Boxes uses the QEMU, KVM, and libvirt virtualization technologies.

[6] Its primary functions were as a virtual machine manager, remote desktop client (over VNC), and remote filesystem browser, utilizing the libvirt, libvirt-glib, and libosinfo technologies.

Boxes possesses the ability to easily create local virtual machines from a standard disk image file, such as an ISO image while requiring minimum user input.

GNOME Boxes requires the CPU to support some form of hardware-assisted virtualization (AMD-V or Intel VT-x, for example).

[8] Boxes was originally developed by Marc-André Lureau, Zeeshan Ali, Alexander Larsson and Christophe Fergeau[9] and is currently being maintained and developed by Felipe Borges.