9. If You Use the edX Mobile App#

This topic answers questions about how you can use the edX mobile app on a smartphone or tablet to take edX courses.

9.1. Overview of the edX Mobile App#

You can use the app to do the following things.

  • Register and create an account

  • Find and enroll in courses

  • Complete most course assignments

  • Watch course videos

  • Read course handouts and announcements

  • Participate in course discussions

  • Download course videos for watching when you do not have an internet connection

9.4. Course Questions#

9.4.1. How do I take a course using the edX app?#

After you enroll in a course, you find it listed under My Courses in the main menu.

Open a course to access the main course screen.

The main course menu on the mobile app, showing the Course, Videos, Discussions, Handouts, Announcement, and Important Dates sections.

Some courses might not have all of these options.

  • Course - Access course content including videos, organized based on the course outline.

  • Videos - Download or stream course videos, organized by course sections.

  • Discussion - Read and make posts in course discussions.

  • Handouts - Access any documents shared by the course team, such as the course syllabus or special reading material.

  • Announcements - Read a welcome message or course update messages from the course team.

  • Important Dates - View a summary of important course dates, including assignment and exam due dates.

9.4.2. Can I take a course entirely on my mobile device?#

The answer depends on the types of problems that are used in the course you are taking. If a course contains mobile friendly problem types, you can complete those types of problems using the mobile app. For a list of the types of problems you can complete using the mobile app, see What types of problems can I complete in the edX app? You cannot take timed exams or proctored exams using the mobile app.

You can watch course videos on the mobile app, and can also download videos to your mobile device for watching when you do not have an internet connection. When you have an internet connection, you can also read course announcements, participate in course discussions, and complete the mobile friendly problems in your assignments.

Note

EdX recommends that you complete all of your graded assignments in a web browser on a computer. If your course includes timed exams or proctored exams, you cannot take them using the edX app.

9.4.3. What types of problems can I complete in the edX app?#

You can use the edX app to complete most of the problems in your assignments. EdX courses can use a variety of problem types, and some courses might include problem types that cannot be completed in the app.

For example, you can use the edX app to answer multiple choice questions, but you cannot use it to draw molecules or design circuits. To complete problems that require complex actions, you must use a web browser.

Note

EdX recommends that you complete all of your graded assignments in a web browser on a computer. If your course includes timed exams or proctored exams, you cannot take them using the edX app.

In the edX app, you can complete problems that you answer in one of these ways.

  • Checkbox selection

  • Drag and drop selection

  • Dropdown list selection

  • Multiple choice selection

  • Math expression input

  • Numerical input

  • Text input

9.4.4. How do I post questions on the discussion board?#

You can read and contribute to course discussions using the edX app whenever you have an internet connection. In your course, select Discussion.

At the top level of course discussions, you see categories of posts created by course staff, usually organized based on course structure. Within each category, you see lists of posts by learners. Each post has indicators to show the number of comments and responses the post has received. The number of unread comments for a post is shown until you have viewed a post.

The Topics view in course discussions in the mobile app. The Posts view in course discussions in the mobile app.

When you view individual posts, you can add a comment or a response, or upvote a post. Posts by community TAs or course staff have a role indicator next to their username.

For more information about course discussions, see Participating in Course Discussions.

9.5. Video Questions#

9.5.1. How much data do the videos in this app use?#

Course videos are optimized for mobile playback, but watching or downloading any video can result in heavy data use. EdX recommends using a Wi-Fi connection if you intend to watch or download a lot of videos. The edX mobile apps have a Download only on Wi-Fi setting that is enabled by default to help you avoid using your cellular network accidentally.

9.5.2. How do I download videos?#

To download videos, you must be connected to the internet. After you download a video, you can watch it at any time.

  1. In your course, navigate to the video or to the section of the course that contains the video you want to download. You can find videos in the course outline under Course, or find all the videos in the course under Videos.

  2. Select the download icon for an individual video to download a single video, or the download icon for a subsection to download all the videos in that subsection.

    In a subsection, the number to the right of a subsection name indicates the number of videos in that subsection.

    A list of subsections that contain videos, with one subsection selected and showing the number 4 next to the download icon. A list of videos in a subsection, showing the download icon for a single video.

    When a video completes downloading the download icon changes to a check mark.

9.5.3. How do I change my download settings?#

By default, the edX app is set so that it only downloads content, including videos, if you are on a Wi-Fi network. If you change this setting, you might exceed the data allowance for your cellular plan.

  1. From the main menu, select Account.

    The main menu of the edX mobile app, showing the My Courses, Discover, and Account options.
  2. Select Settings.

  3. Change the Wi-Fi only download setting.

9.5.4. How can I make the video full screen?#

Rotate your phone until the video changes to landscape mode, or select “full screen” in the bottom right corner of the video player.

Video with "full screen" icon circled.

9.5.5. Can I speed up the videos?#

Only the iOS version of the edX app supports changing the video playing speed. While a video plays, select Settings (the “gear” icon) at the lower right of the video player, and then select Video Speed.

On the Android version of the app, you cannot change the video playing speed.

9.5.6. How do I delete downloaded videos?#

You can delete downloaded videos one by one or, if you have downloaded all the videos in a course subsection, you can delete all of a subsection’s videos at once.

  1. In your course, navigate to the downloaded video or to the subsection containing the videos you want to delete.

    You can only delete all the videos in a subsection if a checkmark icon appears for the subsection, indicating that you have downloaded all of the videos in that subsection.

  2. Long press a downloaded video or a subsection of downloaded videos.

    The screen title changes to Delete Videos, and a trash can icon appears in the header bar.

    On the Delete Videos page, a list of subsections that contain videos, with one subsection selected and showing the number 4 next to checkmark icon, and a trash can icon available in the header bar.
  3. Select the trash can icon to delete the selected video or videos.

9.6. Troubleshooting#

9.6.1. I see “This video is not available” when I try to watch a video. What can I do?#

If you have problems viewing videos, make sure that you have an internet connection and then try to view or download the video again.

If problems persist, let us know. On the My Courses page, select the “menu” icon, and then select Submit Feedback.