Windows Sandbox

ApplicationMicrosoft Corporation

Also called windows sandbox, wsb, containers disposable client vm

Microsoft CorporationSystem

Disposable Windows VM built into Pro and related editions. Needs virtualization. It is not Sandboxie.

What you need to know

Windows Sandbox is a disposable Pro VM. It is not Sandboxie.

Enable the optional feature. Close the window and the VM is gone. Sandboxie is a different product. Home editions do not include this.

What is it?: Disposable Windows VM on Pro
Same as Sandboxie?: No. Sandboxie is third-party
Needs Home?: No. Home does not include it

Feex says

If Windows Sandbox is missing, I check Pro and virtualization before I download Sandboxie. This feature is inbox, not a third-party sandbox.

What is Windows Sandbox?

Windows Sandbox is a disposable Windows VM. Each launch is clean. Closing it discards state. Sandboxie is a third-party isolation product with a different model.

If you have never used it

If you want a throwaway Windows desktop to run a suspicious exe, Windows Sandbox is an optional feature on Pro. Enable it in Windows Features. Closing the window wipes the VM. It is not Sandboxie, and it is not on Windows Home.

What is it used for?

Open unknown files

A fresh Windows desktop. Host files are not there unless you copy them in.

Optional Pro feature

Turn Windows features on or Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature Containers-DisposableClientVM. No Sandboxie installer.

Throw away on close

Nothing persists after you close Sandbox ( aside from in-sandbox reboots on later Windows 11). That is the point.

Who is it for?

Windows Pro users who want a disposable desktop
People who were told to install Sandboxie instead
Anyone on Home who will not find this feature

Current status

Windows Sandbox (2019) is a current disposable windows vm from Microsoft Corporation. The vendor still points Windows users at https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/security/application-security/application-isolation/windows-sandbox/.

How old is it?

Microsoft added Windows Sandbox in 2019 on Windows 10 Pro. It is newer than Sandboxie's long history. The inbox feature uses Microsoft's hypervisor, not the Sandboxie driver.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

Windows 11 Pro Sandbox

Windows 10 Pro Sandbox (1903+)

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	Windows 10 version 1903 or later, or Windows 11, Pro / Enterprise / Education, per Microsoft
RAM	4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended, per Microsoft Learn

Resource profile

CPU demand: Follows what you open inside the app
RAM demand: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
WindowsSandboxClient.exe	Main Windows executable

Startup components

Sandbox starts only when you open Windows Sandbox. It is not a logon VM.

File locations

Common Windows Sandbox locations
Typical install	Windows optional feature Containers-DisposableClientVM

Common problems

Installed Sandboxie by name mix-up

Sandboxie is third-party. Windows Sandbox is the inbox feature this article covers.

Feature missing on Home

Microsoft does not ship Sandbox on Home. Virtualization being on will not add the checkbox.

Getting unstuck

Enable Windows Sandbox in Windows Features, then restart

Learn lists 4 GB RAM minimum (8 GB recommended), two cores, and firmware virtualization.

Turn virtualization on in firmware if the box is grey

Same VT-x / AMD-V switch Hyper-V wants. Not a Sandboxie driver.

Copy the file into the sandbox. Do not expect host Desktop to appear

The VM is empty on purpose. That is isolation, not a failed install.

Alternatives

Sandboxie is a third-party isolator. A Hyper-V or VirtualBox VM persists until you delete it. WSL is Linux, not a Windows desktop sandbox.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download	learn.microsoft.com/windows/security/application-security/application-isolation/windows-sandbox/ Official installer or vendor page
Help	learn.microsoft.com/windows/security/application-security/application-isolation/windows-sandbox/ Vendor support
Official site	learn.microsoft.com/windows/security/application-security/application-isolation/windows-sandbox/ Start here, not a random exe host
Install Windows Sandbox	learn.microsoft.com/windows/security/application-security/application-isolation/windows-sandbox/windows-sandbox-install Optional feature plus virtualization

Related hardware

Microsoft lists at least 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended), two CPU cores, and virtualization in BIOS. An SSD is recommended.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

Windows Sandbox official site · Vendor product page
Windows Sandbox help · Vendor support
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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