How to Share Host Folders with Windows Sandbox in Windows 11

This article explains how to share a folder from your main computer with the Windows Sandbox in Windows 11.

Windows Sandbox is a tool that creates a safe, isolated space on your computer. You can use it to run apps or visit websites you don’t fully trust. It keeps these things away from your main system so your computer stays safe. Why do this? It allows you to test files without risking your personal data.

Windows 11 now includes Windows 11 build 27686.1000, which lets you share specific folders between your main system and the sandbox. You can turn off using this feature in Windows. Keep in mind that allowing a sandbox to access your folders could let bad software reach your files. Windows Sandbox is only available in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions editions.

How to share a folder manually

You can easily share a folder while the sandbox is running.

1. Open the enable and open the Sandbox app.
2. Click the 3-dot menu button at the top right of the window.
3. Select Share folder.

4. Find and select the folder on your computer that you want to share.

5. Click the Select Folder button.

What happens when done? The folder will appear inside your sandbox, allowing you to move or view files between the two environments.

Share a folder using a WSB file

If you want a folder to show up every time you open the sandbox, use a configuration file. Note: Creating and running these files may require admin privileges.

Create a new text file on your desktop and save it with a .wsb extension (for example, sandboxmap.wsb).

To give the sandbox read-only access (it can look but not change files), paste this into your file:

<Configuration> <MappedFolders> <MappedFolder> <HostFolder>C:\Users\Username\Downloads</HostFolder> <ReadOnly>true</ReadOnly> </MappedFolder> </MappedFolders></Configuration>

To give the sandbox read and write access (it can change or delete files), use this instead:

<Configuration> <MappedFolders> <MappedFolder> <HostFolder>C:\Users\Username\Downloads</HostFolder> <ReadOnly>false</ReadOnly> </MappedFolder> </MappedFolders></Configuration>

Make sure to change the path to match your own folder location. Save the file and double-click it whenever you want to open the sandbox with those folders connected.

Summary

Windows Sandbox provides a secure, isolated environment for testing untrusted software. By sharing a host folder, you can easily access your files inside this safe space. You can share folders manually while the app is running or use a WSB configuration file to mount them automatically every time you start the sandbox. Always be careful when sharing folders, as this can potentially expose your main system to security risks.