Instructure products are worked on continuously and include bug fixes, enhancements, and new features, across three environments: beta, production, and test. These environments are accessible through web platforms and mobile apps using the appropriate URL.
Key Information:
- Advance Notice: Release notes provide details about upcoming changes to production.
- Time Zones: Production release dates are local for all regions; other events follow US Mountain Time.
- Subject to Change: Release schedules may change. Check for updates regularly.
- What is the Beta Environment?
- What is the Production Environment?
- What is the Test Environment?
- Canvas Release Calendar Summary
What is the Beta Environment?
The beta environment is designed for testing and quality assurance (QA) before changes are implemented in the production environment.
Beta Refresh: Any content added to or modified in the beta environment will be overwritten by content in the production environment. Beta is unavailable during environment refreshes. The duration of this process may vary.
Beta Release: Updated features for the upcoming production release are available. This date varies by product.
What is the Production Environment?
The production environment is the live system where users engage with the platform daily.
- Release Timing: Deployment times may vary by institution.
- Accessibility: All production release dates are local to each region.
What is the Test Environment?
The test environment allows admins and instructors to test real data without affecting the production environment, such as adding users, testing course content, and/or troubleshooting issues. The test environment can also be configured with production-ready features, such as access to an institution's login authentication system.
Notes:
- If your institution lacks access to the test environment, consider using the beta environment for testing.
- Not all tools are available in the test environment. Currently, the following Canvas tools are not available in the test environment:
- New Quizzes (Canvas LMS)
- Admin Analytics (Canvas LMS)
- Canvas Mobile
Test Refresh: Any content added to or modified in the test environment will be overwritten by content in the production environment. Test is unavailable during environment refreshes. The duration of this process may vary.
Test Release: Updated features from the latest production release are available on the first Monday following the production release.
*An exact time when the test environment will be overwritten by production will vary for every organization.
Release Schedule by Product
|
Product |
Release Notes Published |
Beta Environment Release |
Production Environment Release |
Test Environment Release |
|
Canvas Deploy |
Second and fourth Friday of the month |
Second and fourth Thursday of the month |
Second and fourth Wednesday of the month |
N/A |
|
Canvas Mobile |
As Needed |
Not Available |
As needed |
Not Available |
|
Canvas Release |
Third Wednesday of each month |
Third Monday of the month. |
Third Saturday of the month |
First Monday after Production Release |
|
Catalog |
Wednesday before release |
Tuesdays |
Mondays |
Not Available |
|
Commons |
As Needed |
Third Monday of the month- as needed |
Third Saturday of the month-as needed |
Not Available |
|
Credentials |
Wednesday after Beta Release |
Monday, two weeks before Production-As Needed |
Monday- As Needed |
Not Available |
|
Elevate Data Sync |
As Needed |
Not Available |
As Needed - Monthly |
Not Available |
|
Elevate Standards Alignment |
Last or first Thursday of the month |
As Needed |
Weekly, As Needed |
Not Available |
|
Impact and LTI Usage- Prod |
Weekly on Tuesday |
Not Available |
Continuous |
Not Available |
|
Impact - Content |
Bi-weekly on Tuesday |
Not Available |
Bi-Weekly on Tuesday |
Not Available |
|
Intelligent Insights |
As Needed |
Wednesdays |
Third Saturday of the month |
Not Available |
|
Mastery Connect |
Friday-as needed |
Not Available |
Weekly on Thursday (As needed) |
Not Available |
|
Mastery Item Bank |
As Needed |
Not Available |
As Needed |
Not Available |
|
Studio |
As Needed |
As Needed |
Wednesdays (as needed) |
Not Available |
Environment Refresh Schedule by Product
|
Product |
Beta Environment Refresh |
Test Environment Refresh |
|
Canvas |
Weekly on Saturday |
Monthly on Third Saturday |
|
Catalog |
Weekly on Tuesday |
N/A |
|
Commons |
Weekly on Saturday |
Monthly on Third Saturday |
|
Credentials |
Weekly on Saturday |
N/A |
|
Elevate Data Sync |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Elevate Standards Alignment |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Impact and LTI Usage- Prod |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Impact - Content |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Intelligent Insights |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Mastery Connect |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Mastery Item Bank |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Studio |
N/A |
N/A |
Canvas Release Calendar Summary
The image below displays all events that take place between Canvas production releases. The Canvas release is always the third Saturday of the month. Depending on the calendar month, the Canvas Beta Release Preview and Release Notes, may be adjusted by one week.
Only production release dates are local for all regions. All other events originate from US Mountain time as noted in Instructure Time Zone Communications.
Subscription Options:
Subscribed calendars automatically reflect updates, including feature deprecations and end-of-life announcements. Downloaded calendars do not include updates.
Release Events Overview:
- Beta Refresh: Weekly, every Saturday.
- Production Release: Third Saturday of each month
- Test Refresh: Third Saturday of each month.
- Test Release: First Monday after production release.
Change Log
2025-03-24
2024-03-04
