Windows Sandbox Launcher is a free portable utility that provides a graphical interface for configuring Windows Sandbox. Instead of manually creating and editing .wsb configuration files, users can adjust common Sandbox settings from a single window and launch the configured environment.
It is developed by Yury Komar and is designed for Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems with Windows Sandbox enabled.
Features
Windows Sandbox Launcher provides access to the main configuration options available through Windows Sandbox configuration files.
RAM allocation
vGPU control
Network access control
Clipboard redirection
Printer redirection
Microphone access
Webcam access
Mapped folders
Read-only or read/write folder sharing
Startup command
Protected Client option
Context-menu integration
Reset to default settings
The mapped-folder feature allows folders from the host system to be exposed inside the Sandbox, with read-only or read/write access. The context-menu integration can add an option to open files in Windows Sandbox directly from Windows Explorer.
Performance and Compatibility
Windows Sandbox Launcher is a very small portable application. It does not install a conventional application package and can be run after extracting its archive. Softpedia lists the download at approximately 228 KB.
The utility itself does not provide virtualization. It acts as a configuration and launch interface for Microsoft's Windows Sandbox feature. Windows Sandbox uses hardware-based virtualization and provides a disposable Windows environment where changes are discarded when the Sandbox closes.
Windows Sandbox Launcher supports Windows 10 and Windows 11. Windows Sandbox must already be available and enabled on the system before the launcher can be used.
Because the launcher only configures Windows Sandbox, its resource usage is minimal. The actual RAM and CPU requirements depend on the Sandbox configuration and the applications running inside it.
Mapped folders should be configured carefully. Sharing a host folder gives software running inside the Sandbox access to that folder, particularly when read/write access is enabled.
System Requirements
Windows 10
Windows 11
Windows Sandbox feature enabled
Hardware virtualization supported by the system
Windows Sandbox itself is a Windows feature rather than a separate virtual machine application. Microsoft's documentation describes it as an isolated, disposable desktop environment that uses hardware-based virtualization.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Free
Portable
Very small
Simple graphical interface
No manual
.wsbediting requiredRAM configuration
Network control
vGPU control
Shared folder configuration
Device redirection options
Startup command support
Context-menu integration
Reset to default settings
Cons
Windows-only
Requires Windows Sandbox
Does not replace the Windows Sandbox feature itself
Limited to the configuration options supported by Windows Sandbox
Shared folders can reduce isolation from the host system
How to Install
Windows Sandbox Launcher is portable, so there is no conventional installation process.
Download the Windows Sandbox Launcher archive.
Extract the ZIP file.
Run the executable.
Configure the desired Windows Sandbox settings.
Click Start to launch Windows Sandbox with the selected configuration.
If Windows Sandbox is not enabled, it must first be enabled through Windows Features. Microsoft's documentation provides the procedure for enabling Windows Sandbox.
Final Verdict
Windows Sandbox Launcher is a focused utility that makes Windows Sandbox configuration considerably easier. Its main advantage is replacing manual .wsb file editing with a simple graphical interface for RAM, networking, shared folders, device access, vGPU, and startup commands.
It does not add virtualization capabilities to Windows Sandbox, but it does make the existing feature easier to configure and use. Its tiny portable design also makes it convenient to keep available when testing software or working with disposable Windows environments.
For users who regularly use Windows Sandbox and want custom configurations without manually editing configuration files, Windows Sandbox Launcher is a useful utility.