Canvas Release Notes (2025-10-18)

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Upcoming Canvas Changes

2025-11-05

• Breaking Change: Boolean Values Returned as Strings in LTI 1.3 Launches

For more information, please see Upcoming Canvas 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.

Unless otherwise stated, all features in this release are available in the Beta environment on 2025-09-15 and the Production environment on 2025-10-18.

All Resources | Features in this release may be included in product blogs and other content areas. For all related links, view the 2025-10-18 Community tag.

• Institutions are responsible for conducting thorough evaluations of their custom CSS/JS with each release and deploy to assess potential impacts.
• Subscribe to the Canvas release notes to be notified of updates.
• For general questions related to this release, see the Canvas Release Notes FAQ
• Looking to discuss the features in the Release Notes? Post a reply in the Features Q&A: Canvas Release Notes (2025-10-18)

Table of Contents

• Upcoming Canvas Changes
• 2025-11-05
• New Features
• People
• Differentiation Tags Feature Option Removed
• New Feature Previews
• Discussion/Inbox AI Translations [This feature is currently delayed to the production environment an...
• Other Updates
• Developer Keys
• Canvas Apps Link [Reverted and Delayed in all environments as of 2025-10-23]

New Features

People

Differentiation Tags Feature Option Removed

Instructor

Feature Option removed in Production Environment	2025-10-22
Feature Option to Enable	N/A
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status	N/A
Subaccount Configuration	Yes
Account/Course Setting to Enable	Differentiation Tags
Permissions	Manage Differentiation Tags
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	People
Related Ideas	None

Summary

The Differentiation Tags feature option is removed for all users. Admins can manage this functionality using the Account Setting checkbox. Differentiation tags allow instructors to assign specific content to customized sets of students. These sets are not visible to students. Additionally, admins can access differentiation tags through Canvas Data for reporting and analysis.

Note: The Differentiation Tags feature user group will close for participation on January 18, 2026. After this date, current members can continue to view information in the group in a read-only format. 

Change Benefit

This feature allows Instructors to organize students into custom groups based on learning needs, interests, or accommodations. These tags streamline assigning content, communicating, tracking accommodations, and filtering the gradebook—making personalized instruction easier and more discreet.

Feature Workflow

Differentiation Tags Account Setting

In Account Settings, to enable the feature, click the Differentiation Tags checkbox.

People Manage Tags ButtonIn the People page of a course, click the Manage Tags button.

Note: Due to permission caching, changes may take up to an hour to appear unless a user’s cache is manually cleared in Canvas.

Manage Tags Tray

In the Manage Tags tray, click the Get Started button [1] or upload a CSV file [2].

Create Create Tags Modal

Enter a Tag Name [1] and a Tag Set [2]. Then, click the Save button [3].

People Page Manage Tags

To add tags to students, click the checkbox of the desired student(s) [1]. Then, click the Tag As button [2]. Instructors can either select an existing tag [3] or create a new tag [4].

Note: Creating a new tag using the Tag As button does not automatically apply the tag to previously selected users. Additionally, instructors can bulk select users via shift click.

Tag Icon

Once a tag is assigned to a student, a tag icon displays. To view the assigned tags, click the icon.

User Details Tag Modal

All tags assigned to a student display in a modal.

Note: Students can have multiple tags. However, if the tags are part of the same tag set, a student can only be assigned one tag from that set.

Manage Tags Edit and Delete Icons

In the Manage Tags tray, instructors can add a tag [1], upload a CSV file [2] or edit or delete an existing tag [3].

EdEdit Tag Modal

When editing a tag, instructors can change from a single tag to multiple tags [1], and add additional tags to a tag set [2].

Assign To Tags Option

In the Assign To field, instructors can assign items to students with specific tags.

Notes: 

• When a student belongs to multiple tags or sections with conflicting due dates for the same assignment, the assignment with the latest due date will apply. However, if there's an individual override set for the student, that due date will take precedence over all others.
• Tags are not supported for Group Assignments and will not appear as an option when creating them.

