Run Box Sync as a Windows Service with AlwaysUp

How to Run Box Sync 24/7 as a Windows Service with AlwaysUp

Ensure that Box Sync starts to synchronize your important files as soon as your server boots, even before you log on!

Box is an online file synchronization service that allows you to access your files from anywhere, on any device. The Box Sync component shares the content on your Windows PC but unfortunately it only starts after someone has logged on.


To configure Box Sync to launch at boot with AlwaysUp:

  1. Download and install AlwaysUp, if necessary.

  2. Download install and configure the Box Sync, if necessary.

  3. Start AlwaysUp.

  4. Select Application > Add to open the Add Application window:

    Add Application

  5. On the General tab:

    • In the Application field, enter the full path to the Box Sync executable, BoxSync.exe. If you installed Box Sync in the default location, this is:

      C:\Program Files\Box\Box Sync\BoxSync.exe

    • In the Name field, enter the name that you will call the application in AlwaysUp. We have used Boxsync (the default) but you can specify almost anything you like.

    Box Sync Windows Service: General Tab

  6. Click over to the Logon tab and enter the user name and password of the account in which you installed and configured Box Sync. Note that this account must have Administrator rights, or Box may not be able to find its settings or function properly as a Windows Service.

    Box Sync Windows Service: Logon Tab

    Note @ 9/1/2015: Coen van der Gugten reports that Box Sync doesn't run properly if the "When a user logs on..." box at the bottom is checked. Please leave that option unchecked.

  7. Click over to the Startup tab and check the Ensure that the Windows Networking components have started box. This informs AlwaysUp that Box Sync needs TCP/IP networking support to do its work.

    Box Sync Windows Service: Startup Tab

    Note @ 1/15/2016: If you are using a version of AlwaysUp version that supports it, please also check the Stop all copies of the application... boxes (pictured below) to ensure that AlwaysUp isn't tripped up by another copy of BoxSync:

    Box Sync Windows Service: Stop other copies

  8. We are done configuring Box as a Windows Service, so click the Save button to record your settings. In a couple of seconds, an application called Boxsync will show up in the AlwaysUp window. It is not yet running though and the state will be Stopped.

    Box Sync Windows Service: Created

  9. Before we start Box Sync as a Windows Service, let's stop any existing instance. If Box Sync is running, stop it now by right-clicking on the tray icon (Box Sync Tray Icon) and selecting Quit.

    Quit Box Sync

  10. To start Box Sync from AlwaysUp choose Application > Start "Boxsync". After a few seconds, the entry should transition to the Running state but you won't see Box Sync's tray icon appear as it is running in the background. Clicking on the green circle will show some details of the running process:

    Box Sync running as a Service with AlwaysUp

    On Windows 8/7/Vista and Server 2012/2008, Box Sync will be running in the isolated Session 0. You can choose Application > Start "Boxsync" in this Session if you wish to show Box Sync's tray icon on your desktop.

  11. Now that Box Sync will always be running in the background, there is no need to start it again when you log on. We recommend using the free Autoruns tool from Microsoft to disable Box Sync's auto-start but any "startup manager" should do the trick.

    With Autoruns, click over to the Logon tab and un-check the box beside the BoxSync entry:

    Disable Box Sync autostart at login with Autoruns

  12. That's it! Next time your computer boots, Box Sync will start up immediately, before anyone logs on. We encourage you to edit the entry in AlwaysUp and check out the many other settings that may be appropriate for your environment.



Box Sync not working properly as a Windows Service?

  • Consult the AlwaysUp Troubleshooter - our online tool that can help you resolve the most common problems encountered when running an application as a windows service.
  • From AlwaysUp, select Application > Report Activity > Today... to bring up a HTML report detailing the interaction between AlwaysUp and your application. The AlwaysUp Event Log Messages page explains the more obscure messages.
  • Browse the AlwaysUp FAQ for answers to commonly asked questions and troubleshooting tips.
  • Contact us and we will be happy to help!

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