Overview
Viewers aren't able to download your videos by default, no matter where the videos are located - but you can change that. This article covers how to make embedded media (e.g. on a page you created in Canvas - NOT in the Media Gallery) downloadable by students. The short version: instead of using the default player when embedding, you use a player with the download button enabled.
Though anyone can embed a video in Canvas whenever they see the rich content editor, these instructions largely apply to Canvas instructors.
Critical Concepts
Assumptions
- You haven't embedded the video yet. If you've already embedded the video you want to be downloadable, you'll need to delete that embedded video and re-embed it.
- You're embedding this video on a Canvas "page." The first few steps of our instructions below assume that you're embedding a video on a Canvas "page" within one of your modules. But you can embed Kaltura media anywhere you see the rich content editor (Canvas quizzes, discussion board posts, etc.). So these instructions would apply anywhere you can embed a video.
Things to Keep in Mind
- You may want to tell students how to download the video. The icon that indicates a video is downloadable is easily missed, partly since it only appears after you've clicked "play." You may want to point students to our tutorial on how to download an embedded video in Canvas.
Steps to Take
The short version of what you need to do is to configure your embed so that you're using a particular player that includes the in-player download button.
- Within Canvas, enter the course in question.
- Click Modules in the course navigation on the left.
- Find the page where you want to embed the video and click on it.
- Click Edit at the top right of the page.
- You should now see the rich content editor. Click the embed Kaltura media icon in the menu. (It looks like a little rainbow wheel.)

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n the window that opens, find the video you want to embed and click the gear icon on its row (not the "</> Embed") button. - In the subsequent window, open the "Choose Player" pulldown menu and select Downloadable. (Note that there may be more than one option available for players with downloadable videos.)
- Set any other additional settings you prefer for your embed, such as the embed size.
- Un-check the box for Set as my default settings. (Otherwise, if you embed future videos and don't opt to click the gear and configure them, the download player will be used.)
- Once you're done configuring your embed settings, click </> Embed at the top right of the window.
Now when a user views your video within the course element, they'll see a small download icon in the upper right corner of the player (after they click the play button). Feel free to point students to our article on how to download an embedded video in Canvas.