A sandbox is an isolated environment separated from the rest of the operating system. However, the same functions are available as in a “conventional” Windows version. Each time it’s used, the sandbox works like a newly booted computer, without any installed applications and programs.
This virtual environment lets you install and test potentially unsafe programs. If the software is harmful and contains a virus, it will have no effect on the actual operating system. When closing Windows Sandbox, all programs and data are automatically and permanently deleted. Before installing potentially dangerous applications or programs, it’s a good idea to run a test installation in the sandbox. This way, you can rule out the possibility of damaging your operating system.
The following computer requirements must be met in order to use Windows Sandbox:
- At least Windows 10 Pro version 18305
- 64-bit version
- Virtualization activated in BIO and a suitable CPU
- 1 GB of free memory, ideally on an SSD
- At least 4 GB of RAM, however 8 GB is recommended
- Two CPU cores