Canvas Calendar syncs to Apple Calendar through your Canvas account settings, not through Apple Calendar itself

Canvas Calendar does not appear as an option inside Apple Calendar's add account menu. Instead, you subscribe to your Canvas calendar using a special web address (called an iCalendar feed or .ics file) that Canvas generates for you. Apple Calendar then checks that address regularly and pulls in your Canvas events automatically.

The process takes about five minutes and works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Once set up, your Canvas assignments and due dates show up alongside your other calendars in Apple Calendar, and they update whenever Canvas changes them.

Key Takeaways

  • You must turn on calendar syncing in Canvas first, which happens in your Canvas account settings under Calendar Feed.
  • Canvas gives you a unique calendar web address that you paste into Apple Calendar using the "Add Subscription" option, not "Add Account".
  • The calendar updates automatically, but changes in Canvas may take up to 24 hours to appear in Apple Calendar.
  • If events stop showing up, the most common cause is that your Canvas password changed and the subscription link became invalid.

Turn on calendar syncing in your Canvas account

Log into Canvas on a computer (the mobile app does not have this setting). Click your profile picture or initials in the top right corner and select Settings.

Scroll down to Calendar Feed and toggle it on. Canvas will generate a unique calendar feed URL — a long web address that starts with https:// and contains your Canvas ID. Copy this entire address. Do not share it with anyone, because it gives access to your Canvas calendar without needing your password.

Add the Canvas feed to Apple Calendar on iPhone or iPad

Open the Calendar app. At the bottom, tap Calendars. Tap the plus sign (+) in the top right corner and select Add Subscription.

Paste the Canvas calendar feed URL into the text field. Tap Subscribe. Apple Calendar will ask you to choose a color and decide whether to show alerts. The Canvas calendar now appears in your calendar list. You can turn it on or off by tapping the circle next to its name.

Add the Canvas feed to Apple Calendar on Mac

Open Calendar. In the menu bar at the top, click File and select New Calendar Subscription.

Paste the Canvas calendar feed URL into the dialog box. Click Subscribe. Choose a name for the calendar (Canvas Calendar works fine), pick a color, and decide on alert settings. The calendar now syncs to your Mac and to any other Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account.

What happens when Canvas events change

Apple Calendar checks the Canvas feed automatically, usually within a few hours. If you add a new assignment in Canvas or change a due date, it may take up to 24 hours to show up in Apple Calendar. If you need the update sooner, you can manually refresh by opening Canvas in a web browser, then closing and reopening Apple Calendar.

The Canvas calendar in Apple Calendar is read-only — you cannot edit or delete events from Apple Calendar and have those changes go back to Canvas. If you need to change something, make the change in Canvas itself.

Fix a Canvas calendar that stopped syncing

The most common reason a Canvas calendar stops showing new events is that your Canvas password changed. When you change your password, the old calendar feed URL stops working.

To fix it: log into Canvas, go to Settings > Calendar Feed, and copy the new URL that appears. On your Apple device, find the Canvas Calendar in your calendar list, tap or right-click it, and select Edit or Delete. Delete it, then add a new subscription using the fresh URL from Canvas.

If you changed your Canvas password and the calendar still is not working after you update the URL, wait a few hours — sometimes the change takes time to sync across Canvas servers.

Use Canvas Calendar alongside other calendars

Once Canvas Calendar is in Apple Calendar, you can see it at the same time as your personal calendar, work calendar, or any other calendar you subscribe to. Tap or click the circle next to each calendar name to show or hide it. You can also set different alert sounds or notification times for Canvas events versus other events.

If you use multiple Canvas courses, you can add each course's calendar separately by repeating the steps above with each course's unique feed URL. Each course calendar can have its own color so you can tell them apart at a glance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit a Canvas event from Apple Calendar?

No. The Canvas calendar in Apple Calendar is read-only. You can view events and set reminders, but changes must be made in Canvas itself. If you try to edit an event in Apple Calendar, the change will not sync back to Canvas.

Why is my Canvas calendar showing events from weeks ago?

Canvas Calendar Feed includes all past and future assignments by default. You can hide old events by deleting the calendar and re-adding it, but Canvas will include the same history again. If you want to see only upcoming events, you may need to use Canvas's own calendar view instead.

What if I drop a Canvas course?

Once you are no longer enrolled in the course, that course's calendar feed stops working. Delete the subscription from Apple Calendar. If you re-enroll later, you can add it again using a new feed URL from Canvas.

Does Canvas Calendar work on Apple Watch?

Yes, if you have synced the calendar to your iPhone and your Apple Watch is paired to that iPhone. The Canvas calendar appears in the Watch's Calendar app automatically, though you may need to scroll to find it in the calendar list.

Can I share my Canvas calendar with someone else?

Do not share your Canvas calendar feed URL, because it contains your Canvas ID and gives access to your calendar without a password. If someone else needs to see your Canvas schedule, ask them to add their own Canvas account to their calendar instead.