UW-Madison Box - Folder Insights

Folder Insights gives folder owners and co-owners details on folder activity, collaborators, and any shared links. You can also use it to create reports.

How do you access Folder Insights?

To access Folder Insights you will need to be the owner or co-owner of a folder.

  1. Log in to Box.
  2. Click on the More Options menu icon (represented by three dots) to the right of the folder you are working with.
    Box More Option Elipses
  3. Then select Folder Insights
    Folder Insight is the third option after clicking more option.
  4. The Folder Insight page will then display Folder Activity, Collaborators, and any Shared Link information. 

    Folder Inisight landing page showing statistics from the three sections.
  5. Each section has a Download Report option.

    Folder Activity for a range of days up to 90 days.

    Download Folder activty
    Collaborators Report will show you who the collaborators are on that Folder as of the day the report is run. 
    Collaborators download report.
    Shared links will show you how many shared links there are as of the day the report is run. 

    Shared Links Download Report.
  6. Once one of the download reports buttons is clicked it will ask where the report should be save. Select the folder then click save. Please note that you need to be the owner of the destination folder. 

    Download Report folder selection page.
  7. Once the folder has been selected and the report run a message will appear with the following; 
    Folder Desctiption > Status: running > Report Type: Folder activity
  8. When the report is ready it will appear in the folder. 
    Folder activity report folder.

What can I see with Folder Insights?

Folder Insights shows different details depending on the report you run and/or download: 

  • Folder activity:
    • Folder affected
    • Date of action
    • User that completed action
    • Action taken
  • Collaborators:
    • Name and type of the item 
    • Collaborator name and type 
    • Collaborator permissions
    • Who invited them and when
  • Shared links:
    • Name and type of the item
    • Shared link status
    • The URL (link)
    • Permissions set on the link

Limitations with Folder Insights

  • Only shows folder activity from the past 90 days. For information needed prior to 90 days, please request a user activity report.
  • Can only be run on folders where you’re an owner or co-owner.
  • Can only be run on folders that are shared or owned internally (within UW-Madison)
  • It won’t show activity if a file or folder has been deleted or moved.
  • Reports can only be downloaded to folders you own.

 



Keywords:
Reports box reporting download uploads previews shared links edits collaboration activity file folder shared links user activity 
Doc ID:
149774
Owned by:
Alexandra G. in Box
Created:
2025-04-09
Updated:
2025-05-01
Sites:
Box, DoIT Help Desk