Box MCP Connector for AI Agents

Paperclip’s Box connector gives your AI agents tools to search files, read file contents and details and comment on files through its MCP server. Each tool can be Allowed, Ask first or Off.

File and folder reach comes from the Box account you authorize. Enterprise content and app policies can further restrict access.

What agents can do with Box

Find files and inspect their detailssearch_files_keyword · get_file_details
Read a file with its metadataget_file_details · get_file_content
Comment on a file after checking its detailsget_file_details · create_file_comment

How to connect Box

In Paperclip, open Connectors and select Box.
On the Access step, choose the identity and which agents may use the connection.
Select Use your own OAuth app and copy Paperclip’s callback URI. Have a Box administrator enable AI access and create integration credentials with that URI, then enter the client ID and secret and authorize the account.

Setup guide

Box tools for agents54

Write 54

add_file_shared_link
Creates or updates a shared link for a Box file.
Full description
Creates or updates a shared link for a Box file. Can create open shared links or add collaborators from outside your organization.
add_folder_shared_link
Creates or updates a shared link for a Box folder.
Full description
Creates or updates a shared link for a Box folder. Can create open shared links or add collaborators from outside your organization.
add_items_to_hub
Adds files, folders, or web links to a hub.
ai_extract_freeform
Extracts metadata from files using Box AI with natural-language prompts (no fixed template).
Full description
Extracts metadata from files using Box AI with natural-language prompts (no fixed template). Text representation up to 1 MB. Supports documents, PDFs, presentations, and text. Works with one or more file_ids.
ai_extract_structured
Extracts structured key-value metadata from files using the Box AI Enhanced Extract Agent and custom field definitions.
ai_extract_structured_from_fields
Extracts structured metadata from files using Box AI and custom field definitions.
Full description
Extracts structured metadata from files using Box AI and custom field definitions. Works with one or more files. Field types include string, date, float, enum, and multiSelect.

