> This page is part of the [Customer.io documentation](https://docs.customer.io). For the complete index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.customer.io/llms.txt).
> Last updated: July 10, 2026

# Manage your files

[BetaThis feature is new and we're actively working on it.](/accounts/settings/beta-experimental-features/#beta-features)

In Design Studio, manage your emails, templates, components, and styles in one place from your dashboard.

## Overview

To access your dashboard, click **Design Studio** from the left navigation.

[![Design Studio is selected at the bottom of the left hand panel. The dashboard shows Files and Styles at the top. Under that is a preview of recently opened files. Under that All files is selected and shows a list of folders. In the top right are the buttons Import and Create.](https://docs.customer.io/images/design-studio-dashboard-may-15-2025.png)](#a7417511687c9722b53d6594f488da05-lightbox)

From there, you can:

*   Switch between your message files and global [styles](/messaging/design-studio/emails/styles/set-styles/) at the top.
*   Create, edit, or delete your emails, templates, and components.
*   Search and filter for existing files.

To manage assets, like logos and images, go to [Content > Assets](https://fly.customer.io/workspaces/last/journeys/assets). Learn more about [managing your assets](/messaging/channels/asset-library/) and what [file types and sizes we support](/messaging/channels/image-support/). You can also [upload and optimize images from a Design Studio email](/messaging/design-studio/emails/visual-editor/overview/#upload--optimize-images).

## Create files

You can create emails, templates, and custom components in Design Studio.

There are some key differences between these file types:

File type

Use case

Can connect to automation?

**Email**

The messages you send to customers. Can be created from scratch, from a template, or from an imported email file.

yes

**Template**

An outline or layout for a message. Can create an email from a template.

no

**Component**

Reusable, customizable blocks of content to build your messages and templates with.

no

**Components** are reusable blocks of content. Check out our out-of-the-box [standard components](/messaging/design-studio/reusable/standard-components/) to see if those suit your needs! You can also [create custom components from the visual editor](/messaging/design-studio/reusable/components/create-custom-component/#save-a-component-from-the-visual-editor) or [code a custom component](/messaging/design-studio/reusable/components/create-custom-component/) from scratch for things like headers and footers.

To create a file in Design Studio:

1.  Click **Create**, then choose **Email**, **Template**, or **Component** from the dropdown.
2.  Give the file a clear name so your teammates can find it later.

For emails and templates, choose to create from scratch or from an existing template.

### Import files

In addition to creating emails from scratch or templates, you can also import existing emails in two ways:

*   **Upload** a file from your computer
*   **Import from email** by forwarding it to a unique email address in Design Studio

When forwarding, you can either:

*   Send to your workspace’s main import address
*   Send directly to a specific folder or file

Click **Import** in Design Studio to get started.

Learn more about [migrating emails to Design Studio](/messaging/design-studio/migrate-dnd-to-ds/#best-practices-if-you-paste-or-import-code).

#### Upload a file

To upload a file, click **Upload** and choose a file from your computer. You can upload your existing emails with the following extensions:

File type

Extensions

MIME type

HTML

`.htm` `.html`

`text/html`

Email Message

`.eml`

`text/eml`

#### Forward an email to Design Studio

1.  Click **Import**, then choose **Copy Import Email Address**. This copies your workspace’s unique import address to your clipboard.
2.  Forward any email from your inbox to that address.

Your file will appear in a folder called **Imported from Inbound Email** and have a name that uses the subject line and timestamp of the email.

#### Forward an email to a specific file

To import directly into a file or [folder](#organize-files):

1.  Find the file or folder in your dashboard.
2.  Click  and select **Copy Import Email Address**.
3.  Forward your email to that unique address.
4.  Open your file or folder and you’ll find the imported content.

 Emails made outside Customer.io may not work with the visual editor

The visual editor works best with our standard components and most HTML elements. To make all of your HTML editable in the visual editor, [switch to the code editor and add `<x-edit-text>`](/messaging/design-studio/reusable/standard-components/#style-html-like-standard-components).

### Duplicate files

You can duplicate individual files or entire folders.

From your dashboard:

1.  Click  next to the name of the file or folder.
2.  Click **Duplicate** from the dropdown.

The file or folder will appear in your dashboard as “\[Copy\] name.”

### Create from an automation

You can also create a Design Studio message from a campaign, broadcast, or transactional message.

*   In campaigns, drag an **Email** block into your workflow and click **Add Content**.
*   In broadcasts, choose **Email** as your channel type and click the **No content** box.
*   In transactional messages, select **Email** and then **Add Content**.

At the top right is a banner with a header “Create with Design Studio.” Click **Try it out** to switch to this editor.

[![Email selection page. At the top right is a banner with a header Design Studio and a button with a label Try it out.](https://docs.customer.io/images/design-studio-connect-message-try.png)](#94802a69f34461edb1537102e0be99b7-lightbox)

From there, you can select a Design Studio message, copy an existing message, or create a new one from scratch. Click **Create New** if you want to create from a template.

[![design-studio-automation-options.png](https://docs.customer.io/images/design-studio-automation-options.png)](#934764fa1f868e4e86c0d58dc70aae24-lightbox)

#### Switch back to the classic email editors

Click **Go back to classic** to go back to the older email editors at anytime.

[![design-studio-automation-options-2.png](https://docs.customer.io/images/design-studio-automation-options-2.png)](#587ffa521ff06e6dcd8fa6196503963e-lightbox)

## Find files

You can find your files in Design Studio in a few different ways:

*   **Search by name or content**: To quickly locate a file, use the **Search bar**. This looks for keywords across your filenames and file content. At the top of the results, you’ll see how many files match your search. The matching text is highlighted with an excerpt of the line around it.
    
*   **Reopen recent files**: Under **Recent Files** at the top of the dashboard, you’ll see up to five files presented as thumbnails in order of how recently you opened them.
    
*   **Filter by file type**: At the top of the table, you can choose the type of file to view. By default, **All** is selected and includes all file types. Click **Messages**, **Templates**, or **Components** to narrow your view further.
    
*   **Sort your files and folders**: Towards the bottom of your dashboards is a list of your folders and files. By default, files are in alphabetical order by **Name**, with folders listed first. You can also sort them by whether or not they are **Used In** an automation, or when they were **Last Edited**. Click a column header to sort in descending or ascending order.
    

## Organize files

Keep your files organized by creating **folders**.

1.  Click **Create**.
2.  Click **New Folder**.
3.  Name your folder.
4.  Click and drag your files into the folder.

You can create a subfolder the same way you create a folder. Then drag it into the folder you’d like it filed under.

You can also click on the  icon next to an existing folder, and click **New Folder** in the dropdown. It will automatically be nested in the larger folder you selected.

## Delete files

You can delete files from your dashboard by clicking  next to the filename, and selecting **Delete** from the dropdown. You can delete individual files, or entire folders.

 Deleting a folder deletes all subfolders and files.

When you’re ready, click **OK** in the pop-up modal, and your files will be permanently removed.

 You can’t delete a file that’s connected to an automation in Journeys

You must first [disconnect it from the automation](/messaging/design-studio/emails/connected/disconnect-from-automation/), then you can delete it.

## Publish messages

With Design Studio, you create emails and connect them to campaigns, broadcasts, or transactional messages. Then when you make an update to a connected message, you decide when to push those changes to their automations. This is called **publishing** in Design Studio.

To publish messages with drafted changes, go to the Design Studio dashboard:

1.  Select one or more messages.
2.  Click **Publish** above the table.

When you publish a message, we compile all changes to the email: updates you made to the email file, changes to the code of referenced components, and any changes to global styles.

[Learn more about publishing emails in Design Studio](/messaging/design-studio/emails/connected/publish-changes/#publish-your-changes).

*   *   [Overview](#overview)
    *   [Create files](#create-files)
        *   [Import files](#import-files)
            *   [Upload a file](#upload-a-file)
            *   [Forward an email to Design Studio](#forward-an-email-to-design-studio)
            *   [Forward an email to a specific file](#forward-an-email-to-a-specific-file)
        *   [Duplicate files](#duplicate-files)
        *   [Create from an automation](#create-from-an-automation)
            *   [Switch back to the classic email editors](#switch-back-to-the-classic-email-editors)
    *   [Find files](#find-files)
    *   [Organize files](#organize-files)
    *   [Delete files](#delete-files)
    *   [Publish messages](#publish-messages)

Copy page

Copy page [Download .md](/messaging/design-studio/file-manager.md)

Is this page helpful?

![](https://docs.customer.io/images/export-success.png) ![](https://docs.customer.io/images/export-failure.png)

# How can we make it better?

Close

Do you need help from Customer.io support?  No  
 Yes

What part of Customer.io do you need help with? 

How can we improve this page?

Email (optional):  Please provide a valid email address

 I am not a bot

 

We appreciate your feedback!

Our support team will contact you as soon as possible