Reference

FAQs

Common questions and answers about using Refbox.

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

Refbox is a visual reference manager for creatives. It helps you organize images, videos, 3D models, sketches, 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 and animated GIF, WebP, and AVIF files), videos, audio, standard 3D and CAD models, PDFs, text notes, built-in Sketch assets, 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
Imported Assets can retain source details like the original file path, web URL, or clipboard origin, visible in Get Info

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

Are there special controls for drawing tablet users?

Yes! We've made sure every keyboard shortcut in Refbox is usable with a drawing tablet. Mouse-related shortcuts have alternative keyboard shortcuts that should work for tablet users.

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, organize them into Sections inside the Box, or create Groups to view related Assets together in a Frame.

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. Deleting the Asset from the Box moves it to the Trash, where you can restore it for up to 30 days.

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 control which apps Refbox stays visible over?

Refbox floats above your other apps by default. In Settings > Behavior > App, set Visibility to Only Selected Apps or All Apps Except Selected, add your apps, and choose whether the rule hides your Frames, the Box, or both. You can also show/hide Refbox entirely with ⌘ ⌥ S .

Performance & Hardware

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

Try these solutions:

Lower import quality: Settings > Behavior > Assets > Import Quality > Low or Medium
Close unused Frames: Use the "Close Frames" button in the Toolbar
Split up large Boxes: Break collections into smaller, focused Boxes
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. New users can start a free 7-day trial from the welcome screen. Check Settings > Account to see your trial status and days remaining.

Choose Continue with email on the welcome screen, then finish signing in in the browser tab that opens. Use the same email address you used to purchase Refbox. When you finish, Refbox will update automatically.

If no browser tab opens, choose Copy the sign-in link and paste the link into your browser. You can cancel the sign-in attempt and start again whenever you need to.

What happens when my trial ends?

Once your trial ends, you won't be able to access Refbox content or features. Your Boxes and their contents remain intact, ready for you when you purchase and sign in with your email. Check Settings > Account for your trial status.

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 Personal license on 3 devices at a time, or a Business license on 2 devices. Sign in with the same email on each device. You can sign out of a device to free up an additional slot; this does not delete any of your Boxes or their contents.

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.

Settings

Complete reference for all Refbox settings and customization options.

Troubleshooting

Solutions to common Refbox issues and problems.