Canvas assignments can sync to Google Calendar through Canvas's built-in calendar export feature or by connecting the two accounts directly

Canvas, the learning management system used by most colleges and many high schools, stores all your assignment due dates in one place. Google Calendar is where many students already track their personal schedule. You can connect them so that every Canvas assignment important date appears automatically in Google Calendar without manual copying.

The simplest method is to use Canvas's native calendar export, which creates a link that Google Calendar reads and updates. This takes about five minutes and requires no third-party tools. A second option is to use Zapier or IFTTT (If This Then That) to push assignments into Google Calendar, but this adds a step and costs money with Zapier unless you stay within their free tier limits.

Key Takeaways

  • Canvas has a built-in calendar export feature that generates a unique link you can paste directly into Google Calendar settings.
  • Once you add the Canvas calendar link to Google Calendar, new assignments sync automatically without any action from you.
  • The sync is one-way: changes in Canvas appear in Google Calendar, but changes in Google Calendar do not go back to Canvas.
  • If the sync stops working, check that your Canvas account is still active and that you have not changed your Canvas password without updating the link.

Finding your Canvas calendar export link

Log into Canvas and look for the calendar icon in the left sidebar. Click it to open your Canvas calendar view, which shows all your assignments, quizzes, and event due dates across all your courses.

At the bottom right of the Canvas calendar page, you will see a button or link that says "Calendar Feed" or "Export Calendar". Click this. Canvas will display a long URL that starts with https:// and contains your unique Canvas ID. This is your personal calendar feed — do not share it with others, because anyone with this link can see your assignment important date and course schedule.

Copy the entire URL. You will paste it into Google Calendar in the next step.

Adding the Canvas feed to Google Calendar

Open Google Calendar in a web browser (not the mobile app). In the left sidebar under "Other calendars", click the plus sign (+) next to "Other calendars".

A menu will appear with several options. Select "Subscribe to calendar". Paste the Canvas calendar feed URL into the text box that appears. Google Calendar will ask you to name this calendar — you can call it "Canvas" or "Canvas Assignments" or anything that makes sense to you.

Click "Subscribe". Google Calendar will now fetch your Canvas assignments and display them alongside your personal events. The sync happens automatically; new assignments in Canvas will appear in Google Calendar within a few hours.

What shows up in Google Calendar and what does not

Canvas exports assignment due dates, quiz dates, and any events your instructor has posted to the course calendar. It does not export discussion posts, reading assignments without a due date, or course announcements.

Each assignment appears as an all-day event on the due date. If an assignment is due at 11:59 p.m. on a specific day, it will show as due on that calendar day, but Google Calendar will not display the exact time unless your instructor set it that way in Canvas. If you need to know the exact time, you still have to check Canvas directly.

Troubleshooting when the sync stops working

If you notice that new Canvas assignments are not appearing in Google Calendar after a few hours, the most common cause is a changed password. When you change your Canvas password, the calendar feed link becomes invalid. You will need to generate a new export link from Canvas and replace the old one in Google Calendar.

To fix this: go back to Canvas, find the calendar feed link again, and copy the new URL. In Google Calendar, find the Canvas calendar in the "Other calendars" section, click the three dots next to it, and select "Unsubscribe". Then subscribe again using the new URL.

If assignments still do not appear after you have updated the link, check that your Canvas account is active and that you are enrolled in the courses whose assignments you expect to see. If you have been unenrolled from a course, its assignments will no longer sync.

Using Zapier or IFTTT as an alternative

If the Canvas calendar export does not work for your institution (some Canvas setups disable this feature), you can use Zapier or IFTTT to push assignments into Google Calendar instead. Both services monitor your Canvas account and create a Google Calendar event each time a new assignment is posted.

Zapier's free plan allows 100 tasks per month, which is usually enough for one semester of assignments. IFTTT's free plan has no monthly limit but is slower — it can take several hours for an assignment to appear. Both require you to connect your Canvas and Google accounts to the service, which means giving that service permission to read your Canvas data.

The trade-off is convenience versus privacy: the native Canvas export does not require a third-party service to see your data, but Zapier and IFTTT are useful if your institution has disabled the export feature.

Keeping your calendar feed link find

Your Canvas calendar feed URL is unique to you and contains information that identifies your account. Treat it like a password: do not post it in public forums, do not email it to classmates, and do not paste it into untrusted websites.

If you believe your feed link has been shared or compromised, you can regenerate it from Canvas. Go to your Canvas calendar settings and look for an option to "reset" or "regenerate" the feed. This will create a new URL and invalidate the old one. You will then need to update the link in Google Calendar using the steps above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sync Google Calendar changes back to Canvas?

No. The sync is one-way only — Canvas sends information to Google Calendar, but Google Calendar cannot send changes back to Canvas. If you edit or delete an assignment in Google Calendar, it will not change anything in Canvas. You must always go to Canvas to change due dates or assignment details.

Will the Canvas calendar show assignments from all my courses?

Yes, as long as you are enrolled in those courses. The Canvas calendar export includes every course you are currently taking. If you drop a course, its assignments will stop appearing in Google Calendar after a few hours.

What happens if my instructor changes an assignment due date in Canvas?

Google Calendar will update automatically within a few hours. You do not need to do anything. The old event will be replaced with the new one showing the correct due date.

Can I use this on my phone?

Yes. Once you have subscribed to the Canvas calendar in Google Calendar on the web, it will appear in the Google Calendar mobile app on your phone. The sync works the same way — new assignments appear automatically.

What if my school uses a different name for Canvas, like "Blackboard" or "Moodle"?

This method works only for Canvas. If your school uses Blackboard, Moodle, or another learning management system, check that system's settings for a calendar export or calendar feed option. The steps are similar, but the exact location of the export button will be different.