Daniel-Muc If you add something to the Boxcryptor Location, Spotlight should be able to pick it up. It is only difficult for Spotlight to do so if the file you're looking for is in a folder that you have never visited through the Boxcryptor location before.
If you have a file A that you want to have indexed by Spotlight, just browse to the folder containing the item and you should be good to go.
Again, if that doesn't work, let me know through support@boxcryptor.com with a reference to this thread - because then we're dealing with a bug.
Boxcryptor for macOS 3.x Feedback
Do I understand this correctly: after installing Boxcryptor and adding e.g. iCloud Drive as Cloud provider, I can see everything that's already on my iCloud Drive inside the Boxcryptor Disk view, exactly as if I opened iCloud Drive directly in Finder; the only visual difference are encrypted files or folders, which are displayed unencrypted in Boxcryptor, and encrypted / unreadable in Finder.
To add files or folders without encryption, I need to make sure I'm using iCloud Disk in Finder.
To add files or folders with encryption, I either have to use iCloud Disk in Boxcryptor (which looks 99% identical to Finder), or use Finder and then switch to Boxcryptor to find the file/folder and then encrypt it.
I guess what I'm missing is a (switchable) view in Boxcryptor where I only see encrypted files/folders, as this might make it more easily viewable which view I'm in, and therefore what's going to happen to the files/folders I'm about to put in there.
Also, I'm positive that the warning message when deleting a Cloud provider in Boxcryptor could be improved – «all your files in iCloud Drive will be removed» is definitely not something I, and I guess most Mac users, would like to happen.
I figured out the "stuck" error messages.
- Have a folder with unencrypted files
- Use Finder to select files and use New Folder with Selection
- Error appears because the new folder is automatically encrypted by Boxcryptor, but the files inside are decrypted.
- Make a decrypted copy of that newly created encrypted folder with the unencrypted files. Result is two folders, one encrypted, one decrypted, both with the same decrypted files inside.
- Delete the encrypted folder (which cannot be undone)
Now, since I didn't actually move those error files back to a decrypted folder, and the their containing encrypted folder was permanently deleted, I cannot remove the error message from the list. Even re-creating the same folder/files and doing it "correctly" doesn't appear to work.
I think the error list should be refreshed that if the offending file no longer exists, it should be removed from the error list.
The correct workflow appears to be making a new encrypted folder. Then decrypting that folder. Then moving the offending files to the decrypted folder. Then delete the encrypted folder.
I also think that Boxcryptor shouldn't assume you always want new folders to be encrypted. It should inherit the settings of its containing folder. My workflow includes some cloud folders shared from/with users that don't have Boxcryptor, so I need those folders to remain always decrypted. Thanks.
mlaferle Thanks for the information about the stuck error messages. I can confirm and reproduce that errors are not properly removed if the parent folder has been deleted. We'll resolve this as soon as possible.
Thank you also for the feedback regarding always encrypting new items which has been noted.
[deleted]
Hi,
since the release of the all new BC I can not use the "create encrypted copy" feature.
The process always ends in an error message.
Message:
[20220221_112153000_iOS.jpg] Unbekannter Fehler: Oh nein, etwas ist schiefgegangen. Es scheint, als hätten Sie einen Fehler entdeckt. Möchten Sie ihn
unseren Entwicklern melden, damit diese ihn beheben können?
My system:
macOS: 12.6
device: MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
BC Version: 3.10 (281)
Cloudprovider: OneDrive (personal), Sync only via BC - OneDrive App is not on my macBook anymore
I created a support ticket on this issue.
[deleted]
- Edited
Hi,
ticket ID #166898
Where can I find the built-in "report" function? The UI, settings and error-message don't show me this feature.
If I use the "contact support" link via BC, only a new Mail will open with BC Support as receiver but without other details or attachments.
Polaross Thanks, also for the additional information in the support ticket! We've been able to locate your ticket and have also replied there. We can reproduce the issues and we'll fix them ASAP.
Until then, you can create a new encrypted folder and copy the files via Finder to the new encrypted folder instead of using "Create Encrypted Copy".
