Box Drive - Make Available Offline

Box Drive provides a new feature that enables the user to save their files solely on the cloud or save a local file that updates periodically.

When you save a box file, it is saved to Box's cloud storage and is available only when connected to the internet.  To avoid needing a constant internet connection to open that file, you have the option of making the file "available offline."  This will download an exact copy of the cloud-stored file to the computer.  While connected to the internet, it will sync the file to the cloud.  If the internet connection is lost at any point, the offline file will continue to be used and saved locally on the computer.  When the internet connection is reestablished, the offline file will sync with the cloud and update the cloud version of the file to be just like the offline file.  This can be done to any file or folder in your Box.  

This feature only applies to persons using Box Drive. If you are using Box Sync, this feature is not available.

To make a file or folder available offline (Box Drive)

  1. Left click on the file or folder in question to highlight it.
  2. Right click on it to bring up the context menu.
  3. Click on Make Available Offline.

Context Menu image for Make Available Offline

The icon next to the file will turn from a cloud (Cloud icon for a Box folder) to a green checkmark (Available offline icon for Box folder).  

You can reverse this process by following the same steps.  The only difference is you will click Make Available Online Only.  This will make it only store the file on Box's cloud storage.


If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact your ACES IT Pro. You can find your department's IT contact information here: https://techsupport.aces.illinois.edu/departmental-it-offices