Files can house course files, assignments, syllabi, readings, or other documents, as well as profile pictures and user-specific files. Instructors can lock folders and files so they can only be viewed by direct links or only unlock on a specific date.

Your Canvas course is a great place to include a PDF or other document that you do not anticipating changing throughout the duration of the course or from term to term.

For files that may change and/or that are large (video or audio file), we recommend storing those files in a cloud and hyperlinking to the file in the cloud. This will allow you to edit the file more easily than if it were uploaded to Canvas and embedded within your course.

Navigation

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)
Course files, located in each course (students, teachers, and TAs unless files are locked by the teacher)
Group files, located in each group (students and teachers who are enrolled in groups)

Resources

You can find a lot of information for working in Canvas by checking out the Canvas Guides, but these items below are great places to get started.

	When would I use files as an instructor?
	View a video about personal files (3:27)
	View a video about Course Files (3:38)

	As you are designing, consult the Tips resource!
	For help, contact your Educational Technology Specialist
	Back to the Canvas resources page
	Back to the home page