What causes "Box Drive Not Syncing"?

Box Drive isn't running or got signed out Problem items: unsupported names, unsupported file types, full local disk, or the folder owner's quota Firewall, antivirus, VPN or proxy blocking Box connections Outdated Box Drive version Slow propagation of remote changes to other devices (long-running user reports) Corrupted Box Drive cache or preferences

How do I fix "Box Drive Not Syncing"?

1. Confirm Box Drive is running and signed in: Look for the Box icon in the menu bar (Mac) or system tray (Windows) If it's missing, open Box Drive from Applications or the Start menu and sign in On Mac, check Activity Monitor; on Windows, check Task Manager for the Box process 2. Fix the problem items: Click the Box icon to open the Box Drive search bar Click the Gear icon (bottom right on Mac, top left on Windows) and choose 'Error updating an item...' Rename files with unsupported characters, free disk space, or move unsupported file types to the web app Click Retry All 3. Restart the computer: Shut down fully, wait about 10 seconds, and start again Reopen Box Drive and check whether the files sync 4. Update Box Drive and test another network: Install the latest Box Drive from box.com Turn off the VPN or try a different network to rule out firewall or proxy blocking On a work network, ask IT to allow Box domains 5. Reset Box Drive: Back up any files in the unsynced files folder first; a reset can delete them Windows: quit Box Drive, end Box.exe in Task Manager, delete C:\Users\ \AppData\Local\Box\Box, then restart Box Drive and sign in Mac: quit Box Drive and run Box's Reset Tool (or the reset command for your macOS and Drive version from Box's 'Manually Reset Box Drive' instructions), then sign in again 6. Upload through the web app as a stopgap: Open box.com in a browser and upload the files directly Box staff have also suggested saving files locally first and then dragging them into Box Drive

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Box Drive Not Syncing

Ongoing Windows, macOS Updated October 21, 2026

Quick answer

Box Drive usually stops syncing because it isn't running, files are stuck as problem items, or a firewall, VPN or proxy blocks it. Check 'Error updating an item', fix the listed files, click Retry All, then restart or reset Box Drive.

Most likely fix: Confirm Box Drive is running and signed in.

Symptoms

Files saved locally never appear on box.com, files added on another computer don't show up in Finder or File Explorer, icons show a red exclamation point, or changes take 30 minutes to hours to reach other devices.

Why it happens

Box Drive isn't running or got signed out
Problem items: unsupported names, unsupported file types, full local disk, or the folder owner's quota
Firewall, antivirus, VPN or proxy blocking Box connections
Outdated Box Drive version
Slow propagation of remote changes to other devices (long-running user reports)
Corrupted Box Drive cache or preferences

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. Confirm Box Drive is running and signed in
1. Look for the Box icon in the menu bar (Mac) or system tray (Windows)
2. If it's missing, open Box Drive from Applications or the Start menu and sign in
3. On Mac, check Activity Monitor; on Windows, check Task Manager for the Box process
2. Fix the problem items
1. Click the Box icon to open the Box Drive search bar
2. Click the Gear icon (bottom right on Mac, top left on Windows) and choose 'Error updating an item...'
3. Rename files with unsupported characters, free disk space, or move unsupported file types to the web app
4. Click Retry All
3. Restart the computer
1. Shut down fully, wait about 10 seconds, and start again
2. Reopen Box Drive and check whether the files sync
4. Update Box Drive and test another network
1. Install the latest Box Drive from box.com
2. Turn off the VPN or try a different network to rule out firewall or proxy blocking
3. On a work network, ask IT to allow Box domains
5. Reset Box Drive
1. Back up any files in the unsynced files folder first; a reset can delete them
2. Windows: quit Box Drive, end Box.exe in Task Manager, delete C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local\Box\Box, then restart Box Drive and sign in
3. Mac: quit Box Drive and run Box's Reset Tool (or the reset command for your macOS and Drive version from Box's 'Manually Reset Box Drive' instructions), then sign in again
6. Upload through the web app as a stopgap
1. Open box.com in a browser and upload the files directly
2. Box staff have also suggested saving files locally first and then dragging them into Box Drive

This guide also covers

box drive not syncing
box sync stuck
box drive not updating
box drive slow to sync
box drive not syncing mac

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