Quick Answer
box-drive-telemetry.exe is safe. It is Box Drive's telemetry component that collects lightweight usage and health data to support performance, reliability, and diagnostics.
Is it a Virus?
ourth NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\Box\Box Drive\Telemetry
Warning
Telemetry may run in background
Multiple processes can exist for telemetry, syncing, and update checks
Can I Disable?
s YES
Disable via Box Drive settings to stop data collection
What is box-drive-telemetry.exe?
box-drive-telemetry.exe is the telemetry component for Box Drive, the desktop client that syncs files with Box Cloud storage. It runs in the background to collect lightweight usage, connectivity, and health data to help Box optimize performance and diagnose issues across devices.
This process gathers anonymized telemetry about Box Drive activity, connectivity, and errors. It runs as a background service and forwards data to Box telemetry endpoints for analysis while respecting user privacy settings and enterprise policies.
Quick Fact: Box Drive introduced centralized telemetry in early builds to correlate sync performance with network conditions.
Types of Box Drive Processes
- Telemetry Service: Collects usage, error, and performance metrics for Box Drive
- Sync Engine: Background file synchronization and state tracking
- Update Check: Checks for Box Drive updates and feature flags
- Health Monitor: Monitors connectivity and service health
- Policy/Compliance: Applies enterprise policies and privacy controls
- Background Network: Handles telemetry data transmission when online
Is box-drive-telemetry.exe Safe?
Yes, box-drive-telemetry.exe is safe when it is the legitimate file from Box, installed from official sources. Verify via digital signature and legitimate installation path.
Is box-drive-telemetry.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real box-drive-telemetry.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade with similar names. Always verify the file signature and location.
How to Tell if box-drive-telemetry.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\\Program Files\\Box\\Box Drive\\Telemetry\\box-drive-telemetry.exe or C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Box\\Box Drive\\Telemetry\\box-drive-telemetry.exe. Any other location is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in File Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show "Box, Inc." as the signer.
- Resource Usage: Normal telemetry usage is low (sub-5% CPU). Consistently high usage with no UI activity is suspicious.
- Behavior: Telemetry should run only as part of Box Drive activity or background health checks. If it starts without Box Drive, investigate.
Red Flags: If box-drive-telemetry.exe is located outside Box Drive directories, has no digital signature, or runs when Box Drive is not installed, scan with antivirus immediately. Watch for similarly-named files like "telemetry.exe" from untrusted sources.
Why Is box-drive-telemetry.exe Running on My PC?
box-drive-telemetry.exe runs to support Box Drive's performance, reliability, and diagnostics. It may operate even when the main UI is closed to maintain health checks and syncing visibility.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Box Drive Usage: Box Drive is actively syncing files or indexing, triggering telemetry to report status and errors.
- Background Health Monitoring: Telemetry runs in the background to monitor connectivity, error counts, and session health.
- Startup and Background Tasks: Box Drive may launch telemetry at startup to collect startup performance data and readiness signals.
- Policy-Driven Data Collection: In enterprise setups, telemetry runs to enforce governance, privacy controls, and diagnostic data reporting.
- Error Reporting and Diagnostics: Telemetry collects context when Box Drive encounters errors to speed up troubleshooting and support.
Can I Disable or Remove box-drive-telemetry.exe?
Yes, you can disable box-drive-telemetry.exe. Disabling telemetry stops data collection, but Box Drive functionality remains for file syncing unless you disable telemetry entirely or uninstall Box Drive.
How to Stop box-drive-telemetry.exe
- Open Box Drive Settings: Navigate to Box Drive Settings or Preferences and turn off Telemetry.
- End Telemetry Process: Open Task Manager, locate box-drive-telemetry.exe, and End Task.
- Disable Startup: Task Manager > Startup tab > Disable Box Drive
- Pause Background Tasks: In Box Drive Settings, disable background health checks and data transmission.
- Uninstall Telemetry Components: If available, use Box Drive uninstaller to remove the telemetry component or modify enterprise policy.
How to Uninstall Box Drive Telemetry (Component)
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Box Drive → Modify/Repair (telemetry component not separately uninstallable; disable via settings or uninstall Box Drive entirely)
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Box Drive → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider alternative cloud drive clients if telemetry is a concern
Common Problems: Telemetry-Related Issues in Box Drive
If box-drive-telemetry.exe is causing issues, try the following common fixes and adjustments:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Excessive background telemetry: Disable telemetry via Box Drive settings; apply updates to ensure proper telemetry load.
- High CPU when syncing: Reduce concurrent syncs, close unused files, ensure network access is stable.
- Telemetry not sending data: Check network permissions, firewall rules, and ensure Box services are allowed through.
- Box Drive not starting: Repair/ reinstall Box Drive; confirm startup is enabled in Task Manager.
- Outdated Box Drive version: Update Box Drive to the latest version via Box updates.
- Conflicting extensions or policies: Review enterprise policies and disable conflicting settings; ensure policy propagation completes.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Box Drive Settings and disable Telemetry if needed
2. Restart Box Drive and perform a clean sync
3. Update Box Drive to the latest version
4. Check firewall/network settings for telemetry traffic
5. Review enterprise policies if in managed environment
Frequently Asked Questions
Is box-drive-telemetry.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate box-drive-telemetry.exe from Box is not a virus. Verify the file is located in C:\Program Files\Box\Box Drive\Telemetry and has a valid digital signature from "Box, Inc.".
What data does box-drive-telemetry.exe collect?
Telemetry collects anonymized usage, connectivity, and health data to help Box improve performance and reliability. Personal files or content are not transmitted.
Can I disable box-drive-telemetry.exe without breaking Box Drive?
Yes. You can disable telemetry in Box Drive settings without removing basic syncing capabilities.
Where is telemetry data stored and who can see it?
Telemetry data is stored on Box telemetry servers or per enterprise policy. Access is restricted to Box and organization IT admins exercising data governance.
How can I verify if box-drive-telemetry.exe is legitimate?
Check file location (C:\Program Files\Box\Box Drive\Telemetry), verify Digital Signatures shows Box, Inc., and ensure the version matches Box Drive. Run antivirus scan if unsure.
Why does telemetry run when Box Drive UI is closed?
Telemetry can run in the background to monitor health and collect diagnostics, independent of the UI, ensuring reliability and quick troubleshooting.