Canvas Guides (English)Canvas GuidesCanvas Basics GuideInboxHow do I send a message to a user in a course in the Inbox?

How do I send a message to a user in a course in the Inbox?

In the Inbox, you can send a message to one user or multiple users in a course.

If your recipient list contains more than 100 users, your message will automatically be sent as individual messages to each user. As the sender, you will also be included in the total recipient count.

Learn more about the Inbox.

Notes:

  • Currently you cannot message users in multiple courses.
  • You can also send a message to yourself, but messages can only be viewed in the Sent messages folder.
  • Users display in the Inbox once they have an active enrollment in the course, and users cannot join a course unless it is published.
  • You cannot send messages to users in concluded courses.

00:07: How do I send a message to a user in a course in the inbox? 00:11: In global navigation click the inbox link 00:15: Click the compose icon. 00:18: In the course drop-down menu select the course where you want to send your message. 00:23: To add a user you can search for the user in the to field or use the address 00:27: book. 00:29: To search for a user type. The user's name in the to field. 00:32: Select the user's name from the list. 00:36: To send a message to multiple users add names of the users in the to 00:40: field. 00:42: You can send an individual message to each recipient by clicking the send an 00:46: individual message to each recipient. Checkbox. 00:50: To add a user from the course roster. Click the address book button. 00:54: Select the role of the user you'd like to add. 00:57: Then select the user's name names are listed in alphabetical order by 01:01: last name. To add multiple users to your message, press 01:05: the command key Mac or the control key Windows and 01:09: click the name of the applicable users. 01:13: To navigate back to the course roster. Click the back option. 01:18: In the subject line field enter a subject line for your message. 01:23: If you are sending your message to multiple users, but you do not want each user 01:27: to see who else was included in the message. Click the send an individual message to 01:31: each recipient. Checkbox. If your message includes over 100 01:35: recipients including you as the sender this checkbox will be selected 01:40: by default. 01:42: In the message field type your message all content is sent in plain 01:46: text URLs included in a message automatically become clickable 01:50: links after the message is sent. 01:53: To include an attachment or media file click the attachment or media file 01:57: buttons. 01:59: When you are finished click the send button. 02:02: This guide covered how to send a message to a user in a course in the inbox.

Open Inbox

Open Inbox

In Global Navigation, click the Inbox link.

Compose Message

Compose Message

Click the Compose icon.

Note: The toolbar may appear different if your admin has enabled settings that allow the auto-response or signature. For more information, visit How do I manage my Inbox settings?

Select Course

Select Course

In the Course drop-down menu [1], select the course where you want to send your message [2].

Add User

Add User

Search for the user in the To field [1]. Alternatively, you can locate and select a user by clicking the Course Roster button [2].

Search for User

Search for User

To search for a user, type the user's name in the To field [1]. Select the user's name from the list [2].

Add Multiple Users

Remove Recipient Name

To send a message to multiple users, add names of the users in the To field [1].

You can send an individual message to each recipient by clicking the Send an individual message to each recipient checkbox [2].

Use Address Book

Use Address Book

To add a user from the course roster, click the Address Book button [1]. Select the role of the user you'd like to add [2]. Then select the user's name [3]. Names are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

To add multiple users to your message, press the command key (Mac) or the control key (Windows) and click the name of the applicable users.

To navigate back to the course roster, click the Back option [4].

Send Message

Send Message

In the subject line field [1], enter a subject line for your message.

If you are sending your message to multiple users, but you do not want each user to see who else was included in the message, click the Send an individual message to each recipient checkbox [2]. If your message includes over 100 recipients (including you as the sender), this checkbox will be selected by default.

In the message field [3], type your message. All content is sent in plain text. URLs included in a message automatically become clickable links after the message is sent.

To include an attachment or media file, click the Attachment or Media File buttons [4].

When you are finished, click the Send button [5].