Troubleshooting issues with Box Sync
Box Sync is a desktop program for Windows and Mac that synchronizes your files between your computer and the Box website. Any issues you experience with syncing or slowness may be caused by your settings in the Box website or the program itself.
Note: Do not delete anything from Box Sync that you do not want deleted from Box entirely. Anything deleted from Box Sync will be deleted from the Box website as well. Follow the first set of instructions below to Unsync, rather than deleting things from the Box Sync folder.
A folder on the Northwestern Box website does not appear in Box Sync
- Log in to Northwestern Box at http://northwestern.box.com .
- Find a folder you'd like to sync, and right-click on it.
- Click on More Actions, then click Sync.
You will notice Box Sync's status change to "Scanning Files" or "Syncing," and eventually the folder and all of its subfolders and files will appear in your Box Sync folder.
Do not delete anything from Box Sync that you do not want deleted from Box entirely. To remove a folder from Box Sync, follow the above instructions but choose Unsync in step 3.
Northwestern Box website and Box Sync don't match
- Is Box Sync running and logged in? Ensure that Box is running in the background and you are logged in with your @northwestern.edu account.
- On Mac, you should see a lowercase b icon on the top bar. On Windows, you should see a blue square with the word box inside it in the bottom right corner (you may need to click the arrow button to display it).
- If you do not see the icon, open Box Sync. On Mac, click Finder, then the Applications folder in the left bar, then double-click Box Sync. In Windows, click the Start Menu, then search Box Sync.
- Are you placing the data in the Box Sync folder? Only data placed in the Box Sync folder (or any of its subfolders) will be synced to the Northwestern Box website. Make sure you are saving the files inside the Box Sync folder, rather than your desktop or documents folders.
- Is your data located on a network share? Box Sync often encounters issues with data stored on a network share. We suggest you store the data locally, if possible.
Box Sync is slow or won't stop "Scanning Files"
- Log in to Northwestern Box at http://northwestern.box.com .
- Find a folder you'd like to unsync, and right-click on it.
- Click on More Actions, then Unsync.