How to upload large files to Blackboard
Blackboard now has a 200MB file limit, you will receive an error when you try and upload a file that exceeds 200MB. This article helps you to troubleshoot this issue. Find out more about why there is a 200MB limit.
Checking your file size
Check the size of your file before you upload, if it’s bigger than 200MB Blackboard will not accept it.
On a Mac right-click the file and select Get Info
Then the size will be in the title and in the body of the Info box.
On a PC, right-click your file and select Properties.
The size will be in the default General tab
Staff guide for videos exceeding 200MB
Use Panopto to upload, compress and stream your video. Panopto is a video platform designed for education. There is a Panopto video course folder in every Blackboard module.
Any video files uploaded to the Panopto course folder will be automatically compressed and streamed for the viewer. Making your video more accessible for students on a wide range of devices and connection speeds.
You can find find your Panopto video course folder in Details and Actions panel under Books and tools:
Find out more about:
Adding a Panopto video to your Learning materials
Staff guide for video feedback*.
Student guide for videos exceeding 200MB.
For all video assignments, use Panopto Student submission to upload your video files. Panopto compresses and streams video automatically, allowing your lecturer to easily review and mark your video assignment.
You’ll find Panopto student submission under Content Market in the tool bar in your Blackboard assignment submission dropbox:
Click on the + icon in the toolbar, and select Content Market from the drop-down menu
This opens up Content Market, you can then select Panopto Student Submission:
For more detailed information on submitting videos see
Large text and/ or image files
Files with text and uncompressed images can be very large. Consider compressing large images into a png or jpg format to reduce their file size before adding them to the document.
You can also compress pictures inside Microsoft Powerpoint and Word. Select the image you want to compress, then select the Compress Pictures icon from the Picture Format toolbar.
Alternatively, save a large MS Word or Powerpoint file as a PDF for electronic distribution.
Open the File menu, select Save a copy. Select PDF from the File Format drop-down.
Then select the radio button for 'Best for electronic distribution' … and click Export.
If it’s already a large PDF. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat and select Compress a PDF option in the File menu:
Useful links
Centre for Digital Learning Enhancement
ulster.ac.uk/learningengancement/cdle