Skip to content

macSandbox for Windows 0.1.0

Latest
Latest

Choose a tag to compare

View all tags
@github-actions github-actions released this 26 Jun 05:00
· 6 commits to main since this release
v0.1.0
7be46ba

First public release — a disposable Windows 11 ARM64 sandbox for Apple Silicon Macs, the Windows Sandbox experience on macOS. Boot a throwaway Windows environment in seconds from a prebuilt base image; every change is discarded on exit. Runtime is QEMU + Hypervisor.framework (HVF) with an in-app embedded RDP view (libfreerdp).

Highlights

  • Disposable by design — copy-on-write overlay per session, discarded on exit
  • One-time unattended baseline build from your own Windows 11 ARM64 ISO (deterministic WinPE/DISM, virtio driver injection, inbox bloatware removed)
  • In-app RDP session — no external windows; HiDPI (Retina) scaling, trackpad scrolling and pinch-to-zoom
  • Logon scripts run in a hidden console, just like Windows Sandbox — no visible cmd window
  • Windows Sandbox .wsb compatibility — see WSB-SUPPORT.md
  • Clipboard (text and files, both directions), shared folders (\\tsclient auto-mount), printer redirection (CUPS), audio playback and microphone
  • Localized UI — English, 한국어, 日本語, Deutsch, Español, Français

Requirements

  • Apple Silicon Mac only — Intel Macs are not supported. The runtime depends on Apple Silicon virtualization (Hypervisor.framework) and a Windows 11 ARM64 guest.
  • macOS Tahoe (26) or later. The binary is built for macOS 14 and links arm64_sonoma dependencies, so it may launch on macOS 14–15 — but only macOS Tahoe has been tested, and HVF/virtualization behavior on earlier releases is unverified.
  • A Windows 11 ARM64 ISO you are licensed to use.
  • ~24 GB free disk space during the one-time baseline build.

Installation — this build is not signed or notarized

The DMG is ad-hoc signed and not notarized, so macOS Gatekeeper blocks it on first launch. To allow it:

  1. Download macSandbox-for-Windows-0.1.0.dmg below, open it, and drag macSandbox for Windows into Applications.
  2. Double-click the app — macOS blocks it ("Apple could not verify…").
  3. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll down to Security, and click Open Anyway next to the macSandbox message. Authenticate, then click Open.

Or clear the quarantine flag from Terminal and open normally:

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/macSandbox for Windows.app"

Notes & limitations

  • This project ships no Windows OS, key, or license. You provide your own Windows 11 ARM64 ISO and hold a valid license for each Windows instance you run.
  • First launch builds the baseline image unattended (one round, typically 20–40 minutes). Every later launch boots a fresh disposable sandbox in seconds.
  • macSandbox for Windows is an independent project, not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.

Documentation

Dual-licensed AGPL-3.0-or-later / commercial — see LICENSING.md.

Assets 3
Loading