Canvas includes a set of default notification settings you can receive for your courses. However, you can change the default settings by setting your own notification settings. These settings only apply to you; they are not used to control how course updates are sent to other users. To learn more about each notification, default settings, and notification triggers, view the Canvas Notifications resource document.
Notifications are sent as one of four delivery types: notify me right away, daily summary, weekly summary, or don't send. If you change a setting, the change is made immediately to your account.
Notification settings apply to all of your courses unless you set notification settings for individual courses.
You may be able to reply directly to email notifications outside of Canvas. Replies are updated in the Canvas Inbox. However, please be aware that attachments added as part of an external reply are not included with the message shown in Canvas.
Notes:
- Notifications are sent to Canvas contact methods as specified in your account. You cannot receive notifications if your contact methods are unconfirmed. If you are not receiving Canvas notifications, please confirm your Canvas contact methods.
- The Canvas Student app supports setting notification settings. However, managing settings inside the app will override settings in the browser version of Canvas.
- You may be able to select notification settings for an individual course. Learn more about managing notifications for a single course.
Open Notifications
In Global Navigation, click the Account link [1], then click the Notifications link [2].
View Account Notification Settings
On the Notification Settings page, you can manage notification settings for your Canvas account and/or manage notification settings for individual courses using the Settings for dropdown menu.
By default, the Settings for dropdown displays the Account option [1]. A banner displays stating account-level notification settings apply to all of your Canvas courses, however, any course-specific notification settings override account notification settings [2]. To dismiss the message, click the Close icon [3].
A banner displays when daily and weekly messages are delivered [4]. To dismiss the message, click the Close icon [5].
View the account-level notification types [6] and your listed contact methods [7].
Each notification has a default delivery frequency setting. To view the current notification delivery frequency for a notification type and contact method, hover over the notification icon [8].
View Notification Details
To view details for a notification, hover over the notification name.
Manage Notification Settings
Each notification is set to a default setting. To change a notification for a contact method, locate the notification and click the icon for the contact method [1].
To receive a notification right away, select the Notify immediately option [2]. These notifications may be delayed by up to one hour in case an instructor makes additional changes, which prevents you from being spammed by multiple notifications in a short amount of time.
To receive a daily notification, select the Daily summary option [3].
To receive a weekly notification, select the Weekly summary option [4]. The date and time of your weekly notifications are posted at the bottom of the notifications page.
If you do not want to receive a notification, select the Notifications off option [5].
Unsupported notification types display the Unsupported icon [6]. Unsupported notification types cannot be enabled.
Notes:
- Each set notification setting will automatically apply to all of your courses. However, if you manage notification settings for a single course, notifications for that course must continue to be managed in the course.
- Twitter notification settings do not support daily summary or weekly summary options.
- Unregistered contact methods will appear in notification settings but will not receive notifications until you confirm the registration.
View Privacy Notice
If you've set a notification setting for an email address that is outside your institution, you may see a privacy warning. You can close the warning by clicking the Ok button. Once the warning has been displayed, it will not display again.
Set Push Notifications
If you have enabled push notifications in the Canvas Student app, you can manage your settings in the Push Notification column. Please be aware that push notifications can only be sent to your mobile device right away or not at all. Daily and weekly notification options are not supported.
Additionally, managing settings inside the app will override settings selected in the notifications page.
Note: Some categories include limited availability for push notifications. Full details about supported notifications for push notifications can be found in the Canvas Notifications resource document.
Set Slack Notifications
If your institution has enabled Slack as a contact method, you can add Slack as a contact method and receive direct message notifications from Canvas in Slack.
Slack notifications may vary depending on your Slack notification settings.