Mark shared work as read

Mark as read clears attention, not access

Use Mark as read or Read all when Shared with me has unread canvases or projects that you no longer need highlighted. This is a personal attention action. It does not delete the shared item, remove it from Shared with me, change your permission, archive the project, or tell the sender that you completed a review.

That distinction matters. Marking read is safe when the goal is to clear a badge. It is not the right action if the goal is to stop sharing, remove a project, unsubscribe from notifications, or change access.

For unread basics, see Unread shared work.

When to use Read all

Use Read all after you have reviewed a batch of shared items, after a large project handoff, when you return from time away, or when you already handled shared links through notifications or direct messages and only need to clear the Shared with me badge.

Use individual mark-read actions when some unread items still need attention. For example, mark old shared canvases read, but leave a newly shared client review canvas unread until you can respond.

If you need a shortcut to important shared work after marking it read, star the canvas or project. See Use Starred.

Mark one shared item as read

Open Shared with me and find the unread item. Use the item’s menu or mark-read control if one is available. You can also open the item when your workflow is to review before clearing unread state.

After the item becomes read, it should no longer appear as an unread item, but it can remain in the shared list. If it disappears from the unread section, look in the regular shared list or use search.

If the action is missing, open the item and return to Shared with me. Some surfaces clear unread by opening rather than by a separate button.

Mark all shared work as read

Open Shared with me and use the Read all or Mark all as read action in the unread area. Confirm if ALLO asks for confirmation. The unread badge or unread section should clear once ALLO finishes updating your account.

Depending on how your Shared with me view groups items, Read all may apply to unread shared canvases, unread shared projects, or the unread group currently shown. If a badge remains, check whether another group still has unread items.

If new work is shared while you are marking old work read, the badge may clear and then reappear. Check the shared date before assuming the action failed.

What changes after Read all

The unread styling is removed for your account. The shared work remains accessible as long as you still have permission. The sender remains the same. Project and canvas content do not change. Other people’s unread state does not change.

Read-all state can take a moment to update across browser tabs, the desktop app, and mobile. Refresh stale tabs if they still show the old count.

If you later lose access to a shared item, that is a permission or deletion issue, not a result of marking read. Use Fix shared access.

Read all versus notifications

Shared with me unread state and notification settings are related, but they are not the same. Marking shared work read clears the shared-work attention state. It does not necessarily change email, desktop, or in-app notification preferences.

If you are receiving too many notifications, use Manage notifications. If you want to clear notification messages, use Inbox. If you want to clear the Shared with me badge, use Read all in Shared with me.

Read all versus removing access

Read all does not stop someone from sharing with you. If you no longer need access to a project or canvas, ask the owner to remove you or adjust sharing. If you are a workspace admin or owner, use the workspace member and sharing tools that fit the item. For access changes, see Fix shared access.

If a shared item is sensitive and you should not have access, tell the sender or an admin. Marking read only hides the attention marker; it does not fix an accidental share.

For role and access questions, see Members, guests, and external collaborators.

Troubleshooting Read all

If the unread count does not clear, refresh Shared with me and check whether there are unread canvases and unread projects in separate groups. Clear each group if needed.

If the count clears and then comes back, check whether a new item was shared after you clicked Read all. New shares can create a fresh unread state.

If Read all fails with an error, try opening a single unread item first. If the item no longer opens, the share may have been removed or the work may have been deleted. Use Fix shared access and check Trash if the owner says it was deleted.

If the desktop app and browser disagree, refresh both or sign out and back in if the stale state persists. Make sure both are using the same account and workspace.