As of June 21, 2025, the new Canvas Files Redesign experience is available in all Canvas courses. Instructors and students will notice an updated interface when accessing My Files or the Files tool within a Canvas course. The redesign adds new functionality, but also removes some previously available functionality.
Read through the article, use the links below to jump to a section of interest, or review our 13 minute long video tutorial.
User Interface (UI) Changes
- The left-hand folder view has been removed
- More prominent Search bar
- Bulk action icons (e.g., download, delete) remain visible at all times
- Introduction of checkboxes for folder and file selection
- A temporary button to switch between the old and the new views
- There is no set date for the removal of the Switch to Old/New Files Page button at this time. Instructure shared that the button will be available through Fall 2025.
- + Folder opens a pop-up window with more descriptive action buttons
- All My Files is now a button rather than a link
Classic Files UI
Files Redesign UI
New Features
-
Checkboxes to more easily select folders and files.
- Note: Select All only applies to items currently visible on the page (up to 25 per page). To manage or download additional folders and files not in view, users must navigate to the next page. To download all folders and files within a subfolder, go to the parent folder to download the entire subfolder. If a course is not utilizing folders, users must bulk download files page by page.
-
Pagination to help manage larger file sets.
- Canvas does not provide a shortcut to the final page. Users must manually click through each page to reach the last page. For example, the screenshot below has a total of 5 pages, but only displays up to 2.
- Canvas does not provide a shortcut to the final page. Users must manually click through each page to reach the last page. For example, the screenshot below has a total of 5 pages, but only displays up to 2.
- Separate Manage Access and Edit Permissions windows.
- In the classic Files interface, instructors could set both usage rights and file/folder availability at the same time. In the redesign, files cannot be published until usage rights are set first.
- The redesigned Edit Permissions modal includes an error message if you attempt to publish a file before setting its usage rights.
-
Toolbar actions (e.g., download, delete) are now always visible, but are disabled until at least one file or folder is selected.
Loss of Features/Change from Old UI
- The View button option has been removed.
- File Preview Changes
- The Download, Info, and Close text labels have been removed.
- File names are now truncated rather than wrapping to display the entire file name. Instructure is working to address this.
- No way to view all folders and files at once. Only 25 items are available per page.
If you have any questions or feedback related to the new Files tool, please contact canvashelp@stanford.edu.