Brightspace Downloading Files

Introduction:

In Brightspace, you can view documents like PDFs, PowerPoint slides, and Word files directly in your course. If you prefer, you can also download these files to your device so you can open them later, even when you're offline.

This step-by-step article shows you how to download these files so you can view them on your own time.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. 1. Log into Brightspace and access your course. Click on the Content tab to access your course items.
2. 2. Click on the item that you wish to download.
3. 3. If the item is a PowerPoint, click on the Cloud icon with a down arrow.
4. 
5. 
6. 4. Same for PDF files.
7. 
8. 5. And for mp4/mp3 media files.
9. 

Troubleshooting Tips:

• • File won’t open after downloading?
  • Make sure you have the correct software installed (e.g., Adobe Reader for PDFs, Microsoft PowerPoint for PPT files, Word for DOC files).
• •Downloaded file opens blank or with missing content?
  • Try downloading it again and opening it in the desktop version of the app, not in your browser or a mobile preview.
• • Animations, audio, or video aren’t playing in a PowerPoint?
  • Brightspace’s in-browser viewer doesn’t support all media features.
  • Download the file and open it in the full PowerPoint app for best results.
• • Nothing happens when you click a file link?
  • Try right-clicking (or long-pressing on mobile) and selecting “Save As” or “Download Linked File.”
  • You can also try a different browser, like Google Chrome.
• • File downloaded as a .zip or an unknown format?
• Ask your instructor for guidance—it might be a compressed folder or special format that needs extraction or specific software.

Additional Resources:

• • Content experiences | D2L Brightspace Community
• • Manage course events with the Calendar tool | D2L Brightspace Community
• • View and download audio-video transcripts | D2L Brightspace Community
• • Download non-HTML files for offline viewing | D2L Brightspace Community
• • Troubleshoot missing course content | D2L Brightspace Community

FAQ Section:

• • Q: Can I download files from Brightspace to my phone or tablet?
  • ​​​​​​​A: Yes! Tap and hold the file link, then select “Download” or “Save to Files”, depending on your device.
• •Q: Do I need internet access to view downloaded files?
  • ​​​​​​​A: No—once a file is downloaded to your device, you can access it offline as long as you have the right app installed.
• • Q: Why do some documents look different when I open them?
  • ​​​​​​​A: Some formatting (especially in PowerPoint or Word) may not display properly in your browser or mobile app. Downloading and opening the file in the desktop application usually fixes this.
• • Q: I don't see the download option. What should I do?
  • ​​​​​​​A: Your instructor may have uploaded the file as a web-only resource, or it may be restricted. Contact your instructor if the download option is not available but expected.
• • Q: The instructor said I didn't view the item, but I did. What should I do?
  • A: If your instructor enabled tracking for your slides or files, we highly recommend staying within the Brightspace website and avoid downloading the file(s). Once you exit out of the tab where the slides or item is on, Brightspace no longer tracks your viewing progress.