Top 5 Ways to Use Windows 10 Sandbox

Windows Sandbox is an outstanding addition to Windows 10 that I love to use over and over again. It’s pretty easy to set up and installs pretty fast. Better still, it’s also secure – whatever I do in the Windows Sandbox stays in it. But it has an obvious downside – it’s also temporary no matter what I do in it.

After exiting the mod, Windows Sandbox will not save my settings, programs I have installed, or files downloaded. This means that I have to start from scratch each time. Not the ideal virtual machine to fetch and persist.

But this seemingly negative aspect is where the magic behind Windows Sandbox lies. If you’re wondering what Windows Sandbox can best be used for, let’s take a look at five examples where I’ve made the most of it.

1. Check for Malware

I remember a few times when I was excited to hijack a program and only found out it was infected with malware or adware. Fortunately, Windows Sandbox mode takes control of the antivirus application whenever you want to use any program.

Now all I do is copy and paste the program installer into the Windows Sandbox, then I can easily install it to check if it works as advertised. If everything looks clean, I can safely install the program on the host OS.

And in case a file is infected, I can safely exit the Windows Sandbox where it will shred everything on it. Windows Sandbox is completely isolated from the rest of the operating system, so nothing goes out without my permission.

2. Try the Software

My job always requires me to try new software. But that doesn’t mean I want to keep them forever. Therefore, installing and removing many programs over time can seriously degrade performance in Windows 10.

Fortunately, this is where Windows Sandbox really comes in handy. I just install the program, do what I have to do, and then exit the Windows Sandbox. It’s that easy. No more cluttering my PC with files and unnecessary registry entries.

3. Surf the Internet

My web browsing often takes me to the lowest reaches of the incredibly insecure internet. Ant, so I rely on Windows Sandbox when I want to visit sketchy looking websites. That way, I can stop worrying about cryptominers, hackers, and other unwanted scripts permanently infiltrating the sanctity of my browser.

However, I’m careful not to log into the web browser. While Google Chrome has features like Site Isolation to isolate tabs, there is a possibility of exploiting a potential vulnerability. And leaving your personal data lying around does not bode well in such a situation.

It’s not always possible to redownload Chrome (my browser on Windows) every time I want to use Windows Sandbox. So mostly, I use the built-in Edge browser instead, which isn’t that bad.

4. Download Files

Besides surfing the web, Windows Sandbox also insulates me from dangerous file downloads. Whenever I see a suspicious-looking Download link, I run Windows Sandbox and download from there instead.

This is especially true for downloads where Chrome often gives active alerts. I go to Windows Sandbox, download the file and even open it to check that there is nothing suspicious.

I can also move the downloaded file to the main OS later, so I’m not wasting any bandwidth in the process. I also scan with my antivirus for good measure.

You can also download suspicious email attachments via Windows Sandbox to make sure nothing bad is inside, although I don’t do this.

5. Play with Windows Settings

Windows 10 has many settings that I still find surprising, even after years of use. So instead of dealing with them directly and breaking some core functionality, I’m doing this in Windows Sandbox.

This also applies to system-critical areas such as the Registry Editor. When I have to tinker with registry keys for my troubleshooting posts, I try this in Windows Sandbox first. That way, I won’t have to worry about breaking anything. If I do that, a simple reinstall of Windows Sandbox is all it takes to start over.

Free Yourself

Windows Sandbox is the perfect digital playground. Testing new programs, initiating and verifying downloads, and messing around with various Windows settings are things you should definitely do with this great app.

However, I would be wary of the wind. There’s a loophole in everything, so I wouldn’t actively test files that are known to contain malware. It still warrants taking active measures.

Next: Sometimes Windows Sandbox may stop connecting to the internet. Learn what to do in such a situation.