Teaching and Learning Resource Center

Carmen Files

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Account then Files

The Files area in Canvas lets users view and manage individual, course, and group files.  

Canvas users can access three kinds of files (documents, images, media, and so on):

  • User files, which are located in each user's profile. This area includes profile pictures, files uploaded to discussions, and similar user-specific files. Files submitted to graded assignments will also be available here, in class-specific read-only folders. 
  • Course files, which are located in each course and in the general Files area. Instructors can upload course files, syllabi, readings, or other documents. Items uploaded to the Files area can then be linked in Modules, Assignments, or Pages. Students can only see course folders if the instructor has made the Files area available in the course. 
  • Group files, which are located in each group and in the general Files area. Individuals enrolled in the group are the only people who can see these files. 

 

Files Quotas 

Quotas dictate available storage space for a Canvas user, course, or group. Default quotas are: 

  • User files – 100 megabytes 
  • Course files – 750 megabytes 
  • Group files – 500 megabytes 

Instructors should review additional information about course file quotas and storage best practices.

User Files 

User files are in your user account and include profile pictures, uploaded assignment submissions, and other files uploaded to your personal Canvas file storage area. 

User files cannot be used as course or group content. If you have uploaded shared material to your user files area, you can move them to your course or group files. 

To locate your user files: 

  1. Select Account from the global navigation. 
  2. Select Files. 
  3. You will see all files associated with your user account.  

User Files 

Open the My Files folder to see folders for attachments, your profile picture, and other uploads.   

The Submissions folder will open to show a folder for each course in which you have submitted files to assignments.  These files are read-only but can be downloaded. The list of files also provides date-stamp evidence of when you submitted a file-upload assignment.  

Course and Group Files 

If you have an instructional role in a course, or if your instructor has left the Files area open, you will see your course folders displayed below your user files. Group folders display below the course folders if you've been added to a group. 

You can also view course files and group files directly from the course or group. You can drag and drop files from your user files into a course or group folder. 

Items uploaded to the course files area can be linked within Modules, Assignments, or Pages. 

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My Files

Managing Files 

Files and folders display in alphabetical order and cannot be reordered, but you can move files easily between folders. 

By default, the Files area in courses is visible to students. Instructors can easily remove Files from the student view of the course menu, if desired.  

To view options to manage Files, you can do one of the following: 

  • Click the three dot menu for options to download, rename, move, or delete the file. 
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Select Download
  • Click the area of the file (not the file name) to select it. Additional options will appear above.  
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More Options
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More Options Close Up
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Manage File Access
UX Tip

Choosing to restrict students' access to folders or files only if they have the appropriate links means that the folders or files will not display within the Files section of Canvas. However, students will be able to see a file or folder if the link to it is added to a Module, Page, or elsewhere.   
 
Rather than restricting student access to files by editing these permissions, we recommend disabling student access to the Files area  altogether, and instead using Modules to provide links. 

See the Canvas Instructor Guide more information on Files or view the OTDI workshop on Managing Course Files: Maximizing Instructor Workflow.

View this brief tutorial for an overview of how to manage your Files in CarmenCanvas.