Show all 54 Write tools

ai_extract_structured_from_fields_enhanced
Extracts structured metadata from files using the Box AI Enhanced Extract Agent and custom field definitions.
Full description
Extracts structured metadata from files using the Box AI Enhanced Extract Agent and custom field definitions. Use only when the user asks for the Enhanced Extract Agent. This tool costs more than the standard Box AI Extract tools. Field types include string, date, float, enum, and multiSelect.
ai_extract_structured_from_metadata_template
Extracts structured metadata from files using an existing Box metadata template.
Full description
Extracts structured metadata from files using an existing Box metadata template. Requires template_key and scope (for example, enterprise or global). Processes the text representation of file content.
ai_extract_structured_from_metadata_template_enhanced
Extracts structured metadata from files using an existing Box metadata template and the Enhanced Extract Agent.
Full description
Extracts structured metadata from files using an existing Box metadata template and the Enhanced Extract Agent. Use only when the user asks for the Enhanced Extract Agent. This tool costs more than the standard Box AI Extract tools.
ai_qa_hub
Asks a question about a Box hub and returns an answer based on the hub’s content, with citations when available.
ai_qa_multi_file
Asks a question about multiple files using Box AI, with citations when available.
ai_qa_single_file
Asks a question about a single file using Box AI, with citations when available.
Full description
Asks a question about a single file using Box AI, with citations when available. Text representation up to 1 MB. If the file is larger, only the first 1 MB is processed.
copy_file
Copies an existing file to a destination folder in Box.
copy_folder
Copies an existing folder to a destination parent folder in Box.
copy_hub
Creates a copy of an existing hub, including its structure and settings.
Full description
Creates a copy of an existing hub, including its structure and settings. The original hub is not modified. The new title can have up to 50 characters; if you do not provide one, a default title is used.
create_collaboration
Invites a user or group to a file, folder, or hub.
Full description
Invites a user or group to a file, folder, or hub. Can create open shared links or add collaborators from outside your organization.
create_docgen_batch
Generates documents from a Doc Gen template by filling placeholder tags with provided data.
create_docgen_template
Marks a Box file (.docx or .pptx) as a Doc Gen template for automated document generation.
create_file_comment
Creates a comment on a file.
create_folder
Creates a folder in Box.
create_hub
Creates a hub.
create_metadata_template
Creates an enterprise metadata template.
Full description
Creates an enterprise metadata template. Requires the enterprise scope, display_name, and an optional fields array.
get_docgen_template_by_id
Retrieves details about a Doc Gen template.
get_download_url
Issues a temporary, single-use URL for downloading binary files from Box.
Full description
Issues a temporary, single-use URL for downloading binary files from Box. See Upload and download URL tools for additional configuration details.
get_file_content
Returns the content of a file stored in Box.
get_file_details
Returns detailed file information from Box, including metadata, permissions, and version details.
get_file_preview
Returns the preview widget for a file stored in Box.
get_folder_details
Retrieves detailed folder information, including metadata, permissions, and collaboration settings.
get_hub_details
Retrieves detailed information about a specific hub.
get_hub_items
Gets items (files and folders) associated with a specific hub.
get_metadata_template_schema
Returns the schema and field keys for a metadata template.
get_upload_url
Issues a temporary, single-use URL for uploading binary files to Box.
Full description
Issues a temporary, single-use URL for uploading binary files to Box. See Upload and download URL tools for additional configuration details.
list_docgen_templates
Lists all Box Doc Gen templates that the authenticated user can access.
list_file_comments
Lists all comments on a file.
list_folder_content_by_folder_id
Lists files, folders, and web links in a folder (paginated).
Full description
Lists files, folders, and web links in a folder (paginated). Use folder_id “0” for the root folder. id, type, name, and etag are always returned. Optional field: limit.
list_hubs
Lists all hubs that the authenticated user can access.
list_item_collaborations
Lists all existing collaborations on an item.
list_metadata_templates
Lists available Box metadata templates (enterprise or global).
list_tasks
Lists all tasks for a file, including status, message, and due dates.
move_file
Moves an existing file to a destination folder in Box.
Full description
Moves an existing file to a destination folder in Box. The file ID stays the same and parent_folder_id is required.
move_folder
Moves a folder to a new parent in Box.
Full description
Moves a folder to a new parent in Box. The folder ID stays the same and parent_folder_id is required.
search_files_keyword
Searches for files using keywords.
Full description
Searches for files using keywords. Supports metadata filters, file-extension filtering, and field selection.
search_files_metadata
Searches for files using SQL-like metadata queries.
Full description
Searches for files using SQL-like metadata queries. Supports complex filtering with parameters, field selection, and folder scoping.
search_folders_by_name
Searches for folders in Box by name using keyword matching.
set_file_metadata
Creates or updates (upserts) custom metadata on a file for a template.
Full description
Creates or updates (upserts) custom metadata on a file for a template. Use list_metadata_templates and get_metadata_template_schema to find the scope, template_key, and fields.
set_folder_metadata
Creates or updates (upserts) custom metadata on a folder for a template.
Full description
Creates or updates (upserts) custom metadata on a folder for a template. Use list_metadata_templates and get_metadata_template_schema to find the scope, template_key, and fields.
update_collaboration
Updates a file, folder, or hub collaboration.
Full description
Updates a file, folder, or hub collaboration. Can create open shared links or add collaborators from outside your organization.
update_file_properties
Updates file properties, including name, description, tags, and collections.
Full description
Updates file properties, including name, description, tags, and collections. The name can have up to 255 characters, and the file extension is preserved unless you specify otherwise. The description can have up to 256 characters. You can add or update up to 100 tags.
update_folder_properties
Updates folder properties, including name, description, tags, and collections.
Full description
Updates folder properties, including name, description, tags, and collections. The name can have up to 255 characters and must not include /, \, ., .., or leading or trailing spaces. The description can have up to 256 characters. You can update up to 100 tags.
update_hub
Updates the title and description of a hub.
update_metadata_template
Updates a metadata template by scope and template_key using atomic schema operations (for example, addField, editField, and removeField).
upload_file
Uploads a new file to Box.
upload_file_version
Uploads a new file version by providing the entire file contents to update an existing file in Box.
who_am_i
Returns detailed information about the currently authenticated Box user.

Tool availability and permissions

This provider-published list describes the server’s tools. Authorization and feature access can reduce the tools available on your connection.

These lists use a conservative permission policy. Read requires a provider read-only hint or a reviewed Paperclip read rule. Evidence that an action changes data or submits information elsewhere puts it in Write. Write also includes actions we cannot verify as read-only. Read describes the reviewed evidence; it does not guarantee that an action has no side effects. A connected account can group actions differently.

Some listed tools are Off by default and need an administrator to enable them. This list does not establish which tools your account can use.

Connection policies

Discovered actions become active under the connection’s existing policies. Review the list after each refresh. You can set any tool to Ask first or Off. File changes are not always recoverable from Paperclip; use Box’s trash and version history for recovery.

Box connector FAQ

Can I require approval for changes?

Set actions that change data to Ask first to require human approval of each call or Off to prevent calls. Allowed actions run without approval. Read and Write grouping is separate from these settings.

What can agents reach in Box?

Agents can reach files, folders and shared content the authorizing Box account can open, subject to enterprise policies. Paperclip has no folder picker.

What do I need before connecting?

A Box administrator must enable enterprise AI access and create the OAuth integration. Register Paperclip’s callback URI and select the Manage AI scope. Use an account with access to the intended content.