The Files area stores course files. Instructors can lock folders and files so they can only be viewed by direct links or only unlock on a specific date. Files can be placed in Modules, Assignments, or Pages. Files and folders are put in alphabetical order and cannot be rearranged.

Canvas users will find access to files (documents, images, media, etc.) in three different places:

Personal files, located in each user's profile (students, teachers, and TAs)—View a video about personal files
Course files, located in each course (students, teachers, and TAs unless files are locked by the teacher)—View a video about Course Files
Group files, located in each group (students and teachers who are enrolled in groups)

Use Files to:

Share course documents and syllabi with your students
Copy documents from one Canvas course to another
Organize course documents by day, week, or unit

To learn about specific file quota details for each user role, view the Course Files Quota PDF.

Upload a File

You can add a file to your course by uploading a file. You can also import files using the course import tool in Course Settings.

As an instructor, you can drag and drop files from your personal files into course files.

Canvas does not support file uploads larger than 5 GB.
Video and audio uploads to Canvas through the media tool can be up to 500 MB in size.
Important Note: the Canvas support team recommends using the My Media tool to upload videos to your Canvas courses.

Open Files

Course Navigation menu with Files link selected.

In Course Navigation, click the Files link.

Files area with Upload button highlighted.

Click the Upload button.

Click the title of the file you want to upload [1] and click the Open button [2].

Upload Files via Drag and Drop

Some web browsers allow the user to add to files by dragging and dropping the files from a file window directly into the Canvas file repository. Click the title of the file you wish to add [1] and drag the file to your open browser [2]. Your file will automatically upload.

View Upload Progress

A progress bar will appear at the top of screen tracking the progress of your file upload.

View File

Recently uploaded files in the course Files area.

View your new file in the course.

If you have a lot of files to add to your course, you can bulk upload them.

You can also bulk upload files by dragging and dropping the files into Canvas from your computer. However, sometimes too many files can cause problems. If you have more than 50 files, try zipping the files and uploading the ZIP file into your course.
Canvas does not support file uploads larger than 5 GB.

Open Files

Select the files you want to upload to your course [1]. Click the Open button [2].