What Is Windows Sandbox? How To Use Windows Sandbox? Best In 2021

What is Windows Sandbox?

Windows Sandbox is a phenomenal addition to Windows 10, developed with Windows Container technology. Where it can create its own desktop environment that is temporary and isolated.

So that whatever is done in the Windows desktop sandbox, whether it’s installing applications and others, will not affect the host or desktop of Windows 10. In other words, Windows Sandbox is a virtualization machine built into Windows 10 itself.

Windows Sandbox is very useful, especially for developers to try unofficial applications that may have a bad impact on the Windows operating system.

So instead of trying it directly on the Windows 10 system itself which can cause crashes or damage to the Windows system, it’s better to try it on a virtual Windows desktop, namely Windows Sandbox.

So, even though it is installed in the same environment, in Windows Sandbox it runs the installed applications in a different space.

That is why if Windows Sandbox is turned off, the applications installed in it will automatically be deleted.

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The Most Appropriate Way to Use Windows Sandbox

To load and set it up is quite easy and fast, what’s more, everything is “safe”. Whatever we do in Windows Sandbox, everything remains in it.

There is only one drawback, that is, whatever we do, everything is temporary and only exists in the Windows Sandbox. After exiting Windows Sandbox mode, the settings that we have done before, will not be saved.

Installed applications, or files that were downloaded while Windows Sandbox mode was activated, will not be saved when exiting Windows Sandbox mode.

That means we have to restart everything from scratch when we go back into Windows Sandbox mode. Even though it works like a virtual machine (VM), it is not an ideal virtual machine like virtual machines in general.

If you want to know what and when Windows Sandbox is best to use, here is our tutorial on Windows giving examples and benefits of this Windows Sandbox.

1. Checking for Malware

Try to remember, how often do you download programs or applications that actually contain malware or adware? Often isn’t it! Moreover, you get these applications illegally, especially from sites that provide paid applications that can be downloaded for free.

Now, by using this Windows Sandbox mode you can use these applications or programs without having to worry about malware or adware in them. All you have to do is copy and paste the downloaded program/application installation into the Windows Sandbox.

After that, you can easily install it to try the application without worrying about malware/adware attacks. If you find that the application looks clean of malware or adware, then you can install the program on the host operating system without worry.

And if it turns out that the file is infected, then you can safely eject it by exiting Windows Sandbox mode, which will erase everything you’ve done on it. Windows Sandbox is completely isolated from its host operating system, so nothing gets out of it.

2. Try Software

For developers or programmers, every program or software they make must be tested first to find out whether the software can run perfectly on a Windows system. As for Windows users, we often hear or get an application or software that quite often catches our attention to try it.

But sometimes the software doesn’t always have to be on the Windows system, or sometimes we use it for a while. That is why installing and removing lots of programs from time to time will mess with the performance of Windows 10.

Fortunately, this is where Windows Sandbox comes in handy, we just install the program, do what needs to be done, and then exit Windows Sandbox. Easy as that.

We will never again clutter our computers with leftover files and redundant registry entries.

3. Surfing the Internet

Browsing the web often brings us into the dangerous reach of the internet. Phishing threats, as well as unsafe browsing.

This is what Windows Sandbox is for, we can rely on Windows Sandbox whenever we want to visit websites that seem cryptic and dangerous.

That way, we no longer need to worry about crypto miners, hijackers, and other unwanted scripts permanently infiltrating our browsers. While Google Chrome has provided features such as Site Isolation to isolate tabs, there are possible potential security holes to be exploited.

Re-downloading Chrome every time we enter Windows Sandbox mode, sometimes makes us tired of doing it, so using the default browser Windows Edge we think is not too bad.

4. Download Files

Apart from surfing the internet, Windows Sandbox can also isolate us from downloading malicious files.

Whenever we see a suspicious-looking Download link, we can run Windows Sandbox and download it there.

That is especially true for file downloads where Chrome often issues an active warning.

Then we can jump into the Windows Sandbox, download the file there, and even open it to check if nothing is suspicious.

We can also move the downloaded file to the host operating system if it turns out that the file is safe.

So we don’t waste bandwidth in the process.

5. Play around with Windows Settings

Windows 10 has tons of settings that we find still very confusing, even after years of use.

So instead of tinkering with directly on the windows host system ultimately breaking some of the core functions of windows, we can do it in Windows Sandbox.

This also applies to sensitive areas on Windows systems such as the Registry Editor (Regedit) system.

That way, we don’t have to worry about corrupting the Windows registry system and others.

If something happens that is not desirable, all we need to do is exit Windows Sandbox mode, and everything is back to normal.

Windows Sandbox can be a perfect digital playground.

Testing new programs, initiating and verifying downloads, and tinkering with various Windows settings are things you should definitely do with this fantastic implementation.

However, we still have to be careful, because they all have holes, so don’t be too active testing files known to carry malware. Good luck!