steps ensure seamless communication between the host machine and the Sandbox, allowing for a more versatile and productive workflow.