Observer status restrictions

[peter_topping]

Can someone with "Observer" status download materials from a course site?

[kblack · Accepted solution]

Hi  @peter_topping  Welcome to the Canvas Community. Interesting question...and one I had to check myself on a test class.  The answer is yes; if students can download a file (and they always can, there is currently no way to disable this, though there is Feature Idea out there covering this: https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/1732-make-a-file-read-only-but-not-downloadable-in-canvas ) so can an Observer.  For the record, you may want to read over What is the Observer role? though indeed downloading something (or not) is not really specifically covered, which is why I wanted to test this out with a sample Observer to be sure.

Frankly, there is not a way to change this, from what I can tell, even for a Canvas administrator. If you have an hour or two to kill, you can read all about the various permissions in the course permissions document that is linked in the administrator's lesson on the same here: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-12636-421473660 

Hope this helps a bit, Peter.