box-mcp-server

What is box-mcp-server?

box-mcp-server is a Model Context Protocol server that integrates with Box cloud storage, allowing AI assistants to search and read files stored in Box. It is built for developers who need to connect Claude or other MCP clients to their Box accounts.

How to use box-mcp-server?

Configure box-mcp-server using environment variables: set BOX_USER_ID and one of BOX_JWT_BASE64 (recommended), BOX_JWT_CONFIG_PATH, BOX_JWT, or BOX_DEV_TOKEN. For Claude Desktop, add a box entry to mcpServers with a npx box-mcp-server command and the required environment variables. Run npm install then npm run watch for development, or use the inspector with dotenv npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector node dist/index.js.

Key features of box-mcp-server

• Search files in Box
• Read files (PDF and Word supported)
• JWT authentication for persistent access
• Developer token option for quick testing
• Simple environment variable configuration
• Works with Claude Desktop and MCP Inspector

Use cases of box-mcp-server

• Ask an AI assistant to find a file by name or keywords in Box
• Have the assistant read and summarize the contents of a Box document
• Automate document review workflows by connecting Box with MCP clients
• Prototype Box integrations quickly using a developer token

FAQ from box-mcp-server

What are the authentication methods for box-mcp-server?

box-mcp-server supports two authentication methods: JSON Web Token (JWT) for persistent connections, and Developer Token for testing (tokens last 60 minutes). JWT is recommended for production use.

What file types can box-mcp-server read?

box-mcp-server can read PDF and Word files. Support for other file types is not yet implemented.

What are the prerequisites for running box-mcp-server?

You need Node.js (v22 or higher), npm, git, and dotenv installed. You also need a paid Box enterprise account or a free Box developer account with an application configured for JWT or developer token access.

How do I base64 encode my JWT config for box-mcp-server?

Run cat /path/to/your/box-jwt-config.json | base64 in your terminal to encode the JWT configuration file, then set the output as the BOX_JWT_BASE64 environment variable.

Where does my Box data reside when using box-mcp-server?

All data stays in your Box account; box-mcp-server only accesses it via the Box API. No data is stored locally by the server beyond temporary file reading.