Note: End of Life (EOL) has been announced for Box Sync effective December 2026. For more information visit the official announcement page.
Note: Box Sync is not supported on Apple Silicon devices. Users on these devices need to switch to Box Drive.
Overview
Problem:
Users who enabled the Always Delete setting in Box Sync may unintentionally delete files locally and from Box. This document explains how to reset the Always Delete setting in Box Sync so deletions require confirmation again.
Process for Resolution
1. Confirm Box Sync version and status
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Ensure Box Sync is running on the computer.
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Verify which version of Box Sync is installed (the steps apply to classic Box Sync; users of Box Drive should follow Box Drive guidance).
2. Close Box Sync
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Quit the Box Sync application completely before making changes:
- On Windows: Right-click the Box Sync icon in the system tray and choose Quit.
- On macOS: Click the Box Sync icon in the menu bar, then choose Quit.
3. Locate and delete the Box Sync preference file
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On Windows:
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Open File Explorer.
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Navigate to %appdata%\Box\
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Delete the file named synclt.conf (or move it to a backup location).
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On macOS:
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Open Finder.
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From the menu bar choose Go > Go to Folder...
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Enter ~/Library/Application Support/Box/
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Delete the file named synclt.conf (or move it to a backup location).
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4. Restart Box Sync
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Launch Box Sync again:
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On Windows: Start Box Sync from the Start menu.
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On macOS: Start Box Sync from Applications.
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Box Sync will recreate the preference file with default settings, which resets the Always Delete setting.
5. Test deletion behavior
- Attempt to delete a local file from a synced folder that is also in Box.
- Confirm that Box Sync now prompts for confirmation before permanently deleting the file rather than automatically deleting it.
Outcome
Confirm the problem is solved by verifying that Box Sync prompts for confirmation when deleting files from a synced folder. The recreated preferences file should remove the Always Delete behavior.
Alternatives
If you continue to experience any of the symptoms listed above, please manually collect and submit Box Sync Logs and open a support ticket at support.box.com for further assistance.
Further Reading
Related articles can be found at Troubleshooting Box Sync.