Windows

How to Turn On Windows Sandbox in Windows 11

Written by

Richard

Jan 27, 2026 Updated Jul 13, 2026 4 min read

How to Turn On Windows Sandbox in Windows 11

Windows Sandbox creates a safe, temporary desktop on your Windows 11 PC where you can test programs you don’t trust.

Think of it like a clean computer that disappears when you’re done, leaving your main system untouched by any risky software.

To use Windows Sandbox, you need Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, and your computer’s settings must allow virtualization, which is often found in your PC’s BIOS.

Turning it on involves just a few straightforward steps right inside Windows 11.

⚡ Quick Answer

Open Windows Features by typing optionalfeatures.exe in the Run box. Check the box next to Windows Sandbox and click OK to install it. A restart may be required.

What is Windows Sandbox?

Windows Sandbox in Windows 11 provides a safe, temporary desktop environment isolated from your main computer. This isolated environment lets you test untrusted apps or files without worrying about harm to your system, because Windows Sandbox resets itself every time you close it.

Why use it? This is great if you want to test apps you don’t fully trust or just want to keep things safe.

What happens when done? All files and changes disappear automatically when you close it.

How to Turn On Windows Sandbox

Method 1Using Apps & Features

Press Windows key + R on your keyboard. This opens the Run box.
Type optionalfeatures.exe and press Enter.
The Windows Features window will open. Scroll down and find Windows Sandbox.
Check the box next to Windows Sandbox and click OK.
Windows will install the feature. You might need to restart your computer.

Run box with optionalfeatures.exe typed — windows 11 run comamand box app and features

You can turn on Windows Sandbox in Windows 11 using the Apps & Features settings by opening a special command. This opens a window where you can find and select the Windows Sandbox option to install it on your computer.

Windows Features with Windows Sandbox selected

Method 2Using Command Prompt

Enabling Windows Sandbox in Windows 11 with the Command Prompt is a quick way to get it running. You need to open the Command Prompt as an administrator and then type a specific command to tell Windows to install the Sandbox feature.

Click the Start button, type Command Prompt.
[Admin Required] Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
In the Command Prompt window, type this and press Enter: dism /online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"Containers-DisposableClientVM" -All
After it finishes, restart your computer.

Command Prompt running as administrator — windows 11 command prompt administrator

Method 3Using PowerShell

You can also use PowerShell, another tool for running commands:

Click the Start button, type PowerShell.
[Admin Required] Right-click on Windows PowerShell and choose Run as administrator.
Type this command and press Enter: Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Containers-DisposableClientVM" -All
Restart your computer when done.

PowerShell running as administrator — windows 11 powershell run as administrator

How to Turn Off Windows Sandbox

To turn off Windows Sandbox, administrators run specific commands. These commands stop the virtual computer environment that Windows Sandbox creates for testing apps. After running these commands, the Windows Sandbox virtual environment will stop working.

Command Prompt: dism /online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"Containers-DisposableClientVM"

PowerShell: Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Containers-DisposableClientVM" -Online

How to Use Windows Sandbox

Windows Sandbox in Windows 11 provides a clean, temporary desktop for safely running programs or opening files. You can find and open Windows Sandbox by searching for 'Windows Sandbox' in your Start menu. This feature is straightforward to use once it is turned on.

Click the Start button and type Windows Sandbox.
Click on the Windows Sandbox app to open it.
A new window will open with a clean Windows desktop.
You can copy files or apps into this window and run them safely.
When you close Sandbox, everything inside it will be deleted automatically.

Windows Sandbox running on Windows 11 — windows 11 sandbox use

Summary

Windows Sandbox in Windows 11 offers a secure, temporary desktop for testing apps safely without risking your main computer. You can turn it on using either the Apps & Features settings or the Command Prompt. It’s perfect for trying new software or visiting risky websites because everything resets when you close it.

Windows Sandbox is a safe way to try apps without risking your main computer.
You can turn it on using Apps & Features, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.
Don’t forget to restart your PC after turning it on or off.
Use Sandbox to keep your computer safe from harmful software.
If you want to learn more about Windows Sandbox, you can visit the official Microsoft guide.

How to get Windows sandbox free?

Features when you open optional. Features you'll see a huge list of features that can be enabled in Windows. And if we scroll down you'll see Windows Sandbox. I already have this enabled.

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Tags: #Windows 11

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About the Author

Richard

Tech Writer, IT Professional

Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.

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