Sandbox feature is one of the few features which are unique to only the Windows 10 Pro edition. Sandbox feature is not available with Windows 10 / Windows 11 Home. The sandbox provides a separate room for a user to run any application within it, which will not affect any other application or the user’s operating system. This is a very crucial feature to test out applications from unknown sources which otherwise may harm the system.
If you are facing any difficulty accessing the Sandbox feature in Windows 10 Pro simply follow these fixes.
Fix-1 Turn Sandbox feature ‘ON’ from Windows Features-
To access the Sandbox feature, first, you have to enable the feature from Windows Features.
1. Press Windows key+R to open Run window.
2. In Run window, type or copy-paste “optionalfeatures” and then hit Enter to open Windows Features.
3. In the Windows Features window, scroll down to the bottom and click on the option “Windows Sandbox“.
4. Now, click on “OK” to start enabling the feature on your computer.
It may take a while.
5. When you will notice ‘Windows completed the requested changes.‘, click on “Close” to close the Windows Features window.
Your computer will be restarted.
After restarting your computer, check if the feature is enabled or not.
If still, this doesn’t work out, go for the next fix.
Fix-2 Modify Security Properties of Sandbox-
If you don’t have full control of Windows Sandbox, you may not be able to access it properly.
1. Click on the Search box and then type “sandbox“.
2. In the elevated search result, right-click on “Windows Sandbox” and then click on “Open file location“.
3. Now, again right-click on “Sandbox” and then click on “Properties” to access its properties.
4. In Windows Sandbox Properties window, go to the “Security” tab.
5. In the Security window, click on “Edit” to modify the permission section.
6. In Permissions for Windows Sandbox window, select “Everyone” and then click on “Allow” of the option “Full control” to allow full control of the sandbox.
7. Finally, click on “Apply” and then on “OK” to save the changes on your computer.
Close File Explorer window.
8. Now, again click on the Search box beside the Windows icon and then type “sandbox“.
9. Right-click on “Windows Sandbox” from the elevated search result and then click on “Run as administrator” to open Sandbox as an admin.
It should be working fine.
Fix-3 Start-Stop necessary services-
Restarting critical services may work out for you.
1. Press Windows key+R.
2. Now, write “services.msc” in the box beside “Open:” and then hit Enter to open Services.
3. In the Services window, double click on the “Network Virtualization Service” to access its properties.
4. In-Network Virtualization Service Properties window, click on “Stop” to stop the service.
Wait for a while as the service will be stopped in a while.
5. Now, click on “Start” to start the service again on your computer.
6. Finally, click on “Apply” and then on “OK” to save the changes.
7. What you have to do next is to double click on “Virtual Disk” to start it.
8. At first, first, click on “Start” to start the stopped service.
10. Then, click on “Apply” and then on “OK” to save the changes.
11. Same way, scroll up to find and right-click on “Hyper-V Host Computer Service” and then click on the “Restart“.
12. Thenn, again scroll up and right-click on “Container Manager Service” and click on “Restart” to start-stop the service.
After restarting all these services on your computer, close the Services window.
Reboot your computer.
After rebooting your computer try to open Windows Sandbox as an administrator.
Windows Sandbox should work normally.
Your problem should be fixed.
Absolutely fantastic; I have been going around in circles, trying to get this capability to be available. I did not have any success from the Microsoft Forums. Your approach was easy to follow, it made sense and it worked !!
Many thanks,
Thank you.