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Content Preview Frequently Asked Questions

Product basics

Size, plan, and permission limits

Supported file types

Video preview

3D preview

Annotations and comments

Watermarks in Preview

Fonts and formatting

Printing and exports

Box AI in Preview

Troubleshooting

 

Product basics

What is Box Content Preview?

Box Content Preview (also called Box Preview) lets you view files in Box without downloading them to your device. It works in supported Box web and mobile experiences and opens most common file types in the browser or app.

 

How do I open a file in Preview?

In the Box web app, click the file name. The file opens in Preview inside Box. Shared links to files also open in Preview by default instead of downloading or opening in a native desktop application.

 

What can I do from the Preview screen?

Depending on your permissions, Preview can let you:

  • Zoom, rotate images, enter full screen, and move to the previous or next file in the folder
  • Open, download, share, invite collaborators, move, rename, lock, or download a PDF version of the file
  • Open Activity, Details, and Metadata side panels
  • Use recommended apps and Box AI, when available

 

Is Preview always a perfect representation of the original file?

No. Box states that Preview displays most documents without issue but cannot guarantee perfect accuracy. If a file does not display correctly, open it in the native application.

 

 

Size, plan, and permission limits

How large can a file be and still preview?

Content Preview is limited to files of 500 MB or smaller. Video is an exception and can be up to 3.5 hours long, although videos longer than 2.5 hours can encounter preview or streaming problems.

 

Why do I see "We're sorry, your account is unable to preview this file type"?

Some preview capabilities are limited to Business-level accounts and above. Free or personal users can still preview those files when the files are owned by an eligible Business-level or higher account.

 

Which collaborator roles can preview?

Co-owner, Editor, Viewer Uploader, Previewer Uploader, Viewer, and Previewer can preview. Uploaders cannot preview.

Previewers have limited read access. They can preview in the content viewer and use browser search against visible text, but they cannot select and copy text, share, upload, edit, or delete content.

 

Can password-protected files be previewed?

No. Box Preview cannot preview password-protected files.

 

Can very small files fail to preview?

Yes. Box documents that 1-byte files cannot be previewed on the web app.

 

 

Supported file types

Which categories of files does Content Preview support?

Box groups supported types into:

  • Text-based documents
  • Presentations
  • Images
  • Audio
  • Video
  • Flash/mobile video
  • Compressed files (zip)
  • 3D graphics and modeling files

Confirm the current extension list in the file-types article when a specific format fails.

 

What are the common document and presentation limits?

Notable limits include:

  • Native spreadsheet preview is limited to fewer than about 100 columns and about 100,000 rows.
  • .xlsm and .xlsb rely on Excel Online capabilities.
  • Older Excel versions are generally not supported for preview.
  • Adobe PDF Portfolios are not supported.
  • DocuWorks (.xdw) files cannot be printed directly from Preview; download first.
  • CSV print is disabled when using UI elements.

 

What should I know about Excel date and time values in Preview?

Excel date and time functions such as TODAY() or NOW() can display as static values based on when the preview was generated, not as live Excel values. Some custom date formats can also render incorrectly. Use a different date format or open the file in Excel when accuracy matters.

 

What are the common image preview notes?

Illustrator (.ai) files must be saved in PDF-compatible mode to preview. For InDesign files, references to external assets are replaced by medium-quality images in Preview.

 

What PowerPoint features do not work in Preview?

PowerPoint limitations include:

  • Embedded videos do not play in Preview.
  • Animations and page transitions do not work.
  • Charts, tables, or graphics embedded from LibreOffice are not supported in Preview.
  • Hyperlinks work for newly uploaded PowerPoint files on web and mobile; re-upload if links do not work.

 

Can I preview zip files?

Yes, on the Box web app and in mobile browser sessions. The archive viewer lists files inside the zip and supports navigation such as search and sort. Native Box mobile apps cannot preview zip files.

 

Can Flash files be previewed?

Content Preview does not support Flash files that require network or script access. Flash videos must be downloaded and viewed on the desktop rather than previewed in Box.

 

 

Video preview

Who can preview video?

Video preview is available to Business-level accounts and above. Free or personal users can preview video files owned by eligible Business-level or higher accounts.

 

What video resolutions are available?

Both 480p and 1080p previews are supported. Business accounts are limited to 480p. Business Plus and higher can change preview quality from the settings gear.

 

Are there public shared-link limits for video?

Video preview without a Box login through a public shared link is limited to 1 hour.

 

Does Preview support AVCHD or TypeScript files?

No. Content Preview does not support AVCHD. The supported .ts extension means Transport Stream video, not TypeScript source files.

 

How do closed captions work in video Preview?

Box supports captions embedded in the video file as a text track or as captions contained in the video stream. Separate sidecar files such as .srt are not supported until they are embedded into the video.

Captions are available to Business Plus users and higher in the HD video player. Use the CC control or Settings > Subtitles/CC. Captions overlay at the bottom of the video and do not yet appear on mobile.

 

Which keyboard shortcuts work for video Preview?

Common shortcuts include:

  • Space or K: play/pause
  • Left/right arrow: back/forward 5 seconds
  • J/L: back/forward 10 seconds
  • 0 or Home: restart
  • Up/down arrow: volume
  • </>: slower/faster
  • F: fullscreen
  • M: mute
  • C: captions on/off

 

 

3D preview

Who can use 3D Preview?

3D Preview is available to Business Plus accounts and above. Free or personal users can preview 3D files owned by eligible Business-level or higher accounts. Mobile apps do not support 3D Preview.

 

How do I preview a 3D model?

Create a Box3D package that includes the model and any required reference files such as textures. Keep those files in the same folder or a subfolder, open More Options on the model, choose Create Box3D Package, then open the resulting .box3d file.

Supported model types include obj, stl, fbx, 3ds, dae, and ply.

 

Can I print a 3D preview directly from Box?

No. Download the 3D image first if you need to print it.

 

 

Annotations and comments

Can I annotate files in Preview?

Yes. On the Box web app, open a file in Preview and use Highlight and Comment or Comment on Region. Annotations appear in the Activity pane with the commenter, time, and page number. Annotations are an overlay in Preview. They are not written into the native file contents.

 

Who can create or delete annotations?

Any Box account holder except Uploaders can create or respond to annotations. Previewers and Previewer Uploaders can create annotations but cannot use Highlight and Comment. People can modify only their own annotations. Owners, co-owners, and the annotation creator can delete annotations.

If folder commenting is disabled, annotations are unavailable for that folder's contents.

 

Do annotations apply across file versions?

Yes. You can annotate multiple versions. Annotations on earlier versions include the version number. Only annotations on the current version show a page-number jump to the current document.

 

 

Watermarks in Preview

How do watermarks appear in Preview?

When watermarking is enabled, Box shows a semi-transparent overlay that can include the viewer's email or IP address and the access time. Owners, co-owners, and editors can enable watermarking. Watermarking is available on Enterprise plans and above.

Everyone who previews a watermarked file sees the watermark, including people with edit access. That lets the person who enabled it confirm it is working.

 

Which file types do not support watermarking?

Box Notes, audio, Flash, .msi, .exe, .zip, and 3D files do not support watermarking. Enabling watermarking on unsupported types can prevent Previewers, Previewer Uploaders, and Viewers from viewing or downloading those files.

Video watermarking requires Box Shield.

 

How do watermarked downloads differ by role?

Owners, co-owners, editors, and viewer-uploaders can download the original non-watermarked file. Viewers download a watermarked version. Previewers and previewer-uploaders cannot download. Box Drive and Box for EMM do not support downloading watermarked files.

 

 

Fonts and formatting

Why does a document look different in Preview than in the native app?

Box converts files for browser display and embeds supported fonts. Proprietary or restrictively licensed fonts cannot be embedded. When a font is unsupported, Preview substitutes the next best available font, which can change spacing or layout.

For PDFs, Preview uses fonts embedded in the PDF. If a font is not embedded, it is visible only when that font is installed on the viewer's machine.

 

 

Printing and exports

How do I print from Preview?

Open the file in Preview, click the ellipsis in the upper-right corner, and select Print. The user must have print permission.

Some types cannot be printed directly from Preview, including DocuWorks and 3D images. CSV print is also disabled when using UI elements.

 

Can I download a PDF version from Preview?

Yes, when your permissions allow it. The Preview ellipsis menu can include downloading a PDF version of the file among other actions.

 

 

Box AI in Preview

Can I use Box AI while previewing a file?

Yes, for Business and above when Box AI for Documents is enabled. Open the file in Preview, select Box AI from the toolbar, and ask a question or use suggested prompts such as summarizing the document or identifying key takeaways.

 

What file types work with Box AI in Preview?

Supported types include text documents, images, text-dense spreadsheets, and presentation slides. Box Notes use Box AI for Notes instead.

 

Why might Box AI be unavailable for a previewed file?

Common causes include Box AI not being enabled for the organization, missing document permission, or the file being owned outside the enterprise by an owner whose organization does not have Box AI enabled. In that last case, copy the file into your enterprise or have the external owner's admin enable Box AI.

 

 

Troubleshooting

Why is Preview blank or showing an error?

Check these first:

  • The file is within Preview size and format limits.
  • The file is not password-protected.
  • The account plan supports that preview type, or the file is owned by an eligible account.
  • Required Box hosts are allowlisted on the network.
  • The file is not a known unsupported case such as a PDF Portfolio, 1-byte file, or unsupported Flash content.

 

What if conversion appears stuck or failed?

Some previews fail during conversion. Capture a HAR while reproducing the issue, inspect the file's representations calls for pending or failed conversion, then re-upload the file and retry. If it still fails, open a Box support case with the HAR and reproduction details.

 

Why do PowerPoint hyperlinks not work in Preview?

Hyperlinks work for newly uploaded PowerPoint files. Re-upload the document and retry if links do not work.

 

Why can a Viewer not preview an item in a watermarked folder?

If watermarking is enabled and the file type does not support watermarking, Viewers, Previewers, and Previewer Uploaders may be blocked from viewing or downloading that item.

 

 

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