Windows Sandbox is a temporary virtual machine offering a lightweight desktop environment to install and run apps in isolation. However, this feature is not available on the Home edition of the venerable OS.
Even if you have a compatible edition of the OS, say Windows 11 Pro, Windows Sandbox can still malfunction and stop working. If so, here are a few ways to troubleshoot and fix when the Windows Sandbox stops working on your Windows 11 computer.
1. Remember—Windows Sandbox Is Not Available on Windows 11 Home
Like many of the advanced Windows features, Windows Sandbox is not available on the Home edition of the operating system. Even if you install the necessary files to run Windows Sandbox on Windows 11 Home, you’ll encounter the “Windows Sandbox failed to initialize” error.
If you don’t know if you’re using Windows Home or not, you may find out in the About section of the Settings app. Follow these steps to do that:
If you are running the Home edition, and don’t want to upgrade, consider using an alternative. There are plenty ofWindows Sandbox alternatives for Windows 11that offer similar functionalities and additional features.
2. Check if Windows Sandbox Is Enabled
Some advanced features on Windows 11 are disabled by default, including Windows Sandbox. You’ll need tomanually enable Windows Sandbox from the Windows Features dialogto use the feature.
Alternatively, you can also use Windows PowerShell and the Command Prompt to install the virtual desktop environment. If Windows Sandbox is already enabled, try to disable and re-enable it to see if that helps resolve the issue.
To re-enable Windows Sandbox:
3. Check if the Windows Sandbox Associated Services Are Running
Windows Sandbox needs the Hyper-V Host, Hyper-V Time Synchronization and the Virtual Disk service to be running to work. If one or more services are stopped, it may fail to start.
Using the Windows Services snap-in, you can verify the status and restart the services if necessary. Follow these steps to know how to do it.
To restart Windows Sandbox-related services:
4. Disable Any Active VPN Connections and Firewalls
If Windows Sandbox cannot access the internet, check if you are using a VPN, as it may cause issues with Windows Sandbox. Check and turn off any VPN clients open on your computer to see if that resolves the issue.
Alternatively, pressWin + Ito open theSettingsapp and go toNetwork & Internet > VPN. Here, click disconnect to turn off any active VPN connection.
In addition, a third-party firewall may be triggering the issue. So, temporarily disable any third-party antivirus and firewall on your computer.
5. Change Windows Sandbox Security Settings
Changing the Windows Sandbox security setting and allowing the app to have full control may fix any issues triggered due to permission problems.
To edit Windows Sandbox security settings:
6. Additional Troubleshooting Steps You Can Try
If the issue persists, it may be a case of corrupt or damaged system files. you’re able to use the built-in system repair tools or perform a system restore to undo recent changes to your system to fix the problem.
Let’s look at additional troubleshooting steps to help you fix issues with Windows Sandbox.
Install Windows Updates– If it is a known bug, check if a new hotfix is available via Windows updates. To check for new Windows updates:
Repair corrupted system files– You can run the built-in command-line utility to repair damaged or missing Windows system files. Use theSystem File Checkerand Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) toolto find and fix critical system issues.
Uninstall a recently installed Windows update– Keeping your computer updated with the latest Windows patches is always recommended. However, some updates can cause crashes and issues with system apps. If you have installed an update recently, try tomanually uninstall the Windows 11 updateto see if it resolves the error.
Perform a system restore- If you have made any changes to your computer recently and determine it has caused Windows Sandbox issues, perform a system restore.
Depending on your System Protection configuration, you canperform a system restoreto undo recent changes to revert your system to an earlier point to recover from malfunctions.
7. Reset or Reinstall Windows 11
If all else fails, a reset may be necessary to fix issues causing the Sandbox to malfunction. Windows offers multiple reset options.
First, there is a repair reinstall option. By using a bootable drive or mounted ISO image, you may reinstall Windows 11. This is preferable as it allows you toreinstall Windows without deleting appsand data.
If not, you can perform a factory reset to reinstall the Windows OS. This will remove all your installed apps but won’t affect your personal files and other data. There is an option to completely wipe your computer and start from scratch.
To perform a reset:
8. Perform a Clean Install
A clean install is necessary when your system encounters a critical issue resulting in malfunctioning. You can create a bootable Windows 11 USB drive to perform a clean install. However, the easiest way to reinstall Windows 11 is by using the Windows 11 media creation tool. Here’s how to do it.
Before you proceed, here are a fewthings to remember before your clean install Windows. This includes backing up your important data as a clean install will wipe clean your system. Once you have a backup and take other precautions, follow these steps to perform a clean install.
Restore the Windows Sandbox on Windows 11
Windows Sandbox can stop working due to several reasons. To fix the problem, check the app’s security settings, disable your firewall, and review if the essential services are running. As a last resort, you may need to perform a repair, reinstall, or clean install to get the testing environment working again.
