Canvas Deploy Notes (2025-06-04)

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Canvas deploys contain code changes that are intended to fix bugs, improve performance, and prepare for new features. These deploys take place every two weeks and can be tested in the beta environment before the production deploy date indicated in the title of this document. Institutions are responsible for conducting thorough evaluations of their custom CSS/JS with each release and deploy to assess potential impacts.

Fixed bugs are located in Known Issues. For related issues resolved in this deploy, view the 2025-06-04 Known Issues tag.

Unless otherwise stated, all features in this deploy are available in the Beta environment on 2025-05-22 and the Production environment on 2025-06-04.

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For Canvas Platform Service changes (API, GraphQL, Canvas Data), please see the appropriate page in the Change Log

Other questions? Visit the Canvas Release FAQ

Looking to discuss the features in the Deploy Notes? Post a reply in the Features Q&A: Canvas Deploy Notes (2025-06-04)

Table of Contents

• Updated Features
• Admin Tools
• View Notification Interface Update
• Analytics
• New Course Analytics LTI 1.3 Upgrade
• Sections
• Separate Fields for Date and Time
• People
• View Linked Observers in User Profile
• SpeedGrader
• Studio Media Comment Screen Capture and Auto Captioning Feature Option
• Other Updates
• Accessibility Updates
• Enhanced Structural Clarity
• Improved Error Feedback
• Improved Visual Clarity and Semantic Structure
• Streamlined Navigation and Keyboard Accessibility
• Accessibility Tools
• Removal of Redundant Partner Content Statement

Updated Features

Back to Table of Contents

Admin Tools

View Notification Interface Update

Admin

Feature Option Name to Enable	N/A
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status	N/A
Subaccount Configuration	No
Root Account Setting to Enable	Admins can view notifications or Contact Customer Success Manager (CSM)
Permissions	Notifications-view
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	Admin Tools Notification Tab
Related Ideas	None

Summary

When enabled, the View Notification tab in Admin tools displays an updated interface.

Change Benefit

This update improves overall performance, accessibility, and responsiveness, providing a smoother and more reliable experience for admins. The refreshed design also supports future enhancements and aligns with ongoing efforts to modernize the Canvas interface.

Feature Workflow

Admin Tools Notification Tab

The Admin Tools View Notifications tab interface is updated.

Generate Activity Modal

Additionally, the Generate Activity modal interface is updated.

Analytics

New Course Analytics LTI 1.3 Upgrade

Admin

Beta Environment Availability	2025-05-05
Feature Option Name to Enable	New Course and User Analytics See the Canvas Feature Option Summary to learn more about Feature Options.
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status	Account (Enabled/Unlocked)
Subaccount Configuration	Yes
Account/Course Setting to Enable	None
Permissions	Analytics-view pages
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	Attendance, Course Analytics
Related Ideas	None
Previous Feature mention	Canvas Deploy Notes (2025-05-21)

Summary

The New Course Analytics LTI is updated from version 1.1 to 1.3. When admins allow instructors to set their own Online Attendance criteria, the Manage LTI permission is no longer required for instructors. Additionally, the New Analytics LTI app is merged with the Admin Analytics LTI app and the app name is changed to Admin and New Course Analytics.

Change Benefit

This update enhances security by supporting LTI 1.3 with OAuth 2.0 and improves usability by allowing instructors to set Online Attendance criteria without elevated permissions, enabling greater independence in managing course settings.

Feature Workflow

Apps Page Admin and Course Analytics LTI App

In the Apps tab, the new Analytics LTI app name is changed to Admin and New Course Analytics.

Sections

Separate Fields for Date and Time

Instructor

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	Manage Course Sections
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	Course Sections
Related Ideas	None

Summary

In the Course Sections Edit page, the Start and End Date fields have separate inputs for date and time. 

Change Benefit

This update provides more precise scheduling control.

Feature Workflow

Course Section Date and Time Fields

The Start and End Date fields have separate inputs for date and time.

People

View Linked Observers in User Profile

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	Users-view
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	User Details
Related Ideas	None

Summary

Admins can view a list of linked observers on a user's details page. The table displays each observer’s name, email, and last activity time. Only active, valid observer relationships within the same root account are shown—observers with inactive links or unregistered statuses (pre registered, pending approval, creation pending, deleted) are automatically filtered out for clarity.

Change Benefit

This update helps admins quickly identify which observers are actively linked to a user, making it easier to monitor support relationships and troubleshoot access or engagement issues

Feature Workflow

User Details Page Observer Section

Admins can view a list of linked observers on a user's details page. 

SpeedGrader

Studio Media Comment Screen Capture and Auto Captioning Feature Option

Admin

Feature Option Name to Enable	Auto Captioning of Media Comments See the Canvas Feature Option Summary to learn more about Feature Options.
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status	Account (Enabled/Unlocked)
Subaccount Configuration	Yes
Account/Course Setting to Enable	None
Permissions	Inherent to user role
Affects User Interface	No
Affected Areas	SpeedGrader Media Comments
Related Ideas	None

Summary

An Auto Captioning of Media Comments feature option is available allowing media comments to generate auto captioning in SpeedGrader.

Change Benefit

This feature helps improve accessibility by generating captions automatically.

Other Updates

Back to Table of Contents

Accessibility Updates

All Users

Over the coming months, a series of updates will be introduced to enhance Canvas's accessibility, intuitiveness, and equity, with a focus on improving usability for assistive technology users. These updates will include changes in the following areas:

Enhanced Structural Clarity 

Refined semantic markup in the user interface to improve communication of content relationships and hierarchy.

Improved Error Feedback

In the user interface, improved error messages in forms and interactive elements provide clearer and more accessible feedback. Error messages were added to required fields that previously lacked them, while existing error states were updated to follow a consistent pattern. Focused states for missing or incorrect fields ensure a uniform experience for all users, whether using a mouse, keyboard, or screen reader.

Improved Visual Clarity and Semantic Structure

This update improves visual clarity to better support users with low vision, color blindness, and other visual impairments. Changes include enhanced color contrast for text and interactive elements, upgraded components for improved keyboard and screen reader compatibility, and more accurate use of semantic HTML for navigation and interactive elements.

Streamlined Navigation and Keyboard Accessibility

This update enhances keyboard and screen reader navigation to ensure a consistent and intuitive user experience. Improvements include full keyboard operability for interactive elements, clear and descriptive headings and labels, removal of redundant accessibility attributes, responsive page layouts that reflow properly, and consistent use of semantic HTML for navigation components.

Related Blog: Advancing Accessibility in Canvas: On the Path to Full WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance

Accessibility Tools

Removal of Redundant Partner Content Statement

Affected Users: All users

Affects User Interface	No
Affected Feature Areas	Assignments, Course Navigation, Global Navigation, LTI Tools, Modules, Quizzes
Related Ideas	None

Summary

When using a screen reader or keyboard to launch tools such as New Quizzes or Studio, the redundant “The following content is partner provided” message and its surrounding elements are removed.

Change Benefit

This change improves accessibility by reducing screen reader noise and eliminating redundant content, allowing users to navigate and access tools more efficiently.