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Troubleshooting "Box Drive encountered an error at initialization that requires you to manually move aside your existing Box folder"

Box Drive , End User , Troubleshooting , Article , Product Utilization

Overview of Problem

When using Box Drive on macOS, you may encounter an error during initialization. This issue occurs if there is an existing folder at ~/Library/CloudStorage/Box-Box, which can prevent Box Drive from initializing properly. This situation might arise if the Box Drive application was unable to completely remove the Box Drive folder during its last session.

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Process for Resolution

  1. Launch the Terminal application on your macOS device.
  2. Copy and paste the following command into the Terminal: sudo mv ~/Library/CloudStorage/Box-Box ~/Box-Box-Backup
    • If the command above results in an "Operation not permitted" error, you will need to follow the steps below to grant the Terminal application the necessary permissions. Afterward, you can attempt steps 1 and 2 again.
  3. Restart the Box Drive application.
  4. Check the ~/Box-Box-Backup folder to identify any files that may not have been synced.
    • Manually upload these files.
    • Delete them to free up space on your hard drive.

 

How To Resolve “Operation not permitted” Error

  1. Navigate to "System Settings"
  2. Select "Privacy & Security," then choose "Full Disk Access"
  3. Provide "Terminal" with Full Disk Access by toggling it on
  4. After enabling Terminal, you will be prompted to enter your password. Please input your password and click "Modify Settings" to confirm the changes.


 

Outcome

  • Box Drive should now initialize properly without the error message.
  • Any unsynced files can be manually uploaded or deleted to free up space.

Alternatives

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

 

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