How to set up and use the Windows Sandbox feature to test untrusted files?

The Windows Sandbox feature is an isolated, temporary virtualization environment that allows you to run suspicious programs, executables, and scripts without the risk of damaging the main operating system. Each time sandbox is opened, it creates an absolutely clean virtual machine based on your system's kernel. When the sandbox window is closed, all files, applications, and configuration changes are completely deleted beyond recovery.

To use this feature, Windows Pro or Enterprise editions must have hardware virtualization enabled in the BIOS and the Windows Sandbox component activated in the Windows features panel. After restarting the computer, the application becomes available via the Start menu. It does not require manual installation of operating system images, as it uses the host system's base files to quickly generate an isolated environment.

Working with the sandbox is extremely simple, but requires safety precautions when transferring data. You can copy executable files and documentation from the main system into the sandbox window using the standard clipboard via copy and paste. However, it is worth remembering that any changes inside the isolated environment will disappear immediately after it is closed, so important work results must be transferred back to the main disk in time.

To set up and efficiently launch the sandbox, follow these steps.

This tool is an ideal solution for developers, system administrators, and regular users who often have to check questionable software downloaded from the internet, eliminating any risks of malware infection.