Microsoft reveals ‘Windows Sandbox’ mode for Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise users
The VM-like feature will let users run suspicious programmes in total isolation


Microsoft has announced a new security feature that will allow its professional and enterprise users to run suspicious programmes in complete isolation.
The new desktop tool, dubbed Windows Sandbox, will create a virtual machine-like desktop environment that can allow users to run any software, regardless of how harmful it is, without risking lasting impact on their device.
A form of sandbox-style 'private desktop' tool has been in the works for months, with Windows Insiders previously finding evidence for a VM environment in August, at the time dubbed 'InPrivate Desktop'.
"How many times have you downloaded an executable file, but were afraid to run it?" said Microsoft's lead program manager in the Windows Core Kernal Platform Hari Pulapaka, writing in a blog post.
"Have you ever been in a situation which required a clean installation of Windows, but didn't want to set up a virtual machine?
"At Microsoft, we regularly encounter these situations, so we developed Windows Sandbox: an isolated, temporary, desktop environment where you can run untrusted software without the fear of lasting impact to your PC."
Windows Sandbox will be packaged into Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise build 18305 or newer, by default, and runs in complete isolation to a user's machine.
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
Running the tool will be like opening a clean install of Windows 10 in a windowed application, with everything done within this isolated environment wiped completely upon shutting the app.
Moreover, the tool uses hardware-based virtualisation, relying on Microsoft's hypervisor, which creates Windows virtual machines, to run Windows Sandbox separately from the host.
Users will also need to have AMD64 architecture, virtualisation capabilities enabled in the BIOS, minimum 4GB RAM (8GB recommended) 1GB hard disk space (SSD recommended), and a processor with at least 2 CPU cores (4 with hyperthreading recommended).
"Any software installed in Windows Sandbox stays only in the sandbox and cannot affect your host," Pulapaka continued. "Once Windows Sandbox is closed, all the software with all its files and state are permanently deleted."
Windows Sandbox is currently subject to testing, with users welcome to provide feedback via a specified hub.

Keumars Afifi-Sabet is a writer and editor that specialises in public sector, cyber security, and cloud computing. He first joined ITPro as a staff writer in April 2018 and eventually became its Features Editor. Although a regular contributor to other tech sites in the past, these days you will find Keumars on LiveScience, where he runs its Technology section.
-
Everything you need to know about Sophos’ new partner program
News The vendor’s new channel initiative unifies the Sophos and Secureworks channel ecosystems to generate new partner opportunities
-
Researchers tested over 100 leading AI models on coding tasks — nearly half produced glaring security flaws
News AI models large and small were found to introduce cross-site scripting errors and seriously struggle with secure Java generation
-
The NCSC just urged enterprises to ditch Windows 10 – here’s what you need to know
News The UK cyber agency says those that haven’t migrated to Windows 11 should do so immediately
-
Windows 11 finally overtakes Windows 10 in popularity – but what’s driving this surge?
News It’s been a long time coming, but Windows 11 is finally Microsoft’s most popular operating system
-
Dragging your feet on Windows 11 migration? Rising infostealer threats might change that
News With the clock ticking down to the Windows 10 end of life deadline in October, organizations are dragging their feet on Windows 11 migration – and leaving their devices vulnerable as a result.
-
Tiny11 review: Windows 11 with only 2GB of RAM
Review A version of Windows 11 for older machines that don't meet the full requirements
-
Red Hat Enterprise Linux becomes foundational operating system for Cohesity Data Cloud
News New strategic partnership between Red Hat and Cohesity aims to drive innovation in the data security and management space
-
Ubuntu shifts to four-week update cycle
News Critical fixes will also come every two weeks, mitigating the issues involved with releasing prompt patches on the old three-week cadence
-
AlmaLinux follows Oracle in ditching RHEL compatibility
News Application binary compatibility is now the aim with 1:1 now dropped
-
How big is the Windows 10 cliff-edge?
ITPro Network With some comparing the upcoming Windows 10 end of life to Windows XP, we ask members of the ITPro Network for their insight