When using the Email Upload to a Folder feature in Box, it is possible that the file you attach will not be successfully uploaded. When an email upload to a folder fails, you will receive an email notification to alert you.
Troubleshooting Steps
- Are forbidden characters in the file name? See section below on Forbidden Characters.
- Is another item with the same file name in the folder? If so:
- see whether "Overwrite files with the same name" is checked in the target folder settings, and
- see whether the existing item is locked, as this combination leads to failed uploads.
- Is the sender email address associated with an unconfirmed Box account?
- To find out, try to log in to the Box Web Application.
- Is the target folder owner an active Box Account?
- Does the Box account of the target folder owner have available storage?
- Do you have SPF enabled? See notes on SPF at: Upload to Box Through Email
If you can't access the above information, or if you can and everything seems in order, please open a case with Box User Services and we will help investigate further.
Here is what we need from you:
- The email address from which the email was sent
- The target folder's email address
- The file name you attempted to upload
- A date/timestamp (including time zone) of when the email was sent
Forbidden Characters
Some operating systems do not support item names containing special characters. If you attempt to save items containing these characters in the item name, you may get a failed email upload.
- Box OS-independent restrictions: Box does not support '/' and '\' anywhere in a file or folder name or whitespaces at the beginning or end of a file or folder name.
- Windows OS restrictions:
- < (less than)
- > (greater than)
- : (colon)
- " (double quote)
- / (forward slash)
- \ (backslash)
- | (vertical bar or pipe)
- ? (question mark)
- * (asterisk)
- See the list of Windows file name restrictions
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