locked uploaded media

[MeganDear]

When I upload documents (word, pdf, screenshots, etc.) to my Canvas shell, students are unable to access/download them because they get an error response that says the folder (uploaded media) is locked.  How do I fix this?  

[Chris_Hofer]

@MeganDear ...

Could you please describe your process for uploading a document to your Canvas course and then also the process of making that document available to your students?  Thanks!

[MeganDear]

Yes, of course!  My apologies.

When I am in the Agenda tab or the Assignment tab, I click "insert," "document," and "upload document."  I find the document on my flashdrive and upload it from there.  I do change the text that appears for the document, but I don't adjust the link.  I've even tried copying and pasting screenshots of my slides and they also show to students as locked.

[Chris_Hofer]

Hi @MeganDear ...

Thank you for the reply.  Unfortunately, your process does not sound familiar to me...at least not a process that I'm familiar with as it relates to the Canvas UI (User Interface).  There is no "out-of-the-box" Agenda tab.  Also, if you are working within the "Assignments" course navigation menu, there isn't a way to click on "insert" >> "document" >> "upload document" (at least not from the "Assignments" index page).  So, I am still a bit confused as to where you are working within your Canvas course.  Maybe a screenshot or two might be helpful?  Looking forward to hearing back from you soon.

EDIT: Maybe you are trying to edit an assignment using the RCE (Rich Content Editor) and using the "Insert" >> "Document" >> "Upload Document" option in that menu?  If so, have you tried uploading your document first to your "Files" area of your course?  Then, in the RCE, you could choose "Course Documents" instead of "Upload Document" and find/select the file you had uploaded to your "Files" area of the course.  Either of these Guides should be helpful:

• How do I upload a document in the Rich Content Edi... - Instructure Community
• How do I embed documents from Canvas in the Rich C... - Instructure Community

Keep us posted here in the Community...thanks!

[mike_kozak]

Example of student view: 

"The folder "Uploaded Media," which includes this file, has been locked."

Solution:

Find the "uploaded media" folder inside your course files folder where the document(s) reside. That folder inside the files folder needs to be checked to be recognized by the system as "published."  There is an icon to the far right to click and depicts a green check mark replacing a no symbol. In some use cases, the uploaded files folder may be inside of another uploaded files folder.