Why can't students resubmit assignments that use the external google drive tool?

EliseBell

My students are telling me that they can't resubmit assignments where they have already made a submission via the google drive external tool. The due date and 'until' date have not passed, and the number of submissions allowed is 'unlimited'.

Jeff_F

Hello @EliseBell —

This is a limitation of how the external Google Drive LTI handles submissions in Canvas, not a course setting issue. Here I am sharing relevant guides:

This is the primary Google maintained guide for the Google Assignments LTI 1.3 integration. It explains how the tool creates a single Google file per student and how submissions are handled through the external tool rather than as native Canvas uploads. It also documents known limitations and expected behaviors.
Use Assignments LTI with Canvas

This Canvas student guide explains how Google Drive files are submitted and includes an important note that only one file can be submitted per attempt when using Google Drive. It also explains that Google submissions are references to Drive files rather than traditional uploads.
Canvas Student Guide: Upload from Google Drive

This instructor guide explains how Canvas cloud assignments and Google Drive external tool assignments work. It notes that Google Drive based assignments have specific limitations compared to standard file upload assignments and that resubmission behavior differs.
Create a cloud assignment with Google Drive

Also - here are a few common workarounds instructors use:

• Create a new assignment for the resubmission
• Allow students to submit a PDF or Word export for revised work instead
• Instruct students to make edits directly in the original Google Doc if the goal is revision rather than a new submission record
• Switch the assignment to a standard file upload if formal resubmissions are required

I hope this proves useful! ~ Jeff