I am using Dropbox App extensively in Mac and I found the latest Boxcryptor lose the option to "show the file/folder in the original Dropbox", normally I used this option in the previous App to get the link of file-name encrypted Dropbox link. Also, the latest Boxcryptor app's file local storage indicator is not in sync with the Dropbox App, while in previous app those two are in sync. These will cause me to revert me back to the older version. I am having a business subscription and this experience is very unpleasant.
Besides, the document said in the local it is FileVault in charge of encryption, rather than Boxcryptor. My question is that, if the filename encryption is enabled, technically how Boxcryptor can show the unencrypted filename but in the Mac Finder the file name is encrypted?
Is there a way to enable some kind of "always download this complete directory" for a specific folder? My usecase: my paperless workspace setup is configured in a way where I scan documents with my iPhone, they get automatically uploaded to my OneDrive (encrypted via Boxcryptor on iOS) and then my Mac periodically scans the "Inbox" folder and continues with sorting the PDFs further. However this process does not work atm because even though I initially visited and downloaded all folders needed for this process, new files being added on another device are treated as "cloud only" until accessed manually.
I am fairly new to how the new File Provider integration in macOS works and hoped to have this questions already being answered in the support documents or this thread which is not the case or I was not able to find it. So please excuse if I missed something and I really appreciate your help.
Florian As of today the client is not usable for me. One of my use case is that I sync certain data files between my Mac book and my Mac Studio via one drive. With the new Boxcryptor client there is no determisitic when the files are synced. With the old client (sync by One-drive) the files were synced within seconds. My One-drive client is still active - to sync files that are not encrypted and even there I can see that the files are still synced but not reachable by the Boxcryptor client. For me the new client is not working at all for my use cases. Normally I would go back to the old client - as this would only help until Ventura is coming up this is also not a real alternative. I'm using Boxcryptor already from the beginning and I was always very happy - to be honest now I am really looking for alternatives as the software as of today is not working for me. What ca I expect for your side in short term to solve these general problems?
Best regards
noid42
Back again with a new issue. I use an app called Hazel from Noodlesoft to do some file processing. It watches directories, and takes actions when new files arrive. For example, my ScanSnap high speed scanner drops files into a directory of paper that I scan. Hazel watches that directory and renames files when they arrive. This currently does not work for encrypted files in new Boxcryptor. If I decrypt the files, Hazel processes them normally. If they are encrypted, they are not processed. This goes back to my prior reported issue of auto-encrypting everything. If it didn't auto-encrypt, it would still work. So I'm not sure if there is some timing issue where the file appears in the folder, Hazel tries to process it, but maybe it is still "cloud" based on the file itself isn't provided to Hazel?
Sorry to say this, but at the present state of affairs the new boxcryptor app is a complete piece of trash. I have no idea how anyone could get the idea to release something like this even as a beta software. It does not work anymore like it did, not even remotely. I was able to sync all my files using boxcryptor. fast. now most of the time it does not sync at all. worse, i am afraid to lose data, since the sync does not work. and it is completely unclear where the data is actually stored. there are so many questions and problems that I won't throw all of them in here, but one important question to the obviously talented folks at boxcryptor: do you have any plans to fix any of these problems like, really soon? or not? because otherwise I might be tempted to move to a competing service, cryptomator was already mentioned and I am sure there are others as well. you could, however, keep me from doing so, by issuing a statement like: we know of the problems and boxcryptor will be fixed asap in a way that full functionality is restored. otherwise I'll have to move on, which I hate, because boxcryptor is a german product, which I liked very much since it gave some independence from the us companies. so what's the current status, boxcryptor folks?
Florian FLorian, you can improve everything. but do this fast. thank you.
6 days later
- Edited
Hi all. A user of BoxCryptor since 2012 here. Have multiple classic and family licences as well as a company license for many years.
I recall v1 to v2 transition was a pretty rough one. Switched fully to v2 in around 6 months after release or so. Eventually all the major issues were fixed, thanks to the support team and engineers who took the critical feedback seriously.
At the moment v3.9.264 feels like a major step back, compared to v2.
System specs:
MacBook Pro 14
macOS Monterey v12.6
Short description on how I use BoxCryptor on my Mac:
- Have one local folder in “Documents” called BC, where I store all work and personal sensitive data. *This folder is regularly being backed up on an external SSD and NAS, from where files can be decrypted directly as well if needed.
