Overview

Box Sync and Box Drive are two separate desktop applications that give you access to your Box content from your computer's desktop instead of your accessing Box via the web.

Box Sync gives you access only to the folders you marked for offline access. Box Drive gives you access (1) to all your Box content while you're connected to the internet and (2) to the folders you marked for offline access when you're not connected to the internet. 

We will retire Box Sync mid-2020.

We've followed this schedule for replacing Box Sync with Box Drive:

• 12/6/2019 - Box Drive available for download
• 12/9/2019-12/11/2019 - Box Drive webinars (Recording | Slides)
• 12/17/2019 - Box Drive offered via BigFix
• Mid-2020 - Box Sync retired

Box Sync

Box Sync enables you to choose specific files and folders to sync between Box and your desktop and keeps them synchronized. 

Users should sync only the folders and content they work with on a daily basis. Syncing everything could impact computer performance.

Box Drive

Box Drive differs from Box Sync in that it appears like a network drive and gives you access to all your Box content while you're online. 

It only consumes local storage for files in your cache and files you mark for offline. Box Drive uses up to 50% or 25GB of your local disk space (whichever is least).

Users began seeing Box Drive as a BigFix offer beginning 12/17/2019; we began pushing Box Drive to all IT-supported computers with Box Sync beginning January 2020.

For personal devices or for users that want to start using Box Drive, the installer can be found here.

For more information on downloading and installing Box Drive, see our Box Drive page.

Box Sync vs. Box Drive

How to get help

For more information on Box Drive or to read the Box Drive FAQ, click here.

For general Box support, contact the UCSF IT Service Desk at 415-514-4100 or chat with an agent at help.ucsf.edu.

For specific questions about the Box Sync to Box Drive transition, contact the IT Cloud Content Applications team.