This document answers some of the most common questions about using pairing codes in Canvas.
This document includes some of the most frequently asked questions about pairing codes, organized by user role. If your question is not answered below, please reach out to Canvas Support for assistance.
Pairing codes are six-digit codes that are used to link students to observers in Canvas. Pairing codes are alphanumeric and case sensitive.
Pairing codes can be generated by a student or on behalf of a student by another user with the appropriate permission. Once generated, the pairing code can only be used to link the student who created the code or had the code created on their behalf. Additional pairing codes must be created for each student that will be linked to an observer.
Pairing codes are only available to users at institutions that have enabled self registration. If your institution has not enabled self registration and you need assistance linking an observer to a student, reach out to your institution for assistance.
Pairing codes expire after seven days or their first successful use.
A student can have five active pairing codes at one time. If a student has five active pairing codes and a new pairing code is generated, the oldest pairing code will become inactive.
No. Observers cannot generate pairing codes. In order to receive a pairing code, observers have two options:
Note: Depending on institution permissions, teachers may not be able to generate a pairing code.
No. The Parent app does not support generating pairing codes.
Observers can link to one student using a pairing code when creating an account in the Canvas Parent app or web browser. Observers can link to additional students using pairing codes from their User Settings in a web browser and in the Parent App. Learn more about these options in the lessons below:
After an observer enters a valid pairing code, the observer will be linked to the student. The observer can then view course content for the student. For more information, view the Observer Visibility and Participation PDF.
You can link to multiple students as an observer, as long as you use a unique pairing code for each student. When creating an account, you will only be able to enter one pairing code. Additional pairing codes can be entered from your User Settings.
No. The student will need to generate a different pairing code for each observer. For example, two parents of the same child will each need to use a unique pairing code.
If self registration is enabled at the institution, students can generate pairing codes from their User Settings. Students can have up to five active pairing codes at one time. For more information, view the lesson How do I generate a pairing code for an observer as a student?.
Students can only generate pairing codes from a web browser and in the Canvas Student iOS app.
Students cannot use the pairing code to link to an observer from their own Canvas account. They must give the pairing code to the Canvas observer who will link to their account. An observer may be a parent, guardian, mentor, counselor, or another individual who needs to view the student’s Canvas courses.
If the Pair with Observer button doesn’t display in your User Settings, self registration has not been enabled in your account. For assistance with pairing with an observer, please contact your institution.
The ability to generate pairing codes on behalf of a student is managed by the Users - generate observer pairing code for students permission. This permission can be managed in Account Permissions and Course Permissions. For more information on this permission, please view the Canvas Account Role Permissions PDF or Canvas Course Role Permissions PDF.
If this permission is enabled, a user can generate a pairing code on behalf of a student from the student’s User Details page. For more information, please view the lesson How do I generate a pairing code for an observer as an instructor?
No. The Teacher app does not support generating pairing codes. Observer pairing codes can only be generated from the Canvas web browser.
Teachers and admins cannot use the pairing code to link to an observer from their own Canvas account. They must give the pairing code to the Canvas observer who will link to their account.
If you have the correct permissions from your administrator, you can link a student to an observer from the People page of a Canvas course. For more information, please view the lesson How do I link a student to an observer in a course?.
Linking a student to an observer from the People page allows the observer to view student information from the course where they were linked. Using a pairing code allows the observer to view information from all of the student’s courses.
If the Pair with Observer link doesn’t display in a student’s User Details page, you do not have the correct permissions or self registration has not been enabled in your account. For assistance with pairing with an observer, please contact your institution.
Yes. In the Options menu on the People page, you can export a list of new pairing codes for all students in your course. These pairing codes work in the same way as generating individual pairing codes. For more information, please view the lesson How do I generate a pairing code for an observer as an instructor?
Last update: 2020-09-11
This PDF can also be accessed from the following Canvas Guides: