All Canvas users have a personal file storage area. Files you add to a Canvas course are aggregated in this repository. Though files can also be added directly to the personal file storage area, it isn't intended as a long-term storage location.
Viewing Your Personal File Storage
To view your personal files in Canvas, click Account in the global navigation menu. Then, click Files.
Files can be managed within the personal file storage area. You can also view the percentage of your file quota that is currently used. For more information on managing your file storage, check out this Canvas Community article.
Storage Quota
Personal file storage in Canvas is set to a default limit of 250 MB. However, not all files students add to courses count towards this quota.
To avoid maxing out your file storage, it's important to understand which files you add to courses count towards your quota. It can also be helpful to host large files in other, cloud-based locations and share them via links within Canvas.
Files Counted in Storage Quota
- Files uploaded directly to ungraded assignments.
- Files attached to ungraded discussions.
- Files uploaded directly to your personal file storage area.
- Files attached to Inbox messages.
Files Not Counted in Storage Quota
- Files included in submissions for a graded assignment.
- Files attached to graded discussions*.
*Files must be added to the discussion using the Attach button to avoid being counted in the storage quota.
Strategies for Sharing Files
To share large files, or files that are not associated with graded assignments, the file can be hosted in a cloud-based location and shared in Canvas with a link or by embedding.
Hosting and Sharing Files via OneDrive
For assignments consisting of large files, your instructor may request that you submit by sharing a link to the file in your Microsoft OneDrive account. Your OneDrive account is accessible through your JHED and includes 5TB of storage space.
Large files can be stored on OneDrive and shared via a link. To ensure those with whom you share the file are able to access it, you'll need to generate a Share link with appropriate permissions. If you will be submitting multiple large files throughout the course, you may choose to create a course folder and set permissions at the folder level instead of on individual files.
You will submit your share link through the Website URL submission type on Canvas.
See Microsoft's guidance for sharing OneDrive files for more information about sharing permissions.
Hosting and Sharing Video Files
Video files can be hosted in Panopto and shared by embedding them in a discussion reply or submitting them in an assignment. Guidance can be found in our article: Recording and Uploading Videos For Your Class (Student Guide).
If you have any questions about personal file storage or sharing files within your Canvas courses, please reach out to CLDTsupport@jhu.edu.