Unable to enable Windows Sandbox

Question

Hi, I'm Quasar. I go to "Run" and search for "optionalfeatures.exe" to enable Windows Sandbox and I get this message

Is there any way to fix this?

Answer 1

Hello ScurvyBead68520,

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

Here are some steps and solutions based on common troubleshooting methods:

1. Check System Requirements:

• Ensure your system meets the following requirements:

• Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education (Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education).

• 64-bit architecture.

• Virtualization capabilities enabled in BIOS/UEFI.

• At least 4GB of RAM (8GB recommended).

• At least 1GB of free disk space.

2. Enable Virtualization in BIOS/UEFI:

• Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing a key like F2, F10, DEL during startup).

• Look for virtualization settings (often under CPU configuration or Advanced settings) and ensure they are enabled (e.g., Intel VT-x, AMD-V).

3. Check for Windows Updates:

• Ensure your system is up to date by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and checking for updates.

4. Check for Conflicting Features:

• Some features may conflict with Windows Sandbox. Ensure that Hyper-V, Windows Hypervisor Platform, and Virtual Machine Platform are enabled:

• Open the Windows Features dialog (optionalfeatures.exe).

• Ensure the boxes for Hyper-V, Windows Hypervisor Platform, and Virtual Machine Platform are checked.

5. Run System File Checker:

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator.

• Run the command: sfc /scannow to check for and repair any corrupted system files.

6. Use PowerShell to Enable Windows Sandbox:

• Open PowerShell as an administrator and run the following commands:

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "Containers-DisposableClientVM" -Online -NoRestart

Restart-Computer

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

Restart-Computer

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Daisy Zhou

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Answer 2

Hello,

Try enabling Windows Sandbox using Command Prompt, see if it works:

https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-enable-windows-sandbox-in-windows-11-10#method-3-using-command-prompt

Let us know if this helps!

Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog post by a trusted Microsoft MVP.