SVG File Upload Errors

[tmcnally]

After uploading SVG files as a part of our standard course design process, the files are no longer viewable. SVG files that had already been uploaded are still viewable, but only files uploaded as of today are corrupted in Canvas. The files are not corrupted in their exported location on the disc drive.

The only noticeable distinction between the two types is newly uploaded are marked as "source code" kinds while old ones are marked as "unknown" kinds. I'm not entirely sure where this change would have been made.

[Gabriel33]

I just tested it, and I am having the same issue.

Uploading an SVG image for a page on the RCE, I see the image at first, then it disappears, showing only a download link.

In Files, I see the same think in your screenshot, a file with a "</>" in it, instead of the actual image.

[abrgomez]

We noticed this same issue today. Tried uploading directly to the folder, through the RCE dialog, and even by importing and unzipping a zip file. It shows up as a source code file and I't cannot be used as image. When inserting through the RCE button, it inserts as a link. And adding the file ID directly to the <img > tag just shows as a broken picture.

[dbrace]

Hi everyone!

Since (according to  Add SVG Images to Content Pages - Instructure Community - 357993 ) this is possible, are any of you able to report the problem directly to Canvas Support?

-Doug

[Gabriel33]

And it used to work, so it's definitely a bug (not listed as a change in the latest release/deploy notes either).

But I can't report it directly to Canvas Support.
I have to send a ticket request to my University, which will go through 8 other people (at least that's what happened to a ticket for an LTI issue last month).
Hopefully someone else having this issue will have a shorter path.

[dbrace]

I am currently in the proces or reporting this to Canvas Support. I do not expect the initial support representative to be able to help me or to resolve it (or the "next level up" that they consult with while I am in chat with them) but I did include (1) the link to the Canvas Idea showing that this functionality was released in early 2023 and (2) the link to this question in the Community.

The case is 12369595.

-Doug

[paul_fynn]

we have svg's stored as central files that are institutionally available - where the image is linke via 'files preview' we are not currently seeing any issues,

However, when I look in the files area of the host course, the svg files are not previewing as they used to .... I just see a file/image placeholder...

[dbrace]

I have SVG files (some of I have had for a while and some I have just downloaded from free sources online) that display fine in macOS and other apps but not in Canvas.  I also just tried again in my Canvas FFT account (great for testing functionality to figure out if the problem is with my institution's instance for with Canvas as a whole and am still having a problem).

I have not heard anything back from Support yet. I will next in with them in the later-half of the week.

[Gabriel33]

Thanks for reporting it at least.

Having an exam today, had to convert the images to .PNG to post them. So much work to make them nice and scalable, now they're an ugly bunch of pixels because of this bug.

Same thing with the animated SVGs I make which I have to convert to GIFs because Canvas doesn't support animated SVGs, but those never worked in Canvas anyway.

[MaxVosloo]

I'm coming across this same issue. any new .svg files i upload to the course no longer display as images in the RCE, they can only be displayed as links. but .svg files i uploaded a few weeks ago work fine? 

When would we hear about a fix for this? 

[RickeJ]

I have been watching this issue since June 5th or so and I see that there is still an issue.  I first noticed this issue when exporting a course from our QA environment and importing it in our PROD environment.  This also happened when attempting to upload the '.svg' files directly to the course.  All of the .svgs broken.  I did find that I was able to import from another course that has been in our PROD environment for several terms. 

This is how I was able to get the '.svg' files into the course without having to convert them to .pngs. 

Here are the steps I took:  In the course with broken '.svg' files > Import Existing Content > Copy a Canvas Course > Select specific content > + Add to Import Queue > Select Content > Files (select images I needed) > Select Content.  As long as the file path in the original course matched the target course I did not need to relink the images.   This is how I was able to get the '.svg' files into the course without having to convert them to .pngs. 

We need Canvas to look at this and let us know why it is suddenly unable to support 'svg' files as it was able to do previously.  

[paul_fynn]

I wonder if this is a similar issue to that which was resolved over the winter when Qiz images were being broken on rollover, which may have something to do with the filechain feature which can be found in the RestAPI documentation.

Certainly we are not experiencing an issue with existing images - only with new images, although we are now entering 'copyover season' which is where I'd expect this kind of issue coming up....

[RickeJ]

I didn't see an issue when we copied a course (where the images were uploaded prior to this issue) in the same environment.  Mostly with new courses where we try to upload an .svg file.  

[dbrace]

I meant to ask in the second-half of last week but I was not able to.

I have just requested an update and I will let you know how they respond.

-Doug

P.S. As of right now, I do not see it officially documented as a known issue at https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Known-Issues/tkb-p/issues.

[dbrace]

I received an update (non-update) from Canvas Support.

=====

On Mon, Jun 16, 2025 at 2:31 PM ET

Hello Douglas,

Thank you for reaching out!

As I can see your ticket has already been attached to the software engineers' relevant issue ticket. Sadly they could not fix the problem as of yet.

Once there is an update on your case, you will receive an email moving forward.
Your patience is highly appreciated.

If you would have any further Canvas related queries, please do not hesitate to reach out to us again.

[dbrace · Accepted solution]

I received an update from Canvas Support.

=====

Our engineers have deployed a fix for this issue, however the SVG files that have the issue will need to be re-uploaded.

=====

I tested on my own and everything is good with a newly uploaded SVG file.

If you have problems, I would recommend reaching out directly to Canvas Support.

-Doug

[RickeJ]

Thanks, Doug!  I appreciate this information!