How to Share Host Folders with Windows Sandbox in Windows 11

Share a host folder with a sandbox environment

Windows Sandbox shared folders let you pass files back and forth between your main PC and the virtual desktop. You can share any folder on your computer by opening the Sandbox menu, selecting the share option, and picking the folder you want to use. This gives the temporary desktop access to your files without changing your main system settings.

First, open Windows Sandbox from your Start menu ⊞.

First, enable and open the Sandbox app.

Next, click on the 3 dots button at the top right of the Sandbox app’s title bar, and select Share folder. 

Navigate to and select the host and folder you wish to share.

To complete the steps, click the Select Folder button on the File Explorer dialog box.

Repeat the process for all the folders you want to share with your sandbox.

Share a folder with Windows Sandbox using WSB file

Windows Sandbox shared folders can load automatically every time you launch the app if you use a configuration file. You create a text file with a .wsb extension and add specific code inside it to map your host folder. This saves you from having to manually select the folder every single time you open the sandbox.

First, create a text file with a WSB extension on the host computer. (ex. sandboxmap.wbs)

Then, add the lines below into the file and save it to map a folder as read-only.

<Configuration>
  <MappedFolders>
    <MappedFolder>
      <HostFolder>C:UsersRichardDownloads</HostFolder>
      <ReadOnly>true</ReadOnly>
    </MappedFolder>
  </MappedFolders>
</Configuration>

Change the highlighted folder location with your own.

Use the lines below to map a folder with read and write access.

<Configuration>
  <MappedFolders>
    <MappedFolder>
      <HostFolder>C:UsersRichardDownloads</HostFolder>
      <ReadOnly>false</ReadOnly>
    </MappedFolder>
  </MappedFolders>
</Configuration>

The next time you want to run Sandbox with mapped folders, use the WSB file created above on your desktop.

The sandbox will now map the folder on launch.

Conclusion:

• Windows Sandbox in Windows 11 provides a secure, isolated environment for testing untrusted applications and browsing potentially harmful websites.
• Sharing a host folder with Windows Sandbox enables convenient access to files within the virtual environment.
• It's essential to consider potential security risks when exposing host folders to a sandbox environment, as it could lead to system compromise or data theft.
• Additionally, utilizing a WSB configuration file allows for automatically mounting specific folders within the sandbox environment, providing users with a customized and efficient experience.