Box Edit is an add-on feature that allows you to open and edit files stored in Box. Designed for all file types, browsers, and platforms, Box Edit uses the default application installed on your computer to open and edit files: Docx files open in Microsoft Word, PPTx files open in Microsoft PowerPoint, etc. You can learn more at the vendor’s Box Edit Frequently Asked Questions page.

Box released a new version of Box Tools (which includes Box Edit) in March 2018. Existing Box Tools users will be automatically updated to the newest version. The update is being rolled out over time. There is no way to opt out of the update. No user action is required to trigger the update.

After the upgrade, some users will be able to continue using the functionality right away. Others—it depends on the browser you use—may need to enable a plugin.

Box Edit Support Requirements

Windows

• Chrome, two most recent releases
• Firefox, two most recent releases 
• Safari, two most recent releases
• Edge, two most recent releases of the new Chromium-based Edge

Box Edit will NOT work with Microsoft Edge.

macOS 

• Chrome, two most recent releases
• Firefox, two most recent releases
• Safari, two most recent releases. See the Safari section of Box’s Understanding System Requirements for Box Tools.

A Brief Summary of Box’s Tools/Features

Box Edit lets you operate in the full Box environment, with commenting, tasks, assignments, online preview, etc. It lets you edit/open files transparently with desktop apps. Box Edit works with Microsoft document (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), PDF files, and others.

Box Drive mounts all Box folders available to you as a network drive. Files are not downloaded from the cloud until you open them. It uses much less local disk space and network bandwidth than Sync, and you don’t have to worry about choosing specific folders to sync. You can mark files and folders to make them available even when you are offline. We recommend Box Drive over Box Sync (and Box says you cannot use them both).

Box Sync selectively synchronizes some of your folders to your desktop, allowing you to use them with local apps. You don’t get to do commenting, etc. You can lock files, but it’s not an automatic part of the process as it is with Box Edit. The files are available to you when you are not online, and they will re-sync the next time you connect. We recommend Box Drive over Box Sync (and Box says you cannot use them both).