Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\Box\BoxDrive\BoxDriveTelemetry.exe
Warning
Many background processes
Box Drive uses separate processes for core UI, syncing, and telemetry; unexpected multiple telemetry entries may indicate a config issue
Can I Disable?
YES
Telemetry can be disabled in Box Drive Settings under Privacy or Data Sharing
What is BoxDriveTelemetry.exe?
box-drive-telemetry is the background telemetry service used by Box Drive to collect anonymized usage data, crash reports, and feature interactions. It helps Box analyze performance across devices and improve reliability. It runs quietly while Box Drive is installed and can be adjusted or disabled by user preference.
box-drive-telemetry runs as a background process that gathers diagnostic events, usage metrics, and crash data from Box Drive. The data is aggregated for performance improvements and is typically not tied to a specific user identity unless you opt into data sharing.
Quick Fact: Box Drive telemetry helps optimize sync operations and error reporting across platforms without exposing personal data by default.
Types of Box Drive Processes
- BoxDrive.exe: Main Box Drive client UI and core syncing engine
- BoxDriveTelemetry.exe: Telemetry service collecting usage data and crash reports
- BoxDriveSync.exe: Sync engine coordinating file transfers and conflict resolution
- BoxDriveUpdater.exe: Updater for Box Drive, applying versioned improvements
- BoxDriveCrashReporter.exe: Optional component that captures crash dumps for diagnostics
- BoxDriveBackgroundTask.exe: Background tasks for indexing and background file checks
Is box-drive-telemetry Safe?
Yes, box-drive-telemetry is safe when obtained from Box, Inc. and installed as part of Box Drive. It is digitally signed and included in standard Box Drive distributions.
Is box-drive-telemetry a Virus or Malware?
The real file is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade with similar names. Always verify location and signature.
How to Tell if box-drive-telemetry is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location:: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Box\BoxDrive\BoxDriveTelemetry.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Box\BoxDrive\BoxDriveTelemetry.exe. Any BoxDriveTelemetry.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature:: Right-click the file in File Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "Box, Inc." as the signer.
- Resource Usage:: Normal usage is 0-5% CPU per process and 20-120 MB memory. Constant high usage outside typical activity warrants inspection.
- Behavior:: Box Drive telemetry should run when Box Drive is installed and active. If it runs constantly without Box Drive or after uninstall, investigate.
Red Flags: If box-drive-telemetry.exe is located outside standard folders (like Temp, AppData, or System32), runs when Box Drive is not active, has no valid signature, or uses persistent high resources, scan with reputable antivirus. Be wary of similarly named files such as "driveTelemetry.exe" from untrusted sources.
Why Is box-drive-telemetry Running on My PC?
box-drive-telemetry runs to collect anonymous usage data and crash information to help Box optimize Drive performance, reliability, and feature quality. It may run in the background even when the main UI is not open, depending on your settings.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Box Drive Use: Telemetry runs to accompany Box Drive activity, capturing events during file syncs and app interactions.
- Background Data Sharing: If you enabled data sharing in Box Drive, telemetry may operate to report aggregated metrics.
- Startup Launch: Box Drive may start a telemetry component at login to prepare first-run performance data.
- Error/Crash Reporting: Telemetry gathers crash details to help diagnose failures and improve stability across versions.
- Scheduled Maintenance: Periodic diagnostic checks run to ensure indexing, search, and sync reliability.
Can I Disable or Remove box-drive-telemetry?
Yes, you can disable box-drive-telemetry. It is safe to disable if you prefer not to share usage data, though you may lose some diagnostic benefits. You can disable telemetry without removing Box Drive itself.
How to Stop box-drive-telemetry
- End Telemetry Process: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) → Processes → select BoxDriveTelemetry.exe → End Task
- Disable Telemetry in Box Drive: Box Drive Settings → Preferences → Privacy/Data Sharing → turn off telemetry if available
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → disable Box Drive to stop telemetry from launching at login
- Stop Background Sync: Box Drive Settings → Sync → disable background data syncing if you do not want telemetry-related activity
- Check for Residual Services: Ensure no residual BoxDriveTelemetry service remains running after uninstall by checking Services (services.msc) and stopping/removing entries if present
How to Uninstall Box Drive
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Box Drive → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features → Box Drive → Uninstall
- ✔ If you need to remove telemetry-specific components only, use Settings to modify data-sharing preferences before uninstalling Box Drive
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage (Box Drive Telemetry)
If box-drive-telemetry.exe is consuming excessive resources or behaving unusually, review the following causes and solutions specific to Box Drive telemetry.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Excessive Sync Activity: Large file batches or many small changes can spike telemetry activity. Pause or limit sync, then resume.
- Telemetry Enabled During Troubleshooting: If you recently enabled diagnostic data sharing, revert to minimal data sharing to reduce telemetry load.
- Background Daemon Running After Update: Restart Box Drive to ensure telemetry restarts with the new version; verify version in About Box Drive.
- Corrupted Telemetry Cache: Clear Box Drive cache or reset telemetry data in Settings if available, then monitor for recurrence.
- Outdated Box Drive: Update Box Drive to the latest version to fix telemetry-related performance issues (Box Drive → Help → Check for updates).
- Third-Party Interference / Antivirus: Ensure the telemetry endpoint is not blocked by firewall or antivirus; temporarily allow Box Drive telemmetry to run for testing.
Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Open Box Drive Task Manager or Ctrl+Shift+Esc to identify BoxDriveTelemetry.exe activity
3. Pause or disable non-essential sync tasks
4. Update Box Drive to the latest version
5. Disable telemetry in Settings if available and restart Box Drive
6. Ensure Box Drive starts with Windows only if needed via Task Manager → Startup
Frequently Asked Questions
Is box-drive-telemetry safe?
Yes. The legitimate BoxDriveTelemetry.exe from Box, Inc. is signed and part of the Box Drive package. Verify its location in C:\Program Files\Box\BoxDrive and sign details to confirm authenticity.
Why is telemetry running after I uninstall Box Drive?
If telemetry components linger, it may be due to residual services or startup tasks. Reinstall Box Drive to ensure clean removal, or remove any leftover BoxDriveTelemetry entries in the Programs list and Startup folder.
Can I disable box-drive-telemetry without impacting Box Drive?
Yes. Telemetry can usually be disabled via Box Drive Settings under Privacy or Data Sharing. Disabling telemetry does not remove Box Drive functionality but may limit diagnostic data collection.
Where is telemetry data stored and can I delete it?
Telemetry data is stored within Box Drive diagnostics folders or user profile directories as anonymous logs. You can delete temporary diagnostic files from the Box Drive cache or settings if available.
Will telemetry slow down Box Drive or my computer?
Telemetry adds a lightweight background load. On very busy systems or with large sync tasks, you might notice brief CPU/memory usage; disabling telemetry or adjusting sync can help.
How do I uninstall Box Drive completely?
Use Windows Settings → Apps → Box Drive → Uninstall, or Control Panel → Programs and Features → Box Drive → Uninstall. Reboot afterward to ensure all telemetry components are removed.