Remove a file from a canvas

Remove the file from the work where it appears

Use Remove from canvas when a file should no longer appear on the canvas that contains it. This is useful for outdated drafts, duplicate uploads, incorrect attachments, files added to the wrong canvas, or material that should no longer be part of a project deliverable.

In Files, a row points back to the place where a file appears: a canvas, comment, or another part of the work. Removing a file from a canvas removes it from that canvas. It does not mean every file with the same name is removed everywhere, and it does not always mean workspace storage changes immediately.

If you need recovery after removal, use Restore deleted work. If you are trying to reduce storage, also read Files, storage, and quota so you understand what removal does and does not change.

Before you remove a file

Preview the file first. Then open the containing canvas and confirm that the file is the right one to remove. This step matters because duplicate-looking rows are common. A file named logo.png might appear on a design canvas, a launch canvas, and a client review canvas. Removing the wrong file can break the context for another team.

Check whether the canvas is still active. If the project is live, ask the owner or reviewer before removing files that look important. Removing a file is a work change, not just a personal view preference.

If the file is attached to a project canvas, launch plan, comment, or decision, make sure the surrounding workflow no longer needs it. For project context, see Add a canvas to a project and Create a canvas in a project.

Remove a file from Files

Open Files and find the file. Use search, filters, project scope, or canvas scope if needed. Preview the file and open the containing canvas if there is any doubt.

Open the file actions menu and choose the remove action when it is available. Confirm the removal if ALLO asks for confirmation. After removal, the row may disappear from ordinary Files because the file is no longer active in that canvas.

If you do not see a remove action, you may not have permission to edit the containing canvas, the file may already be removed, or the current row may represent a file state that cannot be changed from Files. Open the containing canvas and check whether you can remove it there.

Remove a file from the canvas itself

Sometimes the clearest path is to remove the file from the canvas, not from Files. Open the containing canvas, locate the file item or attachment, and use the canvas file controls to remove it. This is especially helpful when the file is visually placed on the canvas or when you need to see nearby notes before deciding.

Removing from the canvas gives you better context. It also reduces the chance that you remove an attachment from the wrong canvas when several rows share the same name.

For canvas file tools, see Add images, files, and spreadsheets to a canvas.

Who can remove files

You generally need permission to edit or manage the containing work. A viewer may be able to preview and open the file but not remove it. A guest may be limited to the canvas they were invited to. A workspace member may still be unable to remove a file from a project they do not edit. For role details, see Members, guests, and external collaborators.

ALLO may show or hide the remove action based on your current access, but final permission is checked when you try the action. If a button appears and then fails, the canvas may have changed, your role may have changed, or the file may already have been removed in another tab.

If you need help, ask a canvas editor, project owner, or workspace admin. Send them the file name and containing canvas so they do not have to search blindly.

What happens after removal

After removal, the file can move into Trash where recovery may be possible during the retention window. The file may no longer appear in ordinary Files, but it may appear in Trash under file-related deleted work.

If the same file exists on another canvas, it can remain there. Removing a file from one canvas does not automatically clean every duplicate-looking row. That is why it is important to check the containing canvas before removal.

If the containing canvas or project is later permanently deleted, recovery options for removed files can change. A removed file needs somewhere meaningful to return. For retention and permanent deletion details, see Retention window and Delete work forever.

Restore a removed file

Open Trash and look for the removed file. Use resource tabs or search if available. Restore the item when the restore action is available and you still have permission.

If restore succeeds, return to the containing canvas or Files view and confirm that the file is visible again. If the parent canvas was deleted, moved, or permanently removed, the file may not be restorable in the way you expect. See Troubleshooting.

If the file was removed from a shared canvas, make sure you are in the same workspace and account that had access to the shared work. Shared access can be narrower than workspace access. Use Fix shared access if the restored file or canvas still does not open.

When removal is the wrong fix

Do not remove a file just because preview or download is disabled. The file may be unavailable because of storage state, retention, or permission, and the row can still help the team identify where the file belonged. Read Unavailable and retention-locked files before deleting visibility that someone else may need for recovery.

Do not remove a file from Files if your real goal is to stop sharing the entire canvas or project. Change sharing or membership instead. See Share a canvas and Members, guests, and external collaborators.

Do not remove files as a shortcut for permanent deletion. If your workspace needs a removed file permanently deleted, use Trash actions after removal and make sure the person taking the action has the right role. Permanent deletion is stricter and irreversible.

Troubleshooting removal

If the remove action is missing, open the containing canvas and check whether you can edit it. If you cannot edit the canvas, ask someone with edit permission to remove the file and review Read-only access.

If removal fails, refresh and try again from the canvas. The file may already have been removed by someone else, or your view may be stale.

If the file disappears but storage usage does not immediately change, remember that a file can be used in more than one place and removed files can stay recoverable for a time. Storage totals can depend on plan state, retained data, and cleanup timing. Use Files, storage, and quota instead of assuming one removed row will immediately reduce the storage number.