How do I keep my Canvas Calendar from downloading in a different timezone?

CSmith13

I am set to CST timezone both personal calendar and canvas profile/calendar. However, when I download the canvas calendar to my iCalendar it shows GMT instead of CST. How do I prevent that from changing in my iCalendar when I download the Canvas assignments?

Thank you in advance.

Jeff_F

Hello @CSmith13 -

This is actually a known limitation with how Canvas exports calendar data to external calendar applications. When Canvas generates an iCalendar (.ics) feed, it exports the events in UTC/GMT format by design. This is standard practice for iCalendar feeds to ensure universal compatibility across different calendar systems. Unfortunately, there isn't a setting within Canvas that allows you to change this behavior.

However, see below for options. Will one of these help? ~ Jeff

——
Yes, you can make an imported Canvas calendar (which publishes its ICS feed in UTC/GMT) display in Central Time — but the setting must be changed in your calendar app, not in Canvas.

Canvas always exports ICS feeds in UTC. Your device or calendar application is what decides how those times are displayed.

Below is how to force CST display depending on your iCalendar‑compatible app.

iPhone or iPad (Calendar app)

You can tell the Calendar app to always display events in CST by turning on Time Zone Override.

Steps

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Calendar
3. Tap Time Zone Override
4. Turn Time Zone Override ON
5. Tap Time Zone and choose Chicago (or another CST city)

This forces all calendar events including those imported from Canvas to show in CST. [support.apple.com], [iphonelife.com]

macOS Calendar (iCalendar on Mac)

Mac Calendar also supports fixed display time zones.

Steps

1. Open the Calendar app
2. Go to Calendar > Settings > Advanced
3. Enable Turn on time zone support
4. Choose America/Chicago or your preferred CST region

This makes your imported Canvas ICS events display in CST. [austinmacworks.com]

iCloud.com Calendar

You can set a persistent time‑zone via “Time Zone Support.”

Steps

1. Open iCloud.com > Calendar
2. Go to Settings → Formats & Time Zone
3. Turn on Enable time zone support
4. Choose Central Time

Your events will then show in CST. [support.apple.com]

Important notes

• Canvas cannot change the exported timezone — it's always UTC.
• When you import or subscribe to the feed, your calendar app converts UTC to whatever time zone you configure.
• Time Zone Override or Time Zone Support needs to be turned on per device.

If you want, tell me which calendar app you’re using (Apple Calendar on iPhone/iPad, Mac Calendar, Outlook, Google Calendar, etc.) and I’ll give you the exact steps for that app.