Open canvases in the desktop app
Open canvas links, sub-canvases, and project canvases in desktop app tabs.
Canvas links can open as desktop app tabs
The desktop app is built for canvas-heavy work. When you open a canvas from Home, Recent, Search, a project, a sub-canvas link, or a shared ALLO link, the desktop app can open it in an app tab rather than sending you to a browser.
Opening a canvas in desktop does not change its permissions. If you only have view access, the desktop app opens it read-only. If the canvas was deleted, archived, moved, or shared with another account, the desktop app cannot invent access.
Availability
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Available on | All plans with canvas access |
| Available for | macOS and Windows desktop app |
| Who can open a canvas | Anyone with permission to that canvas |
| New tab gestures | Command-click, Ctrl-click, or middle-click for many links |
| New window gestures | Shift-click for many links |
Open a canvas from ALLO
Open a canvas the same way you would in the browser: from Home, Recent, Search, All Canvases, Shared with Me, a project, a task, a dashboard resource, or a link inside another canvas. In the desktop app, ALLO keeps that canvas inside the app when it can.
If you are looking for a canvas that used to exist, use When work looks missing. If you can open it but cannot edit, use When work is read-only.
Open a shared canvas link
If someone sends you a canvas link, open it while signed in to the correct ALLO account. If the desktop app is already open and can handle the link, it may open the canvas in an app tab. If the link opens in your browser first, you can still use the desktop app after signing in or copying the link into ALLO.
Shared links depend on permission. A link can fail if it was revoked, the canvas was deleted, the workspace member was deactivated, the link requires a different account, or your role only allows view access. For how owners set link and invite access, see Share a canvas. Use When you can't access work for access failures.
Use new tab and new window gestures
Desktop supports browser-like gestures for many ALLO links:
| Gesture | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Click | Opens in the current tab or focuses the existing canvas tab. |
| Command-click on macOS | Opens in a new app tab. |
| Ctrl-click on Windows | Opens in a new app tab. |
| Middle-click | Opens in a new app tab. |
| Shift-click | Opens in a new app window. |
External links still open in the system browser. ALLO links that the app can handle should stay in the app.
Duplicate canvas tabs
If the canvas is already open, ALLO may focus the existing tab instead of creating a duplicate. That prevents accidental parallel editing in several tabs. If you expected a new tab but ALLO focused an existing one, check the tab bar before trying again.
If you truly need two views of the same canvas, use another window or browser view, but be careful. Editing the same canvas from multiple places can make it harder to understand which view is current.
Sub-canvases and canvas-to-canvas links
Sub-canvases and canvas-to-canvas links can open inside desktop tabs. Back and Forward should help you return through the recent surface where possible, but canvas navigation is not identical to a normal web page because ALLO preserves canvas state and app tab ownership.
For navigation behavior, see Use back, forward, and refresh. For sub-canvas concepts, see Use sub-canvases.
Canvases from projects and dashboards
Project canvases and dashboard resources can point to canvases. Opening them from the desktop app should keep you in the app when possible.
| Situation | What to check |
|---|---|
| You need to place an existing canvas into project work before opening it | See Add a canvas to a project. |
| A dashboard resource points to a canvas you cannot open | The dashboard permission and canvas permission may not match. Ask the owner to check both. |
| You need to manage dashboard resources themselves | See Connect resources to a dashboard and Share a dashboard. |
If you are already inside a canvas and looking for the canvas-level menu that includes desktop opening, export, print, backup, and other whole-canvas actions, see Use the canvas header menu.
Troubleshooting canvas opening
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Link opens in browser | External link, app link handler unavailable, or desktop app not installed | Open the link from inside ALLO or install/update the desktop app. |
| Canvas opens read-only | Your permission is view/comment only, or the canvas is locked by state | Use When work is read-only. |
| Canvas says no access | Wrong account, revoked share, deleted work, or deactivated workspace access | Use When you can't access work. |
| Clicking opens an existing tab | The same canvas is already open | Use the focused tab or open a separate window if needed. |
| Back does not return where expected | Canvas and route history differ | Use navigation, Recent, Search, or Use back, forward, and refresh. |
Related articles
- Create a canvas
- Use sub-canvases
- Use the canvas header menu
- Add a canvas to a project
- Use tabs and windows