Box for Microsoft Office Co-Authoring enables real-time co-authoring on Office desktop, web, and mobile. You can simultaneously edit and collaborate on Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint files on desktop in real-time, with all changes automatically saved to your Box account.
This complements our existing integration with Office Online, enabling you and your team to co-author Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents in Box whether they are working in Office on desktop or web — with all edits automatically saved back to Box.
Co-authoring is available for the following:
Platforms:
- Desktop app (Box Drive and Office desktop apps)
- Web app (Box.com and Office for the web)
- Mobile apps (Box iOS and Android apps and Office mobile apps for iOS and Android) - coming soon
Operating Systems:
- macOS (v11.5 and above)
- Windows operating system (10 and above)
- iOS & Android (coming soon)
Note:
Box’s general support policy for operating systems and browsers apply for this feature.
Office subscriptions:
- Office 365 Enterprise K1
- Office 365 Enterprise E1
- Office 365 Enterprise E3
- Office 365 Enterprise E5
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Business
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise
Not all Office subscriptions are compatible with the Microsoft desktop app. For details, refer to your Microsoft license.
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Windows
- See this Microsoft site.
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Mac
- Current channel minimum version: 16.60.410.0
- Monthly channel minimum version: n/a
- Semi-Annual channel minimum version: n/a
Perpetual licenses (e.g., Office 2016, 2019 etc.) not supported.
Applications:
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
If you plan to use Intune, check also Box as a Managed Place in Microsoft Intune, MDM, and MAM.
Technical Prerequisites:
- Supported Office update channel(s)
- Microsoft’s Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise Channel, and Semi-Annual for Office 365 updates (latest releases)
- If using Box Drive (not required), v2.26 or above
- If using Mac devices and Box Drive, Mac OS 11.5 or above
Feature Enablement
For Box admins:
On Windows
To enable your Box account holders to add Box as a Place in Microsoft:
- Send the URL ms-office-storage-host:asp|d|TP_BOX_2|o|0|a|Web to your Box account holders. This URL works only on Microsoft Windows.
- Instruct recipients who use Microsoft Windows to cut and paste the URL into their browsers.
For Box users:
To start coauthoring, add Box as an online storage location from within the Microsoft Office desktop app. Follow these steps for your specific operating system.
On Windows
- From Microsoft Word / Excel / PowerPoint, click on File menu option.
- On the left navigation pane, click Open
- Click on Add a Place
- Select Box
- Select Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Sign in with your Box credentials
On Mac
- From Microsoft Word / Excel / PowerPoint, click File -> New from Template
- On the left navigation pane, click Open
- Click Manage Storage Accounts
- Select Box
- Select Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Sign in with your Box credentials
Support
For additional help or support related questions, visit the following support page: Support for Box for Microsoft Office Coauthoring – Box Support