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Question

Box Drive syncing files that aren't synced.

  • May 22, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 99 views
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Box Drive is downloading tons of files that are not synced.  When I go to the browser under Synced there is nothing.  When I navigate to a folder the only option I have is "sync".  In the browser it shows I have nothing synced but Box Drive is downloading everything and choking my computer and filling up my entire hard drive anyways.  Box Sync was a far superior implementation than Box Drive.

    3 replies

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    Hi Dave, 

    Welcome to the Box Community!

    The Sync function you see in Box.com is specifically for Box Sync and not of Box Drive nor have any effect to it. 

    Box Drive does not use this function, and it basically mirrors all your files and folders that is in Box.com in a form of "cache data"  into your desktop.

    Box Drive's cache size limit is set to 50% of your available local disk space with a maximum limit of 25GB and a minimum of 1GB. If it's taking too much space on your device, you can adjust this limit.

    To do this, please see steps in this article: https://support.box.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043695894-Technical-Information-for-Box-Drive-Administrators 

    Regards,

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    This is happening with a number of our users as well, where after the user logs out of BOX Drive, it automatically begins another "sync" and begins to erroneously take up HD space.  In troubleshooting, the only way we've had luck alleviating this (and we're not sure for how long it works) is by logging out and rebooting the machine, a couple times.  By the third time, it seems to work but again, we're unsure of the issue source or if this is a long-term solution.

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    Same issue. I am tearing my hair out, moving b-roll files to sequestered parts of Box hoping to eliminate syncing. EEK. Help!

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