Product Guides are now only available at docs.box.com. Check out all the details on what's changed.

Box Status
Print

Box Edit Error - Unable to Save: An error occurred while saving ____ to Box

Box Edit , has_image , End User , Box Tools , Users , Troubleshooting , Saving , Article , Product Utilization , Established , Unable to Save , Temporary Files

Overview of Problem

Users receive a Box Edit error message stating, “Unable to Save: An error occurred while saving… to Box.” This error often appears upon computer startup and creates a copy of the file on the user’s desktop. The issue stems from temporary files that were not properly cleared from a previous editing session and are now “stuck” attempting to re-save.

Box Edit Error.jpg

 

Process for Resolution

Before proceeding, verify the file version in the Box web app is the most recent one to avoid data loss. You can do this by previewing the file or checking the Updated date. After confirming, follow the steps for your operating system to clear the cached temporary files.

Windows

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. In the address bar, type %localappdata% and press Enter.
  3. Navigate to the Box > Box Edit > Documents folder.
    • The full path is C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Box\Box Edit\Documents.
  4. Delete any temporary files within this folder. These files often start with a tilde and dollar sign (~$).
  5. Restart your computer.

macOS

  1. Quit the Box Edit application. To do this, open Activity Monitor, select Box Edit, and click the Quit Process (X) icon.
  2. Open Finder.
  3. In the top menu bar, click Go.
  4. Press and hold the Option (⌥) key on your keyboard.
  5. Click Library from the dropdown menu.
  6. Navigate to Application Support > Box > Box Edit > Documents.
    • The full path is ~/Library/Application Support/Box/Box Edit/Documents.
  7. Delete all files and folders within the Documents folder.
  8. Restart your computer.

 

Outcome

After restarting the computer, the “Unable to Save” error no longer appears. Box Edit functions as expected, saving changes directly to Box without creating extra copies on your desktop.

 

Alternatives

If the error message persists after clearing the temporary files and restarting, the issue may require deeper investigation.

If you continue to experience any of the symptoms listed above, enable debug logging, reproduce the error, collect and submit Box Tools Logs, and open a support ticket at support.box.com for further assistance.

 

Further Reading

 

client_swarm_kb

Related articles