FAQs

Find quick answers to common questions about Refbox. For detailed troubleshooting, see the Troubleshooting section.

General Questions

What is Refbox?

Refbox is a visual reference manager for creatives. It helps you organize images, videos, 3D models, and other Assets into Boxes, then view them in floating Frames on your workspace for easy reference while you work.

What file types does Refbox support?

Refbox supports images (including RAW formats), animated GIFs, videos, audio, 3D models, PDFs, text notes, and web URLs. See the complete list on the Assets page.

Where are my files stored?

Refbox stores all imported Assets in its own data directory. When you import a file, Refbox creates a copy in its internal storage. This means:

• Your original files remain untouched
• You can delete original files without affecting Refbox
• Exported Boxes (.refbox files) contain copies of all Assets for easy backup and sharing

How do I back up my Boxes?

Export your Boxes to create .refbox backup files. See Exporting Boxes for detailed instructions.

Can I sync Refbox across multiple devices?

Refbox doesn't have built-in cloud sync, but you can manually sync by:

• Exporting Boxes to .refbox files
• Storing these files in cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.)
• Importing the .refbox files on your other devices

Does Refbox require an internet connection?

No. Refbox works completely offline. The only internet-dependent features are:

• Importing URLs as screenshots (requires web access)
• Checking for updates
• License management

Boxes & Assets

How many Boxes can I create?

There's no limit to the number of Boxes you can create. Create as many as you need to organize different projects or categories.

How many Assets can I put in a Box?

There's no hard limit, but performance may vary with very large collections (100s of Assets). For best performance, consider splitting large collections into multiple Boxes.

Can I move Assets between Boxes?

Yes. Right-click any Asset and select Move to Box from the context menu.

Can I organize Assets within a Box?

Yes. You can manually reorder Assets by dragging them, or create Groups to collect related Assets together.

Do I lose my Assets if I delete a Frame?

No. Deleting a Frame only closes that view of the Asset. The Asset remains safely in your Box. Only deleting the Asset from the Box removes it permanently.

Frames & Display

Can I have multiple Frames of the same Asset?

Yes! You can create as many Frames as you want from a single Asset. This is useful for viewing an Asset at different zoom levels or transformations at the same time.

Why can't I see my 3D models?

3D Frames require GPU acceleration. GPU availability is determined when Refbox launches. If you see an error:

• Ensure your graphics drivers are up to date
• Close programs consuming excess GPU memory and restart Refbox
• Some integrated GPUs may not support 3D rendering
• Check that your system's hardware acceleration is enabled

Can I use Refbox on multiple monitors?

You cannot use Refbox on more than one monitor at a time. You can:

• Choose which monitor displays Refbox in Settings > Style > App
• Enable "Show on All Desktops" to show Refbox on every virtual desktop or full screen app

Can I make Refbox always stay on top?

Refbox is designed to float above other applications by default. You can show/hide it with ⌃ +⌥ +R .

Performance & Hardware

Refbox feels slow with large images. What can I do?

Try these solutions:

1. Lower import quality: Settings > Behavior > Media > Import Quality > Low or Medium
2. Close unused Frames: Use the "Close Frames" button in the Toolbar
3. Split up large Boxes: Break collections into smaller, focused Boxes
4. Update graphics drivers: Ensure your graphics drivers are up to date for better GPU performance (required for 3D, helpful for large images)

How much storage does Refbox use?

Storage depends on how many Assets you import and their file sizes. Refbox stores full copies of all imported files. Check your data folder size to see current usage.

What are the system requirements?

Minimum:

• macOS 10.15+ or Windows 10+
• 4GB RAM
• 500MB free disk space (plus space for your Assets)

Recommended:

• 8GB+ RAM
• Dedicated GPU (for 3D models and large image collections)
• SSD for faster loading

Licensing & Account

Is there a free trial?

Yes. Refbox offers a free trial period. Check Settings > Account to see your trial status and days remaining.

What happens when my trial ends?

Once your trial ends, you won't be able to access any Refbox content or features. All of your Boxes (and their content) will remain intact and ready for you once you enter your paid license key. Check your trial status in Settings > Account for details.

How do I purchase a license?

Visit the Refbox website or click the purchase link in Settings > Account.

Can I use my license on multiple computers?

Yes! You can use a single license key on 3 devices at a time. You can deactivate any device to free up an additional usage slot. Deactivating a device does NOT delete any of your Boxes (or their content).

How do I deactivate my license on one computer to use it on another?

Go to Settings > Account > Deactivate. This frees up the license slot for use on another device. Deactivating a device does NOT delete any of your Boxes (or their content).

Getting Help

Where can I find more help?

• Documentation: Browse the full docs at docs.refbox.app
• Discord: Join our Discord community to ask questions, request features, and chat about Refbox in real-time
• Email Support: Contact hello@ref.box for direct support
• Tutorial Box: Recreate the Tutorial Box from Settings > Info > Create Tutorial Box

How do I report a bug?

Email hello@ref.box with details about the bug. Include:

• What you were doing when the bug occurred
• Steps to reproduce the issue
• Your Refbox version (Settings > Info)
• Your operating system

Can I request a feature?

Yes! Join the Discord community or email support with your feature ideas.