The Files feature in Canvas allows you to store files and assignments within Canvas. You can upload one or multiple files, view all details about your files, preview files, publish and unpublish files, set usage rights, and restrict access to files.
You can view videos about using files as a student or using files as an instructor.
Depending on your role, you have access to files (documents, images, media, etc.) in three different feature areas:
- User files, located in your user profile
- Course files, located in each course where you are enrolled
- Group files, located in each group where you are a member
Note: Some files count against file quotas and affect the amount of available storage used by files.
View Files
The basic functionality within Files is the same within each files location, but some features may differ according to feature area.
The left panel shows all folders for quick navigation [1]. Some folders may be housed within other folders. Click the arrows next to the folder name to expand all folders.
Click the name of a folder. All contents within the folder you are viewing display in the right panel [2]. You can also click folder names in the right panel to view folder content.
If you are viewing course or group files, click the All My Files link to view all files you have access to [3].
Navigate File Headings
For each file, you can view the name of the file [1], the date the file was created [2], the date the file was modified [3], the name of the person who modified the file (if modified by another user) [4], and the size of the file [5].
Courses and groups may display a column for usage rights. If enabled, the column displays the user right (copyright) for the file [6].
You can also view or change the published status for all files [7].
Files are sorted alphabetically. To sort files, click the name of any column heading.
Manage Files
Depending on the file area, there may be several options to manage files:
- Search for files [1]: Files are fully searchable by file name.
- Add a folder [2]: Add a new folder to Files to store files. Folders can also house other folders.
- Upload a file [3]: Upload a file to Files.
- Set usage rights (copyright) for a file [4]: For courses and groups using usage rights, you must set usage rights for a file before it can be published. Files that do not contain a usage right display as a warning icon.
- Change the state of the file [5]: Files can be published, unpublished, or include a restricted status.
Manage Selected Files
To select a file, click the name of the file. You can also select multiple files at the same time by pressing the Command (MAC) or Control (PC) key.
When a file is selected, Files displays the file toolbar at the top of the window. Depending on the files area, the toolbar may contain several options to manage the selected file(s):
- Preview the file [1]
- Manage file to restrict access [2]
- Download the file [3] (when selecting more than one file, option appears to download as a zip file)
- Move the file [4]
- Manage usage rights for the file [5]
- Delete the file [6]
You can also manage some or all options for a selected file within the file's Options menu [7].
View Blueprint Course
If you are an instructor and your course includes Blueprint icons, your course is associated with a blueprint course. Blueprint Courses are courses managed as a template and may contain locked objects managed by a Canvas admin, course designer, or other instructor.
The Course Details tab in Course Settings will tell you if your course is a blueprint course. Most commonly, your course will not be a blueprint course and you can only manage unlocked content in your course. If your course is a blueprint course, you can lock and sync course content to associated courses.
