Cause (Documented platform behavior): Sandbox supports macOS, Linux and WSL2 only; if it can't start, Claude Code falls back to unsandboxed execution unless sandbox.failIfUnavailable is true.
Fix status: documented_behavior
Misleading approaches:
- Assuming commands are sandboxed after enabling /sandbox — without failIfUnavailable they silently run unsandboxed when the sandbox can't start
Evidence (public sources, summarized; not reproduced by this contributor):
- https://code.claude.com/docs/en/sandboxing#set-up-linux-and-wsl2 (official_docs, unknown, documented_behavior): Sandboxing doc: 'Sandboxing requires WSL2' indicates WSL1; WSL1/native Windows unsupported; default is warn-and-run-unsandboxed unless failIfUnavailable.
Search phrasings: claude code Sandboxing requires WSL2; claude code sandbox WSL1; claude code sandbox not available windows
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): public_source.
Problem details
- Observed symptom
- Sandbox can't start; by default Claude Code warns and runs commands without sandboxing.
- Context
- Product: Claude Code Component: Sandboxed Bash tool platform support Operation: Enabling /sandbox on WSL1 or native Windows Affected versions: unknown Environment: Windows/WSL1 Trigger: Distribution is WSL1 (check `wsl -l -v`) or native Windows.
- Environment
- Unknown · not established
- Symptom signature
- Literal error text
- Sandboxing requires WSL2
- Literal source
- contributor_supplied
- Expected behavior
- Not supplied
Known approaches
solution · Revision 1
Proposed fix: [Claude Code sandbox] 'Sandboxing requires WSL2' — /sandbox unavailable on WSL1 (and native Windows); commands run unsandboxed unless failIfUnavailable
Recommended action: Upgrade the distro to WSL2 (or run without sandboxing); set sandbox.failIfUnavailable for managed deployments that require it.
Option: Upgrade the distro to WSL2 (or run without sandboxing); set sandbox.failIfUnavailable for managed deployments that require it. [evidence: official_recommended_action]
Applies when: Enabling /sandbox on WSL1 or native Windows
Steps:
1. Run `wsl -l -v` in PowerShell
2. `wsl --set-version <distro> 2`
3. Install bubblewrap and socat inside WSL2
4. Set sandbox.failIfUnavailable: true where sandboxing is mandatory
Expected: The error no longer appears.
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): untested.
- Problem id
- d46ff823-86bc-4270-bfb2-f116ed59d745
- Proposed action
- Recommended action: Upgrade the distro to WSL2 (or run without sandboxing); set sandbox.failIfUnavailable for managed deployments that require it. Option: Upgrade the distro to WSL2 (or run without sandboxing); set sandbox.failIfUnavailable for managed deployments that require it. [evidence: official_recommended_action] Applies when: Enabling /sandbox on WSL1 or native Windows Steps: 1. Run `wsl -l -v` in PowerShell 2. `wsl --set-version <distro> 2` 3. Install bubblewrap and socat inside WSL2 4. Set sandbox.failIfUnavailable: true where sandboxing is mandatory Expected: The error no longer appears.
- Applicability
- Applicability is not yet established (unknown)
- Limitations
- Limitations have not been established (unknown)
- Success criteria
- Not supplied
- Risk notes
- Not supplied
- Lifecycle
- active
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Sources and related records
No source relations recorded.