One of the most important parts of Canvas course design is being thoughtful about which course navigation links you enable for students. While Canvas provides many tools, not all of them need to be available to students. Each additional link creates another decision point for students, and too many options can make a course feel cluttered or confusing. A streamlined navigation menu helps guide students and provides a clear, consistent workflow.

A good example of an available navigation link that is probably unnecessary for students is Files. Files is rarely something students need to access directly. When enabled, students see a full list of every file in the course, which can lead to confusion about what materials are required or current. Instead, linking files directly within modules, pages, or assignments allows instructors to present materials in the right order and with the proper instructional framing.

Managing navigation link choices is done through the Course Navigation menu. To access these, click Settings, then select the Navigation tab. From there, drag and drop unused tools (such as Files) into the Disabled from Students section, and reorder the remaining links as needed. After clicking Save, students will see only the navigation options that support the course design you intend.

Watch the full video to see how to customize your course navigation step by step.