Box Drive: Files That Box Drive Will Not Backup


Box Drive will not sync and instead ignore or block certain file types.  

  • "Ignored" files include those invisible in Windows Explorer or Finder, such as temporary or system files.
  • Blocked files include file types that Box Drive does not recognize.

 

Box Drive ignores the following file types and shortcuts: https://support.box.com/hc/en-us/articles/360044195433-File-Types-Ignored-or-Blocked-by-Box-Sync-and-Box-Drive

  • Temporary files and folders (.tmp and files starting with the ~ character)
  • Backup copies of files (.bak)
  • System and hidden files (hidden folders are synced but hidden files are not synced: such as ._dstore, desktop.ini, thumbs.db).
    • File names that start with a dot "." are considered hidden files.
  • Shortcuts created via Windows Explorer or Finder
  • Hard links (a file that has multiple directory entries associated with it will not be synced)
  • Symbolic links
  • Shortcuts created via Windows Explorer or Finder (.lnk)
  • File names that are exactly 8 uppercase hexadecimal digits (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E, or F) with no extension – for example: 1234AD38 or ABE32BD0.
  • File names containing special characters
  • Web based documents (such as .gdoc, .gsheet, and bookmarks) will not sync to the Box Drive folder, with the exception of Box Notes, which will be synced to the Box Drive folder and will open in your browser.
  • .qbi files

 

Box Drive blocks the following file types:

  • .pst
  • .qbw
  • .nd
  • .qbw.tlg
  • .tlg
  • .des
  • .qba
  • .qba.tlg
  • .qbr
  • .qby
  • .qdt

Microsoft Access database files (.accdb and .mdb):

Due to the saving behavior of Microsoft Access, it's likely that Box Drive will create duplicate copies of .accdb and .mdb files. Even one user working on a file can cause conflict copies due to how frequently Access makes changes to the database file. Box Drive users can copy the file out of the Box folder and copy the file back into the Box folder after the changes are made to upload the changes to Box. 

 

Microsoft OneNote Notebooks: 

Microsoft does not recommend using synchronization programs like Box Drive with OneNote notebooks:

 

"In general, OneNote notebooks should always be synced and moved by the OneNote application, and not by file based synchronization systems such as a client application"

Please see this Microsoft Support Page for more information on OneNote syncing best practices.

 

Mac Package Files

Box Drive does not support Mac package files. You will see an error from Finder if you attempt to copy a package file into Box Drive.

 

MORE INFO FOUND: 

https://support.box.com/hc/en-us/articles/360044196773-Troubleshooting-Uploads-to-Box

https://support.box.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043696454-General-Limitations-When-Using-Box-Drive

https://support.box.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043695854-Windows-Specific-Limitations-for-Box-Drive

https://support.box.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043695774-Mac-Specific-Limitations-for-Box-Drive