Upcoming Canvas Changes
2026-06-17
- Deprecation: Removal of Unauthenticated File Access
2026-06-20
- Breaking Change/Enforcement: User-Agent Header Enforcement
2026-06-30
- Deprecation: Removal of Legacy Login User Interface.
- End of Life: Canvas ePortfolios No Longer Available
2026-07-01
- Enforcement: New Quizzes Native Canvas Integration is Enforced
20206-07-18
- Enforcement: Performance and Usability Upgrades for SpeedGrader Feature Option is removed.
- Breaking Change: Assignment lock_at value reflects student overrides
For more information, please see Instructure Enforcements, Deprecations, and Breaking Changes.
Release notes outline upcoming customer-impacting changes that are expected to display in beta and/or production environments. Please note that features considered for future development are not included in the notes.
- Visit the Canvas Collaborative Roadmap to explore upcoming work and share feedback. Your input helps guide future product development.
- For Canvas Platform Service changes (API, GraphQL, Canvas Data), please see the appropriate page in the Change Log.
- Institutions are responsible for conducting thorough evaluations of their custom CSS/JS with each release and deploy to assess potential impacts.
Unless otherwise stated, all features in this release are available in the Beta environment on 2026-04-20 and the Production environment on 2026-05-16.
New Features
Authentication
Discovery Page Configuration- Admin
Feature Option to Enable | N/A |
|---|
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status | N/A |
Subaccount Configuration | N/A |
Account/Course Setting to Enable | N/A |
Permissions | Account-level settings - manage |
Affects User Interface | Yes |
Affected Areas | Authentication |
Summary
Admins can configure a Discovery Page directly from the Root Account Authentication page.
- A Preview section displays a live example of the Discovery Page as login options are added in the configuration menu. The branding shown in the preview matches the Login Options branding configured in the Theme Editor.
- A Configuration panel allows permitted admins to manage the login options available on the Discovery Page
Note: The same authentication provider can be used multiple times if needed. A maximum of 10 login options is supported.
Change Benefit
- Simplified Discovery Page setup: Provides a native interface for creating role-specific login buttons mapped to Auth Provider IDs, eliminating the need for custom code while ensuring a secure, mobile-friendly experience.
Feature Workflow
In the Authentication page’s Discovery Page section, click the Configure button to set up a native Canvas Discovery Page.
Admins can preview a live example of the Discovery page as options are added [1]. To add and manage Login options, click the Add button [2].
Each login option has 3 configurable settings:
- Login Button Text (Required) [1]: Defines the text displayed on the login button shown on the Discovery Page. Limited to 50 characters.
- Select Authentication Provider (Required) [2]: Defines the authentication method users are redirected to when the button is selected. The login URL for each Auth Provider is available on the main Authentication page.
- Button Icon (Default: None) [3]: Allows selection of a login icon for the button. Options include commonly used identity provider icons across Canvas customers, or no icon.
- If none of the available icons are preferred, an emoji can be used in the Login Button Text field as an alternative icon.
Click the Done button to save the login option [4].
Note: If required fields are incorrectly populated, clicking the Done button will highlight the errors and prevent saving. Resolve the identified errors, then select Done again to save the configuration.
Admins can edit [1], delete [2] and change the order of options [3].
Note: Selecting the down arrow on a card at the bottom of the Main Sign-in Options section moves the card to the More Sign-in Options section.
If at least one login option is placed in the More Sign-in Options section, a More Sign-in Options link displays on the Discovery Page [1]. Selecting the link reveals the additional options. To save the configuration, click the Save button [2].
To use the Discovery Page instead of the Discovery URL or the first listed authentication method, enable the Use Discovery Page toggle[1]. Then click the Save button [2].
Note: Enabling this setting does not remove a populated Discovery URL. Instead, traffic is redirected to the Discovery Page rather than the Discovery URL.
Feature Video: Not Available
Canvas Apps
Manage App Registration- Admin
Feature Option Name to Enable | N/A |
|---|
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status | N/A |
Subaccount Configuration | N/A |
Account/Course Setting to Enable | None |
Permissions | Inherent to user role |
Affects User Interface | Yes |
Affected Areas | Canvas Apps |
Summary
Admins can turn app registration locked or unlocked directly from the tool details header in the Apps page.
