The Box plugin has a few limitations that stem from how Box handles file storage and access control. Here's what to expect and how to work around each one.
Box files can't be attached to emails
The Send Email action only supports file attachments hosted on Bubble's native S3 storage. Files stored with Box — or any other third-party provider — can't be attached because Bubble doesn't have the server-side access needed to safely package external files before sending.
What you might notice:
Files stored on Box don't appear as available attachments in the Send Email action
Emails are sent without the expected attachment when using non-S3 file storage
Workaround: Use Bubble's native S3 storage for any files you need to send as email attachments. If your workflow requires files from Box, you'd need to transfer them to S3 storage first.
Files can't be made truly private
Files uploaded to Box through the plugin can't be made truly private. Privacy rules in Bubble can prevent files from appearing in your app's UI, but anyone with a direct link to the file can still access it — the rules don't restrict link-based access.
What you might notice:
Privacy rules on the Box File type prevent files from appearing in repeating groups for unauthorized users, but the file is still accessible via a direct link
Setting a rule like "only the file's creator can view attached files" doesn't prevent link-based access
Workaround: Use Bubble's default file storage system instead, which supports making files genuinely private via the "Make this file private" checkbox on upload. Alternatively, use a third-party Box plugin that handles access control differently.
Upload progress jumps from 0% to 100%
When using the File Uploader element with Box as the storage service, the upload percentage jumps directly from 0% to 100% — there are no intermediate values. Box doesn't report incremental upload progress, so Bubble has no data to display during the upload.
What you might notice:
A progress bar or dynamic text showing upload percentage stays at 0% throughout the upload, then jumps to 100% when the file finishes
The same setup works correctly when using Bubble Storage as the storage service
Workaround: Switch to Bubble Storage if accurate upload progress is important to your app. Bubble Storage reports incremental upload percentages correctly.