How do I use the Inbox?

The Canvas Inbox is split into two panels and displays messages chronologically. You can view and reply to conversations and sort them by course or inbox type.

The Inbox itself does not have any file size limits; however, attachments added to a conversation are included in the sender's personal files.

Learn more about the Inbox.

Notes:

  • If you right-click or option-click on the Inbox link, you can open your Inbox in a new browser tab to keep it handy while you are doing other tasks in Canvas.
  • Users display in conversations once they have an active enrollment in the course, and users cannot join a course unless it is published.
  • Once a course has concluded, you cannot message users in that course.

00:06: How do I use the Inbox as a student? 00:09: In global navigation click the inbox link It's 00:13: the inbox blank includes the numbered indicator the indicator shows. 00:17: How many unread messages do you have in your inbox? Once you read the new 00:21: messages the indicator will disappear. 00:24: The toolbar includes global message options. 00:28: To load conversations, filter your messages by course or group and type. Filtering by type lets you filter messages by Inbox, Unread, Starred, Sent, Archived, and Submission Comments. 00:43: You can search for conversations by user in the Search by user field. 00:48: To compose a message, click the Compose icon. 00:52: Once you have selected a conversation you can use the other options in the 00:56: toolbar to Reply to a conversation reply 01:00: all to a conversation archived a conversation delete 01:05: a conversation. You can also use the more options icon 24-hour 01:09: market conversation is read or unread and star conversations. 01:15: Conversations for your selected course and Inbox filter appear in the left Inbox panel. 01:21: The Inbox is organized chronologically from newest to oldest with the newest conversations appearing on top and the older conversations at the bottom. 01:30: You can manually mark a conversation as read or unread by hovering over the conversation and clicking the circle to the left of the conversation. 01:39: To star a conversation, hover over the conversation and click the star to the right of the conversation. 01:46: When you select a conversation, all messages in the conversations thread appear in the right Inbox panel. 01:53: The conversation thread displays the title of the conversation. 01:57: Each message with in a conversation displays the names of the message participant 02:01: with the name of the sender in bold. 02:04: You can view the course name the author's personal pronouns if enabled 02:09: and the date and time the message was sent. 02:12: You can also view the message content. 02:15: To deselect the conversation click the return icon. 02:19: To reply to the latest message in a conversation. 02:21: Click the reply icon. 02:24: The reply-all forward archive star or 02:28: delete the entire conversation thread click the more options icon then 02:32: click one of the options. 02:35: You can manage an individual message within a conversation to reply 02:39: to a message with in a conversation. Click the reply icon. 02:44: To reply all forward or delete a message with in a conversation thread 02:48: click the more options icon then click one of the options. 02:53: To select multiple message conversations to Archive. 02:56: Delete Mark as read Mark as unread or Star 03:00: click the check box for each message then click the inbox 03:04: toolbar more options icon and select an option. 03:09: This guide covered how to use the Inbox as a student.

00:00: How do I use the Inbox as an Instructor? 00:03: In Global Navigation, click the Inbox link. If the Inbox link includes a numbered indicator, the indicator shows how many unread messages you have in your Inbox. Once you read the new messages, the indicator will disappear. 00:18: The toolbar includes global message options 00:22: To load conversations, filter your messages by course or group and type. Filtering by type lets you filter messages by Inbox, Unread, Starred, Sent, Archived, and Submission Comments. 00:37: You can also search for conversations by user in the Search by user field. 00:42: Once you have selected a conversation, you can use the other options in the toolbar to: Reply to a conversation. Reply-all to a conversation. Archive a conversation. Delete a conversation. You can also use the More Options icon to forward, mark a conversation as read or unread, and star conversations. 01:03: Conversations for your selected course and Inbox filter appear in the left Inbox panel. 01:09: To star a conversation, hover over the conversation and click the star to the right of the conversation. 01:16: When you select a conversation, all messages in the conversations thread appear in the right Inbox panel. 01:23: Within each conversation, you can reply, reply-all, forward, or delete the entire conversation thread. You can also hover over an individual message and use the same commands within the individual message. 01:37: To select multiple messages to archive, delete, mark as read, mark as unread, or star, click the check box for each message. You can also press the command key (Mac) or the control key (Windows) while clicking each message you want to select. In the Inbox toolbar, click the desired option. 01:58: This guide covered how to use the Inbox as an instructor.

Open Inbox

Open Inbox

In Global Navigation, click the Inbox link.

If the Inbox link includes a numbered indicator, the indicator shows how many unread messages you have in your Inbox. Once you read the new messages, the indicator will disappear.

View Inbox Toolbar

View Inbox Toolbar

The toolbar includes global message options. To load conversations, filter your messages by course or group [1] and type [2]. Filtering by type lets you filter messages by Inbox, Unread, Starred, Sent, Archived, and Submission Comments.

You can search for conversations by user in the Search by user field [3].

To compose a message, click the Compose icon [4].

View Optional Toolbar

View Optional Toolbar

If your admin has enabled Inbox settings, the toolbar displays a Settings icon and a Compose button. Inbox settings allow you to generate automatic replies or add a signature.

To manage Inbox settings, click the Settings icon [1].

To compose a message, click the Compose button [2].

Manage Conversations

Manage Conversations

Once you have selected a conversation, you can use the other options in the toolbar to:

  • Reply to a conversation [1]
  • Reply-all to a conversation [2]
  • Archive a conversation [3]
  • Delete a conversation [4]

To forward a conversation, mark a conversation as read or unread, and star conversations, click the More Options icon [5].

View Inbox Panels

View Inbox Panels

Conversations for your selected course and Inbox filter appear in the left Inbox panel.

View Conversations

View Conversations

The Inbox is organized chronologically from newest to oldest with the newest conversations appearing on top [1] and the older conversations at the bottom.

You can manually mark a conversation as read or unread by hovering over the conversation and clicking the circle to the left of the conversation [2]. To star a conversation, hover over the conversation and click the star to the right of the conversation [3].  

View Conversation Thread

View Conversation Thread

When you select a conversation [1], all messages in the conversations thread display in the right Inbox panel [2].  

View Message Details

View Message Details

The conversation thread displays the title of the conversation [1].

Each message within a conversation displays the names of the message participants, with the name of the sender in bold [2].

You can view the course name, the author's personal pronouns (if enabled), and the date and time the message was sent [3].

You can also view the message content [4].

To de-select a conversation, click the Return icon [5].

Manage Conversation Thread

Manage Conversation Thread

Within each conversation thread, you can reply, reply-all, forward, archive, star, or delete the entire conversation thread.

To reply to the latest message in a conversation, click the Reply icon [1].

To reply-all, forward, archive, star, or delete the entire conversation thread, click the More Options icon [2]. Then click one of the options [3].

Manage Individual Message

Manage Individual Message

You can manage an individual message within a conversation. To reply to a message within a conversation, click the Reply icon [1].

To reply-all, forward, or delete a message within a conversation thread, click the More Options icon [2]. Then click one of the options [3].

Select Multiple Conversations

Select Multiple Conversations

To select multiple message conversations to archive, delete, mark as read, mark as unread, or star, click the checkbox for each message [1]. Then click the Inbox toolbar More Options icon [2], and select an option.

Note: To select or deselect conversations, you can also press the command key (Mac) or the control key (Windows) while clicking each message you want to select or deselect.