- Unlocked: Users with the client ID can deploy the app anywhere they have permission. Apps deployed at the course level continue to copy during course copy.
- Locked (current behavior): Users with the client ID for this app can only deploy it via Canvas Apps in the root account. Apps deployed at the course level do not copy with course copy.
Change Benefit
- App Registration Controls: Ensures apps are deployed only in the intended accounts, helping admins manage access and reduce deployment errors.
Feature Workflow
When a tool is unlocked, a pill displays the Unlocked status [1]. To lock the app, click the Lock app button [2].
When a tool is locked, a pill displays the locked status [1]. To unlock the app, click the Unlock app button [2].
Inherited keys cannot be locked because they are not owned by the account.
Feature Video: Not Available
Portfolio
Video and Image Support- All Users
Feature Option to Enable | N/A |
|---|
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status | N/A |
Subaccount Configuration | N/A |
Account/Course Setting to Enable | None |
Permissions | Inherent to user role |
Affects User Interface | Yes |
Affected Areas | Portfolio Rich Content Editor |
Summary
Users can upload video files as standalone portfolio artifacts and use the Rich Content Editor (RCE) to embed videos and images within portfolio entries.
Video uploads:
- Upload size is limited to 50 MB
- Uploaded videos are downloadable from portfolio
- Users can upload video files as standalone portfolio artifacts
RCE Embed:
- Embedded videos and images display on both desktop and mobile
- Embedded videos and images follow existing portfolio privacy and sharing settings
Change Benefit
- Enhanced portfolio evidence: Enables learners and educators to include media and images in portfolio entries, allowing them to:
- Capture performance-based, practical, creative, and reflective evidence that cannot be fully represented through text alone
- Provide educators and reviewers with more authentic, multimedia artifacts to support assessment across disciplines such as CTE, arts, teacher education, nursing, and project-based learning
- Expand the types of evidence learners can submit, resulting in more complete and meaningful portfolios
Feature Workflow
Users can add image or video files using the Rich Content Editor [1] or attaching them as files [2].
Feature Video: Not Available
Portfolio
Enhanced Linked Evidence Labeling- All Users
Feature Option to Enable | N/A |
|---|
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status | N/A |
Subaccount Configuration | N/A |
Account/Course Setting to Enable | None |
Permissions | Inherent to user role |
Affects User Interface | Yes |
Affected Areas | Portfolio Rich Content Editor |
Summary
Users can add a custom name to linked evidence.
Change Benefit
- Enhanced linked evidence labeling: Allows users to improve clarity and organization within portfolios, enabling them to:
- Provide meaningful context for each piece of linked evidence
- Help educators and reviewers quickly understand the purpose and content of submitted work
- Streamline review and assessment by reducing the need to open or interpret artifacts individually
- Improve overall portfolio structure, making evidence easier to navigate and evaluate
Feature Workflow
In the Rich Content Editor and attaching a link, users can add a custom text.
Feature Video: Not Available
Portfolio
Updated Evidence and Requirement Trays- All Users
Feature Option to Enable | N/A |
|---|
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status | N/A |
Subaccount Configuration | N/A |
Account/Course Setting to Enable | None |
Permissions | Inherent to user role |
Affects User Interface | Yes |
Affected Areas | Portfolio Rich Content Editor |
Summary
In the Create New Evidence and Create new Requirement trays, users can change the project type without losing content.
Change Benefit
- Improved flexibility when creating portfolio items: Allows users to switch project types in the Create New Evidence and Create New Requirement trays without losing any entered content, enabling them to:
- Experiment with different project types without restarting their work
- Reduce the risk of data loss during configuration changes
- Save time by preserving existing content when making adjustments
- Create and refine portfolio entries more efficiently and with greater confidence
Feature Workflow
In the Create Evidence tray, an Evidence type drop-down menu displays.
Feature Video: Not Available
Portfolio
Guided Reflection Prompts- Instructors
Feature Option to Enable | N/A |
|---|
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status | N/A |
Subaccount Configuration | N/A |
Account/Course Setting to Enable | None |
Permissions | Inherent to user role |
Affects User Interface | Yes |
Affected Areas | Portfolio Rich Content Editor |
Summary
Guided prompts are available allowing educators to add customizable prompts to manually created evidence requirements within Evaluation Portfolios.
