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How to Check if Box Tools is Installed, Running, and (Windows Only) Enabled for Startup

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To use Box Edit to open and edit files stored in Box, you may need to verify that Box Tools is installed and running on your computer. If Box Tools is not detected on your machine, you may be prompted to first install Box Tools.

 

Windows:

  • Installed
    1. Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
    2. You should see Box Tools in the list of programs:
  • Running
    1. Open Task Manager.
    2. Click the Processes tab.
    3. You should see both Box Edit and Box Local Com Service under Background Processes:
    4. If Box Tools is not running, please follow Box Edit Does Not Launch Automatically on Windows to resolve the issue.
  • Enabled for startup
    1. Open Task Manager.
    2. Click the Startup tab.
    3. You should see both Box Edit and Box Local Com Service with a status of Enabled:
      • If Box Tools is installed using the MSI installer by an administrator, Box Local Com Service runs as a service (not listed in the Startup tab); please verify it is running via services.msc and contact your IT team if needed.
    4. If one of these is missing entirely from the Startup list, follow the resolution steps below.
    5. If either of these has a status of Disabled, follow the resolution steps below.

       

To fix Box Edit being set to Disabled:

  1. Click the Name of the program that is Disabled so that it is highlighted.
  2. Select Enable near top of window:

 

To fix Box Edit not showing in Startup menu:

  1. Navigate to the Box Edit program which will be in 1 of 2 locations on your computer

    Location 1: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Box\Box Edit[username] will be your username on your computer

    Location 2: C:\Program Files\Box\Box Edit

    • This AppData folder is hidden by default so the fastest way to get there is to open your Windows search and type %localappdata% (including the percentage signs) and hit Enter
  2. Create a shortcut for the Box Edit program
  3. Move this shortcut to this folder C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

 

To fix Box Local Com Service not showing in Startup menu:

  1. Navigate to the Box Local Com program which will be in 1 of 2 locations on your computer

    Location 1: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Box\Box Local Com Server[username] will be your username on your computer

    Location 2: C:\Program Files\Box\Box Local Com Server

    • This AppData folder is hidden by default so the fastest way to get there is to open your Windows search and type %localappdata% (including the percentage signs) and hit Enter
  2. Create a shortcut for the Box Local Com program
  3. Move this shortcut to this folder C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

 

Mac:

  • Installed
    • Open Macintosh HD > Users > [username] > Library > Application Support > Box.
    • You should see Box Edit.app and Box Local Com Server.app in the list of programs:
  • Running
    • Open Activity Monitor.app.
    • Click the CPU tab.
    • You should see both Box Edit and Box Local Com Service under Process Names:


       
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