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Are Box folder IDs globally unique across tenants when using CLI with branded URLs?

  • June 22, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 24 views
S

Hi All,

Got a client that wants their files on box (previously sftp) and I've gotten the Box CLI to upload files to a folder and will be looking to schedule it on a weekly basis for the client.  I'm targeting the folder purely by folder ID using "box files:upload <filename> --parent-id <folder id>” in PowerShell (I know, gross!).

The client has their box url branded but not sure how to handle it in the future if we have more clients wanting to use Box.  If the clients I need to post to each have their own branded Box URLs (e.g. cmpa.app.box.com/folder/111111, compb.app.box.com/folder/22222 etc).

My question is: are folder IDs globally unique across all Box tenants (cmpa, cmpb, cmpc)? In other words, if I upload to folder ID 111111, is it guaranteed to land in that exact folder for client A regardless of whether I previously posted to Client B's 22222 folder with the same box account and token (via CLI)?

Are the branded URLs purely cosmetic, with only the folder ID being considered when locating the destination under the hood?

Thank you in advance!

Best answer by John Koepp

Short answer ​@Sunnyx is Yes, Box Folder IDs are globally unique across tenants.  As are File IDs and most any other Box ID.  The custom subdomain is purely cosmetic in this context (also it *may* matter when it comes to user account provisioning).  That is, a reference to app.box.com/folder/535445 work just as well as foo.app.box.com/folder/535445 and will take the caller to the same folder as will bar.app.box.com/folder/535445.  The key is the folder ID.
 

Hope this helps.  Please reach out if you need further clarification.

1 reply

J
  • John Koepp
  • Box Employee
  • Answer
  • June 22, 2026

Short answer ​@Sunnyx is Yes, Box Folder IDs are globally unique across tenants.  As are File IDs and most any other Box ID.  The custom subdomain is purely cosmetic in this context (also it *may* matter when it comes to user account provisioning).  That is, a reference to app.box.com/folder/535445 work just as well as foo.app.box.com/folder/535445 and will take the caller to the same folder as will bar.app.box.com/folder/535445.  The key is the folder ID.
 

Hope this helps.  Please reach out if you need further clarification.

Senior Solution Architect, Box Consulting
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