Notes:
- Instructors can add, edit, or remove reflection prompts on portfolio evidence until an evaluation portfolio is published
- Up to five prompts are supported per evidence item
- Prompts apply across all supported custom portfolio evidence types, including projects, extracurricular activities, and professional experiences
- Canvas course assignments do not support guided reflections
Change Benefit
- Improved reflection quality and consistency: Helps learners provide more structured and meaningful reflections while ensuring documentation is consistent across submissions.
Feature Workflow
To add custom guided questions to evidence, click the Add question link.
Feature Video: Not Available
Themes
Login Page Custom Text- Admin
Discovery Component Beta Environment Availability | 2026-05-07 Note: This date falls outside the regular beta release cadence. |
|---|
Feature Option to Enable | N/A |
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status | N/A |
Subaccount Configuration | N/A |
Account/Course Setting to Enable | None |
Permissions | Inherent to user role |
Affects User Interface | Yes |
Affected Areas | Themes |
Summary
In Themes, admins can add custom text to display on the Login, Discovery, and Registration pages.
Notes:
- The Discovery Page component is available in the beta environment on 2026-05-07. All other features are included in the standard beta release.
- Previews are not available for custom Discovery or Registration texts in the Theme Editor UI.
- The Discovery page previews are not available in beta.
- To view the Registration Custom Message box, self-registration must be set to All user types.
- To view the Parent Registration Custom Message box, self-registration must be set to All user types or Observer accounts only.
- Messages are limited to 500 characters.
- Links are not supported in custom text; institutions are encouraged to add custom links to the Help menu for user access.
Change Benefit
- Improved institutional communication at key entry points: helps ensure users receive clear, relevant guidance and branding information when accessing or registering in the system.
Feature Workflow
In Themes, expand the Login Screen component [1] and then add a custom message [2].
Admins can preview custom text before it is displayed to users.
In the Discovery Screen component [1], admins can enter the custom text in the Discovery Custom Message field [2].
Note: The Discovery page custom text cannot be previewed before it is displayed to users.
In the Registration Screen section, admins can add custom text for the user registration page [1] and the parent registration page [2].
Note: Admins can also preview the message for the registration page before it is displayed to users.
Feature Video: Not Available
Other Updates
External Tools
LTI 1.3 Tool Configuration Schema Updates- Admin
Affected Canvas Areas | External Tools |
|---|
Affects User Interface | No |
Summary
The schema for LTI 1.3 tool configurations is updated. For most tool providers, no action is needed. Technically invalid but semantically clear configurations are automatically converted to a valid form.
Key Updates:
- custom_fields: Must be a plain JSON object with string keys and string values. Numbers or booleans are no longer allowed. Canvas already stringifies values, so this aligns the database with the actual data sent. Applies to both base-level and placement-specific custom fields.
- public_jwk: Must be absent or a JSON object with string keys and values.
- selection_height, selection_width, launch_height, launch_width: Must be numbers representing pixels.
- windowTarget: Must be absent for launching in the current window or _blank for launching in a new window. Other values have been removed, which will not change the launch behavior.
- enabled property (placement): Must be a boolean. String values such as "true", "false", "t", or "f" are automatically coerced.
- default property (account_navigation/course_navigation): Only "enabled" or "disabled" are accepted. Boolean or stringified boolean values were always ignored and will now be removed.
- use_tray (editor_button placement): Now requires a boolean.
For almost all tools installed in Canvas, no configuration changes are required, and behavior remains the same. If a configuration cannot be automatically coerced, an error will occur when saving a configuration with invalid values on the Developer Keys page or Canvas Apps after this update is applied. This will not change the function of previously installed tools.
Change Benefit
- Improved LTI configuration reliability and consistency: Tightens the schema for LTI 1.3 tool configurations to better align with actual system behavior, reducing confusion and ensuring more predictable integrations.
User Settings
Removal of User-Generated Access Tokens for Free for Teacher Accounts- All users
Affected Canvas Areas | User Settings |
|---|
Affects User Interface | Yes |
Summary
User-generated access tokens and API access are no longer supported for Free for Teacher accounts.
Change Benefit
- Improved System Security: Enhances overall system security to better protect data and provide a safer, more reliable user experience.
