How to Turn On Windows Sandbox in Windows 11

What is Windows Sandbox?

Windows Sandbox is a built-in feature in Windows 11 that gives you a safe, temporary desktop to run untrusted apps or files. Because it is completely isolated from your main operating system, anything you do inside the sandbox stays there and disappears the moment you close the window.

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

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

You can turn on Windows Sandbox in Windows 11 using the built-in Windows Features menu without installing 💿 any extra software. This method involves opening the optional features list, checking the box for the sandbox tool, and letting Windows install the necessary files for you.

You can turn on Windows Sandbox in Windows 11 using the built-in Windows Features menu without installing any extra software. This method involves opening the optional features list, checking the box for the sandbox tool, and letting Windows install the necessary files for you.

Method 2Using Command Prompt

You can enable Windows Sandbox in Windows 11 using the Command Prompt by running a short text command with administrator rights. This method is a fast alternative to the graphical menus if you prefer typing commands to install built-in system features.

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

Method 3Using PowerShell

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

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

How to Turn Off Windows Sandbox

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

You can open and use Windows Sandbox in Windows 11 by searching for the app in your Start menu once it is turned on. The app opens a separate desktop window where you can drag and drop files, test installers, and browse the web safely.

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

Summary

• 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.