On the Internet you can find all kinds of programs, ready to download for free. However, and precisely in the case of freeware, the risk of installing malware that damages the system together with the application is especially high. In most cases, users realize that a program is malicious once they have installed it. Fortunately, to solve this problem there is the so-called sandbox or sandbox function, which allows you to test the software installation in an isolated environment. Since version 1903 of Windows 10 Pro , Microsoft offers the Windows Sandbox tool already integrated into the operating system , but it is usually disabled by default in the configuration. In this article, we explain, step by step, how to activate and use the Windows sandbox ..
With the term sandbox , which in English literally means sandbox , it refers to an isolated environment separated from the rest of the operating system that has the same functions as the real Windows system. Each time it is used, the sandbox works like a brand-new computer , with no applications or programs installed.
This virtual environment allows you to test the installation of programs from insecure sources. With it, if the software turns out to be malicious and contains a virus, the actual operating system is not affected . Once the Windows Sandbox function is closed, all the programs and data it contained are automatically removed. Therefore, before installing applications or programs whose origin is not fully trusted, it is worth carrying out a test installation in the sandbox and thus ruling out any damage to the operating system..
To use Windows Sandbox, your computer must meet the following requirements :
If you are not sure you have the correct version of Windows, with a simple keyboard shortcut (Windows key + Pause / Break) you can easily find out which version of Windows you have.
Windows sandbox mode is disabled by default , but can be activated from the control panel with just a few clicks..
In the search box , enter? Enable or disable Windows features ? and click on the corresponding result with the left mouse button.
Another way to get to Windows features is by using the ? Run? Dialog. . To open it, use the key combination [Windows] + [R]. Then enter ? Optionalfeatures? in the search box and confirm it by clicking "OK".
The? Windows Features? Dialog will then open. (as long as you have administrator permissions). Search the list for the option? Windows Sandbox ? and check the corresponding box. Then confirm the changes by clicking "OK".
The option? Windows Sandbox? is displayed in gray and cannot be marked? In this case, virtualization is probably disabled in BIOS: to fix this, you will first have to start BIOS and enable Windows Sandbox mode there.
Once you have confirmed the changes, the operating system will automatically load all the necessary data to use Windows Sandbox. As soon as the process is finished, a message will appear indicating the need to restart the system to be able to activate Sandbox mode properly . Follow this prompt and left-click on? Restart now ?.
After restarting your computer, Windows Sandbox will be available immediately. To open this feature, enter its name in the search field on the taskbar . Then the corresponding result will appear: click on it with the left button or alternatively with the right button to get to the option of? Open ?.
The first time you use the Windows Sandbox or Windows Sandbox, you will be shown a security message from User Account Control , which you must accept by clicking the corresponding button.
From this point on, the Windows sandbox will open in a separate window . The user interface is identical to that of the actual operating system. To run a program in the sandbox , copy the files from the real operating system using the key combination [Ctrl] + [C] and then paste them into the sandbox with [Ctrl] + [V]. From there you can then install or run the application you want to test.
After the test installation is complete in the safe environment, close the sandbox by clicking the? X? in the upper right corner. By doing so, the system will automatically and irreversibly delete all files from the sandbox . Therefore, if you decide to continue using the program you just tested , you will need to reinstall it on the actual operating system.