Windows Sandbox broken in Insider build 18305.1003

A small cumulative update has broken one of Windows 10 preview build 18305's biggest features.

On December 20, Microsoft shipped an Internet Explorer security fix to the latest Windows 10 Fast ring Insider build, bringing it up to build number 18305.1003. In an update to the build's list of known issues, Microsoft this week confirmed that the fix also had the effect of breaking both Windows Defender Application Guard and Windows Sandbox (via OnMSFT).

From the release notes:

  • [ADDED 1/1/19] Windows Defender Application Guard and Windows Sandbox fail to launch on Build 18305 with KB4483214 installed. Workaround is to uninstall this update.

Presumably, Microsoft will have a fix for the issue in its next Fast ring release, but uninstalling the cumulative update is, for now, the only workaround.

Build 18305 brought with it a number of interesting new features, but Windows Sandbox is potentially one of the biggest surprises. The feature allows you to fire up a clean, virtual desktop environment through which you can run and test untrusted software without worrying about its impact on your base installation. Once Windows Sandbox is closed, all of its files and software are permanently deleted.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl