Submit an Assignment
You can submit online assignments in Canvas using several submission types. Instructors can choose what kind of online submissions they want you to use. You may also have the option to resubmit assignments if your instructor allows.
Any attachments added as part of a graded assignment submission are also copied to your user files but are not counted against your user quota. However, once the file has been uploaded as a submission, you cannot delete the file. Files are stored in the Submissions folder.
Before submitting an assignment, you may want to review all assignment information, such as the assignment rubric, if any.
This lesson shows how to turn in a standard online assignment. Learn how to submit a peer review assignment.
Third-Party File Application Submissions
You can submit assignments from Google Drive, Dropbox, or another third-party service via your desktop computer in one of two ways:
- Download the file to your computer and submit as a File Upload
- Share the file, copy the file URL, and submit as a Website URL
Mobile Submissions
You can also submit assignments using your Android or iOS device.
Notes:
- Not all file types may be available for your assignment, depending on the assignment submission type set by your instructor.
- Not all of your assignments may be submitted online. If you cannot see the Submit Assignment link, your instructor may want you to submit your assignment in a different way or the availability date has passed. View the description of the assignment for instructions, or contact your instructor for assistance.
- Canvas does not support file uploads larger than 5 GB.
- If enabled in your account, Canvas plays a celebration animation when you submit an assignment on time. However, if you prefer, you can disable this feature option in your user settings.
- If the assignment you are accessing displays differently, your assignment may be using the Assignment Enhancements feature option. Please view this guide for more information.
1. In Course Navigation, click the Assignments link.
Note: You can also access your Assignments through your user or course dashboard, the Syllabus, Gradebook, Calendar, or Modules.
2. Click the name of an assignment.
3. To submit an assignment, click the Submit Assignment button to submit your work.
Note: If you cannot see the Submit Assignment button, your instructor may not want you to submit your assignment online or the availability date has passed. View the description of the assignment for instructions, or contact your instructor for assistance.
View Submission Attempts
Your instructor may limit the number of submission attempts you are allotted for an assignment. If your assignment has a limited number of submissions, you can view the number of submission attempts you have made [1] and the number of submission allowed for the assignment [2].
Once you have used all your submission attempts, the Submit Assignment button displays as disabled [3].
A banner may appear above your assignment to indicate that your instructor has removed the assignment from total grade calculations. However, this setting does not affect assignment submissions.
Select Submission Type
Your instructor will decide what kinds of submissions are appropriate for each Assignment. There are four submission types: upload a file, submit a text entry, enter a website URL, or submit media. You can only select one submission type per submission.
Note: Not all file types may be available for your Assignment, depending on the assignment submission type set by your instructor.
Submit a File Upload
To upload a file from your computer and submit it as your assignment, select the File Upload tab.
Submit a Text Entry
To submit a text entry assignment, select the Text Entry tab.
Note: The assignment submission Rich Content Editor includes a word count display below the bottom right corner of the text box.
Submit Website URL
To submit a website URL, select the Website URL tab.
Submit Media Recording
To submit a media recording, select the Media tab.
Submit Google Drive
To submit a google drive file, select the Google Doc or Google Drive tab. With either, you'll be promted to authorize your google drive account.
4. When you are ready to submit your assignment, click the Submit Assignment button.
Note: Large files submitted using the File Upload tab display a submission status indicator.
After you have submitted your work, you will see information in the right-hand Sidebar about your submission. For file uploads, the sidebar provides a link to your submission to download if necessary.
If the instructor permits multiple attempts, you may, if you choose, resubmit another version of your assignment using the Re-submit Assignment button. You will only be able to view the details of your most recent submission in the Sidebar, but your instructor will be able to see all of your submissions.
Once the instructor has graded your submission, the Grades link in Course Navigation displays a grading indicator.
You can also see details about your assignment and links to additional feedback in your Grades page.
Notes:
- Your assignment will still appear in Assignments and the Syllabus; the listing is not removed with assignment submissions.
- When you resubmit an assignment, you can only access and view your most recent submission. However, instructors can view all of your submissions.
You can submit an assignment in Canvas using text entry. Text entry assignments are created in the Rich Content Editor. You may also have the option to resubmit assignments if your instructor allows.
Before submitting an assignment, you may want to review all assignment information, such as the assignment rubric, if any.
Notes:
- Not all of your assignments may be submitted online. If you cannot see the Submit Assignment link, your instructor may want you to submit your assignment in a different way, or the availability date has passed. View the description of the assignment for instructions, or contact your instructor for assistance.
- You can also submit assignments using your Android or iOS device.
- If enabled in your account, Canvas plays a celebration animation when you submit an assignment on time. However, if you prefer, you can disable this feature option in your user settings.
- If the assignment you are accessing displays differently, your assignment may be using the Assignment Enhancements feature option. Please view this guide for more information.
1. In Course Navigation, click the Assignments link.
Note: You can also access your Assignments through your user or course dashboard, the Syllabus, Gradebook, Calendar, or Modules.
2. Click the name of an assignment.
3. To submit an assignment, click the Submit Assignment button to submit your work.
Note: If you cannot see the Submit Assignment button, your instructor may not want you to submit your assignment online or the availability date has passed. View the description of the assignment for instructions, or contact your instructor for assistance.
A banner may appear above your assignment to indicate that your instructor has removed the assignment from total grade calculations. However, this setting does not affect assignment submissions.
4. To submit a text entry assignment, select the Text Entry tab.
5. Type or copy and paste text into the Rich Content Editor. Click the Submit Assignment button.
As part of your text entry assignment submission, you can record media or upload a media file [1].
You can also embed images from Canvas or upload images in your text entry assignment submission [2].
Any files added as part of a graded assignment submission are also copied to your user files but are not counted against your user quota. However, once the file has been uploaded as a submission, you cannot delete the file. Files are stored in the Submissions folder.
The Sidebar displays information about your submission [1].
If allowed by your instructor, you may choose to resubmit another version of your assignment by clicking the Re-Submit Assignment button [2]. You will only be able to view the details of your most recent submission in the Sidebar, but your instructor will be able to see all of your submissions.
Once the instructor has graded your submission, the Grades link in Course Navigation displays a grading indicator. You can also see details about your assignment and links to additional feedback in your Grades page.
Notes:
- After submitting an assignment, the assignment will still appear in Assignments and in the Syllabus; the listing is not removed with assignment submissions.
- When you resubmit an assignment, you can only access and view your most recent submission. However, instructors can view all of your submissions.
If your institution has enabled Google Docs or Google Drive as a submission type, you can upload a file from Google Drive for an assignment. Unlike other assignment submissions, files from Google Drive are not uploaded into your Canvas user files.
Canvas accepts Google Doc, Google Sheet, and Google Slide files. You can also upload any uploaded Word (.doc/.docx), Excel (.xls/.xlsx), PowerPoint (.ppt/.pptx), and PDF files not converted to Google Docs formatting.
Notes:
- If the Google Docs or Google Drive tab is not available in your submission, your institution has not enabled this feature.
- If your course displays a link to your Google Drive in the Course Navigation Menu, your course has enabled Google Drive directly. Otherwise, you must enable Google Drive a web service in your user profile to upload Google Drive files.
- In Google Drive assignments, you can only submit one file for your submission.
- When Google Drive files (docs, sheets, and slides) are uploaded as a submission, the files convert to their Microsoft counterpart file types and appear in the submission as respective Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files. This conversion essentially preserves the submission in its current state; any changes made to the file in Google Drive will not be updated in the submission.
- If enabled in your account, Canvas plays a celebration animation when you submit an assignment on time. However, if you prefer, you can disable this feature option in your user settings.
- If the assignment you are accessing displays differently, your assignment may be using the Assignment Enhancements feature option. Please view this guide for more information.
6. After you submit your assignment, Canvas displays a message notifying you that your submission is processing. You can navigate away from the assignment submission page without disrupting the file upload. You will also receive an email notification when your submission completes processing.
To clear the notification, click the OK button.
View the confirmation of your assignment submission.
View Uploading and Failed Submission Icons
If your submission has been queued for upload, an uploading icon displays [1]. This icon also displays for your instructor if they access the assignment before it uploads.
If your submission failed to upload, an upload failed icon displays [2]. Click the download submission link to view the error.
You can upload a video or audio file to submit as an assignment in Canvas. You can also use Canvas to record an audio or video file to submit as an assignment. Before submitting an assignment, you may want to review all assignment information, such as the assignment rubric, if any. You can also submit assignments using your Android or iOS device.
Any attachments added as part of a graded assignment submission are also copied to your user files but are not counted against your user quota. However, once the file has been uploaded as a submission, you cannot delete the file. Files are stored in the Submissions folder.
To learn more about available options for using media files in Canvas, view the Canvas Media Comparison PDF.
Notes:
- Canvas will not accept media uploads larger than 500 MB.
- Your instructor will decide what type of submissions are allowed. One or both of these options may not be available. You may also have the option to resubmit assignments if your instructor allows.
- Not all of your assignments may be submitted online. If you cannot see the Submit Assignment link, your instructor may want you to submit your assignment in a different way, or the availability date has passed. View the description of the assignment for instructions, or contact your instructor for assistance.
- If enabled in your account, Canvas plays a celebration animation when you submit an assignment on time. However, if you prefer, you can disable this feature option in your user settings.
- If the assignment you are accessing displays differently, your assignment may be using the Assignment Enhancements feature option. Please view this guide for more information.
1. In Course Navigation, click the Assignments link.
2. Click the name of the assignment.
3. Click the Submit Assignment button.
Note: If you cannot see the Submit Assignment button, your instructor may not want you to submit your assignment online or the availability date has passed. View the description of the assignment for instructions, or contact your instructor for assistance.
A banner may appear above your assignment to indicate that your instructor has removed the assignment from total grade calculations. However, this setting does not affect assignment submissions.
4. To open the media upload tool, select the Media tab and click the Record/Upload Media button.
Record Media
You have the option to record video or record audio to upload to the assignment.
To select a microphone for your recording, click the Mic button [1]. To select a webcam, or, to turn the webcam off for audio-only recordings, click the Webcam button [2].
Note: If you receive an error that says, "Media comment uploading has not been set up properly," please contact your instructor.
Upload Media
You can upload an audio file [1] or a upload a video file [2] to your assignment. The process is the same for both.
Select the file you want to upload and click Open to begin uploading the file.
Monitor the file upload. The uploading process will finish automatically.
5. View your media recording upload in the assignment submission box [1]. You can add text comments to your recording [2].
To replace the recorded or uploaded media before submitting your assignment, refresh your web browser and record or upload your media again.
To submit your recording, click the Submit Assignment button [3].
The Sidebar displays information about your submission.
If allowed by your instructor, you may choose to resubmit another version of your assignment by clicking the Re-Submit Assignment button. You will only be able to view the details of your most recent submission in the Sidebar, but your instructor will be able to see all of your submissions.
Once the instructor has graded your submission, the Grades link in Course Navigation displays a grading indicator. You can also see details about your assignment and links to additional feedback in your Grades page.
Notes:
- After submitting an assignment, the assignment will still appear in Assignments and in the Syllabus; the listing is not removed with assignment submissions.
- When you resubmit an assignment, you can only access and view your most recent submission. However, instructors can view all of your submissions.