Troubleshooting Continuous Prompt to Install Box Tools (Windows)

Overview:

This article explains causes and fixes for a Windows issue where users repeatedly receive a prompt to install Box Tools even after installation. It summarizes common triggers — such as stale installer state, browser/OS settings, or security restrictions — and provides step-by-step troubleshooting steps to resolve the looping prompt, verify a successful Box Tools installation, and restore integration with Box for editing and uploading files.

Problem:

Users on Windows machines encounter a persistent, recurring dialog that prompts them to install Box Tools every time they try to open or edit files from Box, despite having previously installed Box Tools. This looping prompt prevents normal use of Box-integrated features (open/edit in native apps, upload via Box Tools) and may be caused by:

• Incomplete or stale installation of Box Tools.
• Missing or incorrect registry entries that indicate installation state.
• Browser settings or cached installer state that interfere with the install flow.
• Permissions or network restrictions that block the Box Tools installer or its helper services.

When attempting to open a file on your desktop through Box Edit on Windows, you may receive the following prompt:

In addition, if your company requires Device Trust checks, you may see this prompt:

The repeated prompt creates confusion, blocks productivity, and can lead to multiple unsuccessful reinstall attempts, requiring a reliable set of diagnostic checks and remediation steps.

This can happen if your network or computer environment prevents Box.com from communicating with Box Tools. Box Tools uses a loopback network interface to communicate between Box.com and your computer. Basically, this is how we talk to the programs on your desktop to know when files are saved or if you device has the proper security settings, as examples. The use of this interface may require additional configuration in your environment.

Process for Resolution:

Verify Box Edit is installed, running, and enabled for startup

• 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:
     
• 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.

Check firewall and other network security

• Box Tools v4 requires the ability to communicate with its Box Local Com Server by making requests to 127.0.0.1:17223 (or 127.0.0.1:17224 if port 17223 is occupied) over HTTP.
  • An exception may need to be added to any firewalls, proxies, anti-virus or security products, and browser extensions that could potentially modify this request to http://127.0.0.1.
  • The ability to communicate to 127.0.0.1 over HTTP is acceptable by the following w3c standard.
• See Configuring a Firewall for Box Applications and Services for complete list of domains/hostnames that need to be allow-listed for Box and its applications, integrations, and components to work correctly.

Update or reinstall Box Edit

• Update to the latest Box Edit version.
• If issues persist, uninstall Box Edit, reboot, and reinstall the latest installer from Box.
  • If able, please use the Box Edit Cleaner Script to uninstall Box Tools

Check for interfering software

• Temporarily disable antivirus, firewall, or endpoint security that may block inter-process communication or protocol handlers.
• Ensure no group policy or enterprise settings are blocking installation or auto-launch behavior.

Check for changes in environment

• Review this article which describes the potential changes you may need to make in your environment. You may need to check with your IT or networking team for further assistance if you are unable to make the changes yourself.

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

Outcome:

• The prompt to install or repair Box Tools no longer appears when opening or editing files from Box.
• Files open in the expected desktop applications without interruption.

Alternatives:

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

Provide the following information:

• HAR Network Capture - You'll want to make sure you log into Box, start the capture and then refresh your browser!
• Box Edit logs
• Answers to the following questions:
  • Is it happening to all users?
  • Have you tried a different network? Do you get the same issue?
  • Is it happening on all browsers?
• Include a screenshot of your task manager showing the two processes running (Box Edit and Box Edit Local Com Server).
• Include a screenshot of your control panel to ensure Box tools is installed.

Further Reading:

Related articles can be found at Troubleshooting Box Tools.