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Question

How to free space on mac?

  • May 27, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 39 views
C
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Once I upload a file from the app on my mac, and after the sync, I want to keep it only online, and if I want to download I would click on the icon (not downloaded) to use it. But there is no option to (free space) or (keep it online).

Where is the option in the menu that gives me the option to free space by keeping the file online? If there is no option are u going to make that happens? I'm about to subscribe in one of your plans but that is a dealbreaker for me.

    1 reply

    C
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    • community-manager
    • Author
    • Box Employee
    • 34740 replies
    • May 27, 2025

    Hi Carlos, 

    Welcome to Box community!

    Please note, Box Drive does locally cache files that you have opened. Box Drive's cache size limit is based on your free disk space (50% of available space) and has a maximum limit of 25 GB. If you reach this limit, Box Drive begins removing files, starting with those files that have gone the longest without your accessing them. Also, if a cached file has a new version created on Box, Box Drive discards the locally cached version.

    Cache information and behavior

    • When you add a file to Box Drive, Box copies the file into the Drive cache folder, which creates a local copy of the file.  So, when adding larger files to Drive, be sure to provide enough local storage for the local copy of the file.
    • When you open a file in your Box folder, Box Drive downloads the file to the cache folder (folder location above) to open the file.
    • Box Drive deletes a cached file:
      • When the file cache has not been modified for the past 30 days -- that is, no modifications are made to the cached file.
          • You can reduce this duration. (To adjust the cache duration, please see steps below.)
      • If the same file on Box is updated with a new version on Box.
          • In this case, Box Drive's locally cached file is no longer up to date, and Box deletes it. Box Drive does not re-download the file until you re-open the file via your Box folder.
      • If you reach the cache size limit.  In this case, Box removes first those cached files that have gone the longest without being modified.
      • When you log out of Box Drive.
    • Box Drive deletes a cached file that is available offline if you log out of Box Drive.
    • Box Drive's maximum cache size limit is set to 50% of your available local disk space or 25 GB, whichever is smaller.  Box Drive requires at least 1 GB of free space to function properly. (To do this, please see steps below.)
      • Files marked for offline access do not count against this limit. You can fill up your hard drive until you have 2 GB of remaining space.
    • Box Drive cannot delete a cached online-only file in the following cases (in these cases it's possible the limit can be exceeded):
      • the online-only file has changes that never uploaded to Box
      • another program is preventing Box Drive from deleting the online-only file.
    • Do not use or modify files in the cache folder. Doing so may result in unexpected behavior. Always access your content through the Box folder.
    • Box Drive cache is not encrypted and is not removed automatically when you uninstall the Box Drive program.  After you uninstall the program you can delete the cache folder manually.
    • Logging out of Box Drive deletes all cached files (including offline files and offline preferences) and all log files.
    • It is not possible to completely disable Box Drive's caching functionality.

    For more information, kindly check this article: https://support.box.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043695894-Technical-Information-for-Box-Drive-Administrators

    Thank you for posting!


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