How to add a file resource to a Moodle course

One of the most common tasks when teaching in Moodle is sharing material with your learners: a PDF, a presentation, or a document. In this guide you will upload a file to a course using the File resource, all from the Moodle interface installed on your shared hosting (for example, under a subfolder such as https://yourdomain.com/moodle/).

Before you start

1. Sign in to your Moodle with a teacher or administrator account.
2. Have ready the course where you will publish the material.
3. Have the file on your computer (for example, a .pdf, .docx, or .pptx).

Steps

Turn on edit mode

1. Open the Course where you want to add the file.
2. Turn on Edit mode with the toggle at the top right of the course page.

Add the File resource

1. In the section or topic where you want the material, open the add-content button and click Activity or resource.

2. In the Add an activity or resource window, choose File from the list.

3. Type the Name your learners will see and, optionally, a Description. 4. Under Select files, drag the document into the box or use Add → Upload a file to choose it from your computer. 5. If available, adjust how the file is shown under Appearance → Display. 6. Click Save and return to course.

Final verification

1. Confirm the file appears in the course section with the name you gave it.

2. Turn off edit mode and click the resource to check that it opens or downloads.
3. If you can, review it with a student account to confirm your learners can see it.

Common errors

1. The file is rejected for size: check the document size and the PHP upload limit on your hosting; see the MultiPHP INI Editor guide below.
2. Learners can’t see the file: confirm edit mode is off and that the resource is not set to Hidden.
3. The resource won’t open: upload the file again and make sure it finished loading before you save.
4. File type not allowed: use a common format such as .pdf or .docx, or review the site’s restrictions.

Recommended reading

• How to create your first course in Moodle
• How to create a Moodle user and enrol them in a course
• How to increase the file upload limit with MultiPHP INI Editor in cPanel