Gradebook Differentiation Tags Filter

In the Gradebook, instructors can filter by differentiation tags.

Inbox To Differentiation Tags Option

In the Inbox, instructors can send messages to specific tag groups. 

Note: When sending a message to students with differentiation tags, the Send an individual message checkbox is disabled. This prevents accidental exposure of which students are associated with a tag.

Feature Video

Embed Code:

<iframe width="560px" height="320px" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay *" title="Release Screencast 2025-10-18 Differentiation Tags" src="https://community.instructuremedia.com/embed/a4f7bf11-3598-47f0-b3ce-7754e47d1e71" frameborder="0"></iframe>

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New Feature Previews

A Feature Preview indicates a feature option in active development. Users who opt in to the feature and join the Community user group can help improve the feature through direct feedback. 

Discussion/Inbox AI Translations [This feature is currently delayed to the production environment and will be included in a future release.]

All Users

Feature Option Name to Enable	Account- Inbox AI Translation Course- Course AI Translation (Discussions)
Feature Preview User Group	Discussions/Inbox AI Translations
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status	Account (Disabled/Locked) Course (Disabled/Locked)
Subaccount Configuration	No
Permissions	Inherent to user role
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	Announcements, Discussions, Inbox
Mobile App Support	Not available
Free-for-Teacher Availability	Not available
Related Ideas	[Inbox] Add Language Translation Function [AI Tools] Inbox and Discussions Translation - Better UX
Previous Release Mention	Canvas Release Notes (2025-09-20)

Summary

When the Inbox AI Translation feature option is enabled at the account level, users can access AI-supported translations for Inbox messages. When the Course AI Translation feature option is enabled at the course level, users can access AI-supported translations for Discussions and Announcements. Translations use new models for improved accuracy, speed, and consistency, with Claude 3 Haiku for Discussion translations and AWS Translate for Inbox translations.

The translation experience is also enhanced by:

• Displaying the source text and translated version separately
• Adding dedicated user interface controls so users can manage translations and close them without refreshing the page

This feature currently supports the following languages:

• Catalan
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Dutch
• English
• French
• German
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Russian
• Spanish
• Swedish

Note: Additional languages will be available in future releases.

Change Benefit

This update improves accessibility and communication by allowing users to easily read and participate in course content and messages in their preferred language.

Feature Workflow

Compose Message Translation Options

To include translations in an Inbox message, click the Include translated version of this message toggle on [1]. Select the desired language [2], click the Translate button [3], and choose whether to display the translation first or second [4].

Translated Message User View

The user receiving the message can see both the original text and the translated text in the message field.

Discussion Open Translate Button

To translate content in Discussions and Announcements, click the Open Translate button. 

Discussion Translation Language Options

Users can select from available language options using the Language drop-down menu.

Discussion Translation Fields

Select the language [1], then click the Translate button [2]. To remove the translation, click the Reset button [3]. The translated information [4] displays along with the original text. 

Discussion Translation View

Once a language is selected, the discussion topic and replies display in the original language and the translated language.

Feature Video

Not Available

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Other Updates

Developer Keys

Canvas Apps Link [Reverted and Delayed in all environments as of 2025-10-23]

Admin

Account/Course Setting to Enable	None
Permissions	Name of Permission relevant to feature area
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	Developer Keys
Related Ideas	None

Summary

In Developer Keys, the Show Key button is removed for LT Keys and replaced with a View in Canvas Apps link. The Show Key button remains available for API keys.

Change Benefit

This change streamlines the Developer Keys page by replacing an unused option with a direct link to Canvas Apps, making it easier for admins to manage integrations in the appropriate location.

Feature Workflow

Developer Keys View In Canvas Apps Link

To open the Canvas Apps page, click the View in Canvas Apps link. 

Feature Video

Not Available

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