Canvas Releases

[#1]

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 2025-08-13 Known Issues tag.

Unless otherwise stated, all features in this deploy are available in the Beta environment on 2025-07-31 and the Production environment on 2025-08-13.

Subscribe to the release notes page to be notified of new release and deploy notes

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 (2025-08-13)

Table of Contents

• Updated Features
• Groups
• Tooltip Added for Group Section Requirement Setting
• Notifications
• Improved Visibility for Course Activity Definitions
• Feature Preview Change Log Updates
• Differentiation Tags
• CSV Import Support
• Tag Display Updated in Differentiation Modal
• Assignment Details Tag Display Update
• Role and Tag Filter Update
• SIS Import Support

Updated Features

Back to Table of Contents

Groups

Tooltip Added for Group Section Requirement Setting

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 Groups
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	Groups
Related Ideas	None

Summary

In the Groups page, when the Require group members to be in the same section checkbox is selected a tooltip displays.

Change Benefit

This tooltip provides additional context to help users understand what the setting does.

Feature Workflow

Randomly Assigning Students Checkbox Tooltip

When the Require group members to be in the same section checkbox is selected, a tooltip displays.

Notifications

Improved Visibility for Course Activity Definitions

All Users

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	Inherent to user role
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	User Notifications
Related Ideas	None

Summary

The User Notifications page displays Course Activity definitions directly on the page, rather than as tooltips shown on hover.

Change Benefit

This change improves visibility and accessibility by allowing users to view Course Activity definitions without needing to hover over text, making the information easier to access across all devices.

Feature Workflow

Notification Descriptions

Course Activity definitions display directly on the User Notifications page.

Feature Preview Change Log Updates

Back to Table of Contents

Differentiation Tags

CSV Import Support

Instructor

Feature Preview to Enable	Differentiation Tags
Account Setting to Enable	Differentiation Tags
Feature Preview User Group	Differentiation Tags
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status	Account (Disabled/Unlocked) See the Canvas Feature Option Summary to learn more about Feature Options.
Subaccount Configuration	Yes
Permissions	Manage Differentiation Tags
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	People
Mobile App Support	Not available
Free-for-Teacher Availability	Not available
Related Ideas	Support CSV Import for Tag Creation in Large Courses

Summary

Instructors can create and assign Differentiation Tags via CSV import.

Note: To view the Upload CSV button, at least one tag must be added.

Change Benefit

This change streamlines the setup process, making it more efficient, particularly for courses with large enrollments or multiple sections.

Feature Workflow

Manage Tags Tray Upload CSV Button

In the Manage Tags tray, click the Upload CSV button.

Import Tags Tray

To learn more about import instructions, click the Read Tag Import Instructions link [1]. To upload a CSV file, drag and drop the desired file or upload a file [2] in the tray.

Tag Display Updated in Differentiation Modal

Instructor

Feature Preview to Enable	Differentiation Tags
Account Setting to Enable	Differentiation Tags
Feature Preview User Group	Differentiation Tags
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status	Account (Disabled/Unlocked) See the Canvas Feature Option Summary to learn more about Feature Options.
Subaccount Configuration	Yes
Permissions	Manage Differentiation Tags
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	People
Mobile App Support	Not available
Free-for-Teacher Availability	Not available
Related Ideas	None

Summary

The Differentiation Tag modal displays tags horizontally. When tags reach the modal’s maximum width, they wrap to the next line. If the modal’s height is exceeded, tags become scrollable.

Change Benefit

This change streamlines the setup process, making it more efficient, particularly for courses with large enrollments or multiple sections.

Feature Workflow

Student Tag Modal

In the Differentiation tag modal, tags display horizontally.

Assignment Details Tag Display Update

Instructor

Feature Preview to Enable	Differentiation Tags
Account Setting to Enable	Differentiation Tags
Feature Preview User Group	Differentiation Tags
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status	Account (Disabled/Unlocked) See the Canvas Feature Option Summary to learn more about Feature Options.
Subaccount Configuration	Yes
Permissions	Manage Differentiation Tags
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	Assignments
Mobile App Support	Not available
Free-for-Teacher Availability	Not available
Related Ideas	Update due date information to say Tags instead of Groups

Summary

When viewing an assignment’s details with multiple due dates, the For column displays Tag(s) when a due date is assigned to specific tags. Previously, this column displayed the text as Groups when assigned to a tag.

Change Benefit

This change helps reduce confusion and ensures instructors can easily understand and manage who the assignment applies to.

Feature Workflow

Assignment Details Page Tags Display

Assignments assigned to tags display as Tag(s) in the For column instead of Groups.

Role and Tag Filter Update

Instructor

Feature Preview to Enable	Differentiation Tags
Account Setting to Enable	Differentiation Tags
Feature Preview User Group	Differentiation Tags
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status	Account (Disabled/Unlocked) See the Canvas Feature Option Summary to learn more about Feature Options.
Subaccount Configuration	Yes
Permissions	Manage Differentiation Tags
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	People
Mobile App Support	Not available
Free-for-Teacher Availability	Not available
Related Ideas	Filter by Tag on the Course-Level People Page

Summary

In the People page, the role filter is updated with the latest version of InstUI and supports filtering by tags. Instructors can also apply multiple filters.

Change Benefit

This update improves user management by allowing instructors to filter by tags and select multiple roles, making it easier to locate specific users.

Feature Workflow

People Page Role and Tag Filter

Click the Role drop-down menu to filter by roles and differentiation tags.

SIS Import Support

Admin

Feature Preview to Enable	Differentiation Tags
Account Setting to Enable	Differentiation Tags
Feature Preview User Group	Differentiation Tags
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status	Account (Disabled/Unlocked) See the Canvas Feature Option Summary to learn more about Feature Options.
Subaccount Configuration	Yes
Permissions	SIS Data-import
Affects User Interface	No
Affected Areas	SIS Imports
Mobile App Support	Not available
Free-for-Teacher Availability	Not available
Related Ideas	None
Related Resource	SIS Import Format Documentation

Summary

At the account level, differentiation tags are supported via SIS import.

Change Benefit

This update streamlines tag management by allowing admins to import differentiation tags in bulk, reducing the need for manual entry.