- Have one personal folder on Nextcloud.
- Have one personal folder on Google Drive and iCloud.
- Have multiple shared folders on Nextcloud.
- In all instances file name encryption is turned on.
- I turn on BoxCryptor only when I work or need access to encrypted files. Password is entered manually from password manager each time the app is launched and I get access to files.
I am fully satisfied with v2 at the moment, since it does cover all the things I want in an encryption software:
1) Ability to have a separate layer of security, other than full disk encryption, provided by OS.
2) Ability to quickly make a secure copy of my encrypted files without having a second thought about it.
3) Ability to work securely together with collegues on certain shared files in the cloud.
Issues with v3 at the moment:
1) Encryption of local files.
This is by far the biggest issues with BoxCryptor v3 in my book. Encryption of files got much slower and there is a lot of confusion about working with local files in general.
- On the blog post about release of v3 you guys write that Boxrcyptor “still offers local storage support” but later state that “The File Provider API provides no option for local encryption through third-party apps like Boxcryptor”.
- In real life, after installing v3, when I open “BC” folder via Finder/Documents -> all nested folders are encrypted (as before with v2). Just as before, if I open “BC” folder via BoxCryptor alias in Finder -> I see all the content as unencrypted.
- At the same time, all locally stored files/folders in BoxCryptor v3 have a cloud icon next to them (which is very confusing and for sure massively confusing for new users). Preview of the files does not work, unless a file/folder is “downloaded” (preview of files in v2 work just fine). It is unclear why there is a cloud icon next to locally stored files and what is being “downloaded”.
- “Downloading” of local files changes nothing in regards to opening encrypted “BC” folder via Finder/Documents. All folders and files are showed as encrypted (with their names encrypted too). This just makes the whole description of v3 release massively confusing. From the blog post “The New Boxcryptor App for macOS is Here” from 08.09.2022 it really seems like the only encryption that Boxcryptor v3 does now is of files on cloud storage, however – this behavior shows that local files are in fact still encrypted despite the description of the v3 in the blog post.
- Question: What exactly is the deal with the cloud icon and the new version of Boxcryptor?
- Locking and unlocking Boxcryptor results in all the locally stored folders shown as “in the cloud” again, despite being “downloaded recently”. The expected behavior is: have all the files automatically being “downloaded” on the background as soon as Boxcryptor is unlocked, so as all the file previews are working as expected (and so that the confusing cloud icon is not visible in the first place).
2) Separate alias in Finder for each added Boxcryptor location.
- Opening v2 resulted in only on Boxcryptor location visible in Finder and all the encrypted locations were visible in it.
- Current implementation makes Finder look messy even if you have 3 different locations used in Boxcryptor. If it is 5+ -> it looks terrible.
3) Quitting Boxcryptor app does not lock Boxcryptor automatically.
- It is only expected to authorize when Boxcryptor is opened. At the moment, it is required not to forget to “Lock” Boxcryptor before quitting it for full protection.
- Again, “locking” does not seem to provide “encryption” according to the blog post from 08.09.2022… so – it is really confusing that on one side when Boxcryptor v3 is locked and switched off – all files and folders in “BC” folder are encrypted, but… in fact there are not?
4) Hard to distinguish which location you are working with in Boxcryptor v3 compared to v2.
- After adding multiple locations only names of Encrypted folders are visible. I keep names of encrypted folder short and usually it is “BC” or “BC” etc. In v2, when I open Boxcrypted folder in Finder I conveniently see locations: “BC” (local folder), iCloud, Nextcloud – company 1, Nextcloud – company 2, Nextcloud – personal etc. All this level of visibility is gone and all I see in Finder is “_BC”, “BC” and another “BC” without being able to quickly say which exactly folder do I need to go to.
My wishes in regards to upcoming Boxcryptor updates and general support:
- Please bring on full support of v2 on macOS Ventura. Fix and polish v3 until whatever OS Apple releases in October 2023 so that transition is smooth without any issues for all users. If somehow it is technically not possible at all to run Boxcryptor v2 using the “workaround” of allowing “user management of kernel extensions from identified developers” at all… well – that is sad news for sure.
