Quick Answer
boxdrive-svc is a safe Box Drive service. It runs in the background to sync local Box Drive with your Box cloud, manage drive mounting, and coordinate UI interactions.
Is it a Virus?
NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\Box\Box Drive and signed by Box, Inc.
Warning
Common for Box Drive to have multiple processes
Sync engine, UI renderer, and service may run as separate processes
Can I Disable?
YES
You can disable startup and background syncing, then quit the UI
What is BoxDrive.exe?
boxdrive-svc is the background service and binary that powers Box Drive on Windows. It keeps the local Box Drive mount synchronized with your Box cloud account, monitors file changes, handles offline access, and coordinates the user interface with the local filesystem to provide seamless file access.
boxdrive-svc launches the Box Drive service and a companion process that manages real-time sync, change notification, and drive mounting using a local metadata store and a virtual filesystem bridge to expose Box content as a mounted drive.
Quick Fact: Box Drive uses a multi-process architecture to isolate sync logic from the UI, improving reliability and offline access.
Types of Box Drive Processes
- Box Drive Service: Core background service that handles sync and drive mounting
- Sync Engine: Monitors local and cloud changes, updates metadata
- UI Renderer: Renders the Box Drive user interface
- Indexer: Maintains file index for quick search and access
- Background Tasks: Health checks, retries, and event processing
- Filesystem Bridge: Mounts Box Drive as a local drive and handles IO
Is boxdrive-svc Safe?
Yes, boxdrive-svc is safe when obtained from Box's official distribution and installed from Box's website or authorized vendor.
Is boxdrive-svc a Virus or Malware?
The real boxdrive-svc is NOT a virus. Malware can mimic names to deceive users.
How to Tell if boxdrive-svc is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Box\Box Drive\BoxDrive.exe or C:\Program Files\Box\Box Drive\BoxDriveService.exe. Any boxdrive-svc executable elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the executable in File Explorer > Properties > Digital Signatures. Should show "Box, Inc." as the signer.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-8% CPU per process and 40-200 MB memory. Abnormally high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: Box Drive should run as a legitimate service and/or UI component. Unwarranted startup or random processes indicate possible malware.
Red Flags: If boxdrive-svc is located in unusual folders (e.g., AppData, Temp), runs when Windows is idle, has no valid digital signature, or uses resources constantly, scan with antivirus. Watch for similarly-named files like 'boxdrive.exe' from untrusted sources.
Why Is boxdrive-svc Running on My PC?
boxdrive-svc runs to support the Box Drive integration and to keep the mounted Box Drive synchronized with the cloud. It may start with user login or Windows startup to ensure instant access to files.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Box Drive Mount: You have Box Drive mounted and actively syncing with the cloud; the service coordinates IO and metadata updates.
- Background Sync: Box Drive monitors changes in the cloud and local folders to keep files identical across devices.
- Startup or Logon: Box Drive is configured to start automatically so your mounted drive is ready when you sign in.
- File Change Notifications: The service watches for file events to push changes to the cloud and propagate updates to other devices.
- Offline Access and Caching: Box Drive caches files for offline use; background tasks manage cache coherence and sync when online.
Can I Disable or Remove boxdrive-svc?
Yes, you can disable boxdrive-svc. It is safe to stop Box Drive when not in use, and you can uninstall it completely if you no longer need Box Drive.
How to Stop boxdrive-svc
- Exit UI: Quit the Box Drive UI from the system tray or taskbar.
- Stop Services: Open Services (services.msc) and stop the Box Drive Service, or end BoxDrive.exe processes from Task Manager.
- Disable Startup: Task Manager > Startup tab > Disable Box Drive
- Pause Background: In Box Drive settings, disable background syncing or 'Continue running in background' option.
- Verify: Ensure no Box Drive processes are active and no mount remains before uninstall.
How to Uninstall Box Drive
- ✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> Box Drive -> Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a program -> Box Drive -> Uninstall
- ✔ Optionally remove residual Box Drive data in AppData and Box folders
Common Problems: Sync Issues or Performance
If boxdrive-svc is misbehaving, use these causes and solutions to stabilize the Box Drive integration and improve performance.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too many files or large folders: Pause sync for large folders or selectively sync important folders only
- Poor network connectivity: Check VPN/proxy settings and ensure stable outbound access to Box services
- Conflicting or outdated extensions: Disable or remove extensions that interact with Box Drive or file syncing
- Outdated Box Drive version: Update Box Drive to the latest version from box.com/downloads
- High CPU from thumbnail generation: Limit or disable thumbnail generation in Box Drive settings
- Corrupted local cache: Clear Box Drive cache and reindex; if needed, reinstall Box Drive
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Box Drive settings and pause syncing to diagnose issues
2. Restart Box Drive service or BoxDrive.exe
3. Clear cache: Box Drive settings -> Cache cleanup
4. Update Box Drive to the latest version
5. Check network and firewall settings allowing Box services
Frequently Asked Questions
Is boxdrive-svc a virus?
No, the legitimate boxdrive-svc from Box is not a virus. Verify the executable location at <code>C:\Program Files\Box\Box Drive\BoxDrive.exe</code> with a valid digital signature from "Box, Inc.". Be wary of similarly named files in untrusted folders.
Why is boxdrive-svc using so much CPU?
High CPU can result from large sync queues, active changes in many files, or background indexing. Use Box Drive Task Manager, reduce active sync scope, and ensure you are on the latest version.
Can I delete boxdrive-svc?
Yes, you can uninstall Box Drive from Windows Settings or Control Panel. Your cached files may remain depending on local settings until you remove the mounted drive.
Can I disable boxdrive-svc?
Yes, you can disable Box Drive startup and background syncing. This prevents automatic mounting and syncing until you re-enable Box Drive.
Why is Box Drive not mounting as a drive?
Check that Box Drive is installed, the service is running, and the drive is not blocked by a firewall. Reinstall if mounting errors persist.
Where are Box Drive logs stored?
Logs are typically stored under the user profile: <code>C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Local\Box\BoxDrive\Logs</code> for troubleshooting.