How to Get Windows Sandbox on Windows 11 Home: A Step-by-Step Guide

Getting Windows Sandbox on Windows 11 Home

So, you’ve got Windows 11 Home and you’re keen to run Windows Sandbox? No worries, it’s a bit of a rigmarole, but definitely doable. Usually, Sandbox is a feature for the Pro and Enterprise versions, but with a bit of tinkering, you can get it working on Home too. Think of it like finding a hidden gem — you know it’s there, just takes a bit of effort to uncover. It lets you run apps safely without risking your main system. Here’s how you do it.

Virtualisation Needs to Be Turned On

First off, you’ll need to jump into your BIOS. No skirting around this step if you want Sandbox to work. Restart your PC and press the key to get into BIOS — normally F2, Delete, or Esc as it boots up. Hope you remember which one for your rig! For most systems, here’s what works:

  • Dell: F2
  • HP: F10
  • Lenovo: F1 or F2
  • Asus: Delete

Once inside, look for options like Intel Virtualization Technology or AMD-V, depending on your CPU. These are usually under menus like Advanced or CPU Features. Turn them on, save your changes — usually F10 — and then exit. If you can’t find these options, it might be time to update your BIOS. Not the funnest, but worth it if you’re serious about getting Sandbox going.

After rebooting, you can do a quick check to see if VT-x or AMD-V is enabled. Just open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run:

systeminfo | findstr /I "Virtualization"

If you see VMX or Second Level Address Translation listed as Yes, you’re good to go.

Grab the Sandbox Installer Script

Since Windows 11 Home doesn’t natively support Sandbox, you’ll need to grab a special script to enable it. These scripts tweak your system to trick Windows into thinking Sandbox is supported. Make sure to download from a reliable spot — like GitHub or legit tech forums — to dodge any dodgy files. Look for something like Enable-WindowsSandbox.ps1.

Open PowerShell with Admin Rights

Next, fire up PowerShell as an admin: click the Start menu, type PowerShell, right-click the icon, and choose Run as administrator. Or, hit Win + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin). This step’s crucial since you’ll be messing with system settings.

Run the Script

Change to the folder where you saved the script with cd. For example:

cd C:\Users\YourName\Downloads\Scripts

Then run it with:

.\Enable-WindowsSandbox.ps1

If the script isn’t signed, you might need to loosen your execution policy for now. Do this first:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass

And then try running the script again. It might ask you to restart or toggle some Windows features — usually involving Hyper-V or registry tweaks in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing\. Don’t freak out if it prompts a restart — just go with it.

Check if Windows Sandbox Turned Up

After a restart, open the Start menu and search for Windows Sandbox. If it appears, game on! If not, check the script’s log for errors, double-check BIOS virtualization is still enabled, and confirm your system meets the minimum specs — like 4 GB of RAM (8 GB’s better), enough disk space (about 200 MB), and that virtualization is turned on.

  • 64-bit Home (with the script executed)
  • At least 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended)
  • 200+ MB free disk space

If it’s still playing hard to get, you can try running these commands in PowerShell:

DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V-All /NoRestart

and

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Containers-DisposableClientVM" -All

Do the Final Restart

Once you’ve done all that, restart your PC again — Ctrl + Alt + Delete then hit Restart. After it boots back up, search for Windows Sandbox once more. If it’s there, you’ve nailed it! If not, go back into BIOS and double-check your virtualization settings, or maybe that script just wasn’t feeling friendly. Sometimes hardware quirks can trip things up, and sticking with Windows 11 Pro might be the easier way out.

Yeah, it can be a bit of a grind, but the benefit’s worth it if everything goes smoothly. Just keep in mind, it works for some and not others — so patience is the name of the game!

  • Check BIOS for virtualization technology.
  • Make sure Windows is fully up to date.
  • Download scripts from trusted sites only.
  • Try different commands if you’re stuck.

Hopefully, this little guide helps someone save a few hours trying to set it up!

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