- Please bring clarity of what exactly is being encrypted / decrypted in regards of locally stored files and how. An additional blogpost would be great to have.
In general, v3 feels like a rough product. It is not as terrible like 1Password v8 for sure though (still cannot move to it from v7 almost after 1 year from release since it lacks a lot of fundamental features that were removed).
I would like to end my feedback by saying that I fully support Boxcryptor team. You guys are doing a great job. The motives for brining v3 are clear of sure and make sense. I believe you will be able to bring v3 to the high standard of current v2 release while at the same time providing support of new APIs, macOS releases and even better functionality, ease of use and polish on top of that.
To all the users – keep tight guys and please provide all the feedback so that the team knows the issues you are facing and thus can find solutions for them to make the best Boxcryptor for all of us.
Have a nice day everyone!
- Edited
I don't want to be the doombringer just being pessimistic but I have to say the new version of boxcryptor is a huge fail in terms of functionality.
- The app is not polished at all, seems really rushed with low feature availability
- I know you are working with what new mac rules are but the new way of implementing it is not the way to go. The fact that it is now a native cloud provider means you are effectively duplicating all files across the original cloud provider and boxcryptor. I suspect most people using BC use it as a local encryption layer rather than just a secure gateway to the cloud
- You can't download (or I can't download) files locally. It feels like boxcryptor keeps everything on the cloud
I saw some people saying this here, but I fear if the legacy 2.x version of BC will no longer be supported, you will end up losing a lot of customers to other services like cryptomator. The post above mine explains it very well
I know it's not what the team wants to hear but my suggestion is to completely halt v3 and go back to the drawing board. If anything just keep supporting v2 and stop development of v3. The v3 is conceptually wrong and can't be fixed really
- Edited
Why doesn't it work offline without internet access like it used to?
Using app version 3.9 on Mac OS Monterey with OneDrive.
The Boxcryptor folder is set to 'always keep on this device' on the OneDrive app. (I can access all other files not in the Boxcryptor folder offline without issues.)
I've tried using the 'download' option for the folder through BC, but this doesn't seem to be permanent, as an internet connection is needed again if the app is quitted or locked.
I have also tried adding the folder in BC as a local provider but this doesn't resolve the issue.
Am I doing something wrong or this expected behaviour?
I'm hoping there's a solution here. Thanks in advance for any replies.
As a long time paying customer I'm am very disappointed in the new file provider version 3. I've been using V3 since late March 2022 on both Intel and M1 Macs. Version 3 has made steady progress but at the moment with macOS Venture right around the corner in the next week or so version 3 is no where ready for prime time to take over for V2 in my opinion (IMO).
Compared to version 2 this software rewrite is simply a joke. I'm seeing inconsistencies with file syncing between different machines running the same version. I have no explanation as to why the same file(s) sync on one machine but fail to on another. I've never been able to reliably have the OneDrive file provider work. File syncing is terribly slow compared to V2. There is no easy way to lock all cloud base files to the local machine, e.g., downloaded. Yes, you can right click on the top level folder and select the "Download Now" option but that doesn't seem to work 100% of the time. I'm a user that wants the files downloaded to my local machines always and would prefer an option to select that on a file provider bases when adding them and have all files on a particular cloud provider downloaded in the background when adding file providers and keep old and new files downloaded the the local machine.
The kernel extension version experienced some rough edges too but has developed into a solid performing piece of software IMO. However, sadly I can't say the same for the new file provider version. Until Apple totally deprecates macOS kernel extensions, I will continue to use version 2 even if that means lowering my macOS security by allowing kernel extensions. For the moment, kernel extensions are surviving another year in macOS Venture so I hope the same will be true for Boxcryptor version 2. I will keep looking at competing products and reevaluate my options at subscription renewal time in 2023!
I just downloaded it today (v3.10.314), and was immediately met with a "Sign In" popup when I run it. However, that button is not clickable by any means I've tried, nor any keyboard shortcut, and so I can't sign in. There doesn't appear to be any commandline options to do this either, so I'm stuck, unable to log in.
Does anyone know a way around this? I'm on macOS Ventura 13 Beta 11 as I type this.