Enable Windows Sandbox to Safely Test Software on Windows 10
Windows operating system has the most diverse software in terms of functions, which makes computer users more attracted to this system as it meets all their daily needs. But you should also be aware that the system is targeted, which means that there are many malicious programs that can infiltrate the computer in some way.
Sometimes, you may find an interesting program on the Internet, but it is from an unknown developer or you suspect that it may bring viruses to your device if you install it. For this reason, Microsoft has added a new tool in Windows 10 to help you run suspicious EXE files without causing any damage to your files or your device in general.
This tool is called Windows Sandbox - it's similar to virtual machine creation software like VirtualBox but the difference is that this new tool doesn't require much setup and is easy to use. Here's how to activate and use it in this article, very simply.
First: Requirements for activating the Windows Sandbox feature
Before we start explaining the steps to activate and use the Windows Sandbox feature, you must first make sure that your device meets the minimum requirements to run it. These requirements are that the device is running Windows 10 version 1903, provided that it is a Pro or Enterprise version, and therefore Home version users are excluded from experiencing this new feature.
You should also make sure that the virtualization feature is enabled in the BIOS, meaning that the processor accepts the possibility of running a virtual system, which is a feature available in almost all modern devices. Just go to the BIOS screen and look for an option called Virtual Technology, then enable it and restart your device.
Speaking of processors, your device should have a 64-bit processor architecture and be at least dual-core. Finally, you need at least 8GB of RAM, as the virtual machine will take up 4GB while in use. Also, there should be 15GB of free space on your hard drive, whether HDD or SSD.
Since your device meets the above requirements, you can safely test suspicious programs using the Windows Sandbox feature. Here's how to enable it.
Read also: Find out the password for all Wi-Fi networks saved on Windows 10
Second: Steps to activate the Windows Sandbox feature
First, open the Windows Features window by pressing the Win key and the letter R key together on your keyboard, to open the Run window where you type the command " optionalfeatures " and press the Enter button. This will immediately display the Windows Features window that allows you to enable some of the main features in Windows.
Generally, in this window scroll down to add a check mark (✔) next to the Windows Sandbox feature. If you do not find this feature in the list, it means that your device is not running the latest version of Windows 10, which is 1903 at the time of writing this article. But if you find the option but it is not selectable, it is because you have not enabled the virtualization feature from the BIOS.
So, after selecting the Windows Sandbox feature and pressing the OK button, Windows will start relying on the Windows Update process to download the files required for the feature to work. So, make sure you are connected to the Internet until the files are downloaded and the message “Windows completed the requested changes” appears. At this point, press the Restart now button to restart your computer.
Once the required files are downloaded and your device has rebooted, it’s time to turn on the feature for the first time. There are multiple ways to do this, you can open the Start menu and search in the All Apps column for Windows Sandbox and turn it on from there. Or type “Windows Sandbox” in the search box on the taskbar by pressing the Win key + the letter S together at the same time.
Once you have completed the steps correctly, you can start using the Windows Sandbox feature where the environment is isolated from the main system, so you can test all the suspicious programs and do whatever you want without any negative impact on your device.
But keep in mind that you have to load programs inside the Windows Sandbox window where you can't drag and drop files from the main system to the virtual system. Additionally, you can use the Ctrl + Alt + Break (or Pause) shortcut to enter full screen mode.
After the software testing is complete, click the X or Close button in the upper right corner, and click the OK button to close the Sandbox. When you close the feature, everything you have done will be permanently erased without leaving any trace on your device.
Therefore, if you ever need to run a suspicious program, this feature is designed for this type of task to avoid risking your important files in case the program is indeed carrying viruses and malware.