Allow Box Access in Chrome to Keep Box Tools Working
Purpose / Summary
Recent updates to Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers (version 142 and newer) add extra security that can block local network connections. Box Tools needs these local connections to open files from Box in your desktop apps (like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint).
If Chrome blocks this access, features such as “Open in Desktop App” or Box Edit will stop working.
This guide shows how to adjust your Chrome settings so Box can safely connect to your computer and continue using Box Tools without interruption.
Who This Applies To
Anyone who uses Box Tools or Box Edit in Chrome or another Chromium-based browser.
Steps for End Users
If you see a message in Chrome asking whether Box can “connect to devices on your local network,” click Allow. This lets Box Tools talk to your computer so you can open and edit files in your desktop apps.
or
If you already clicked Block before, follow these steps to fix it:
-
If you already declined,you can re-enable it as follows:
- In Chrome, select the three vertically stacked dots in the upper right to bring up Chrome’s menu.
- Near the bottom of the menu, select Settings > Privacy and security > Site Settings.
- At the bottom of the Permissions section, in the middle of the page, select Additional Permissions > Local network access.:
- Next to “Allowed to connect to any device on your local network,” select Add.
- In the box that appears, type or copy each of these one at a time:
- [*.]box.com
- [*.]box.net
- [*.]boxcn.net
- [*.]boxcdn.net
- [*.]boxenterprise.net
5. Click Add, then close the settings tab.
6. Refresh your Box tab and try opening a file again.
If the Add button is grayed out or you can’t edit the list, it means your browser is managed by your organization.
In that case, contact Information Technology Services at 909-621-8061 or ServiceDesk@pomona.edu.