One of my most valued Windows features, Windows Sandbox, is finally getting some much-needed updates that I’d describe as a refined airlock for your system. I think of Sandbox similarly to a VPN: while a VPN secures your connection by creating an encrypted tunnel, Windows Sandbox isolates your system to protect it from potential threats.
Windows Sandbox essentially creates a separate, contained version of Windows within your existing setup. It’s specifically optimized for running Windows, making it an ideal environment for testing untrusted software or visiting dubious websites without risking your main OS. In my case, I often layer a VPN on top of Sandbox for extra security.
However, Sandbox has a key limitation: it’s designed to wipe everything when it’s closed. While this is great for keeping malware contained, it complicates the process of transferring safe files to your primary OS. Normally, you’d have to save the file within Sandbox’s File Explorer and then retrieve it using the main File Explorer from your main Windows installation.
The new Windows 11 Build 27686 in the Insider Canary Channel addresses this with runtime clipboard redirection and the ability to share folders with the host OS. Although Microsoft hasn’t fully explained these features, it seems you can now copy a file from Sandbox and paste it directly into your main OS, skipping the extra steps. Additionally, you should be able to share folders between Sandbox and your main system, making file transfers more seamless, albeit with some security trade-offs.
Another improvement is that the Windows Sandbox Client Preview will now update through the Microsoft Store, allowing it to receive updates independently from the operating system. This change should lead to more timely updates. Sandbox is also gaining early command-line support and its own audio/video input controls, adding more flexibility to the tool.
Microsoft hasn’t yet confirmed whether you’ll still need Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro to access these updated Sandbox features. In the past, Sandbox has been one of the few reasons to choose the Pro edition, so it will be interesting to see if this requirement remains.
Microsoft is also experimenting with increasing the FAT32 file limit from 32GB to 2TB, allowing for larger disk partitions. Although most Windows partitions use NTFS, the older FAT32 format, which dates back to Windows 98, is still widely used for external storage, so this update could be beneficial for newer, larger drives.
Additionally, Microsoft has mentioned battery life improvements for this and future builds, though they haven’t provided details on the extent of these enhancements. While not all Insider Channel features make it to general release, these updates show promise for making a real difference in how you use Windows.