Change your Canvas password from your account settings

To change your Canvas password, log in to Canvas, open your account menu in the top right corner, select Settings, then click Change Password on the left sidebar. You'll enter your current password once, then type your new password twice to confirm it matches. Canvas will tell you when ready if the new password meets its requirements — it must be at least eight characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and numbers.

The entire process takes about two minutes. Your new password takes effect right away, so you'll use it the next time you log in. If you forget your new password before your next login, you can use the Forgot Password link on the Canvas login page to reset it through your school email.

Key Takeaways

  • Canvas passwords must be at least eight characters and contain uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and numbers.
  • You change your password through Settings in your account menu, not through your school's main password system.
  • Your new password works when ready, so write it down or save it somewhere safe before you close the page.
  • If you forget your new Canvas password, use the Forgot Password link on the login page to reset it through your school email.
  • Changing your Canvas password does not change your school email password or any other school account passwords.

Where to find the Settings menu

Log into Canvas using your school username and password. Once you're on your Canvas dashboard, look at the top right corner of the page. You'll see a circle or square with your initials or profile picture — this is your account menu. Click it.

A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Look for the word Settings and click it. This opens your account settings page, where you can change your password, update your email, and adjust notification preferences.

The password requirements Canvas enforces

Canvas requires passwords to be strong enough that they're harder to guess. Your new password must contain all four of these elements: at least eight characters total, at least one uppercase letter (A through Z), at least one lowercase letter (a through z), and at least one number (0 through 9). A password like Canvas2024Spring would work, but canvas2024 would not because it has no uppercase letter.

Canvas will not let you reuse a password you've used before on this account, even if you changed it months ago. If you try to use an old password, Canvas will reject it and ask you to create a new one. This is a security measure to prevent someone who learned an old password from using it to get back into your account.

What happens if you enter your current password wrong

If you type your current password incorrectly when Canvas asks for it, you'll see an error message saying the password is wrong. Canvas will not let you proceed until you enter the correct current password. This protects your account — it means someone who sits down at your computer can't change your password without knowing what it currently is.

If you've forgotten your current Canvas password, don't try to guess it repeatedly. Instead, click the Forgot Password link on the Canvas login page before you log in. Canvas will send a reset link to your school email address, and you can create a new password from there.

Confirming your new password is correct

After you enter your new password once, Canvas asks you to type it again in a second box labeled "Confirm Password" or similar. This second box doesn't show the letters you type — it shows dots or asterisks instead — so you can't see if you made a typo. Type slowly and carefully, or write down your new password on paper first, then type it from the paper into both boxes.

If the two passwords don't match exactly, Canvas will tell you they don't match and ask you to try again. This is intentional — it catches typos before you lock yourself out. Once both boxes match and you click the button to save, Canvas confirms the change was successful.

When your new password takes effect

Your new Canvas password works when ready after you save it. If you're logged into Canvas on another device or browser tab, you'll stay logged in on that device — you don't get kicked out. However, the next time you try to log into Canvas on any device, you must use your new password. Your old password will no longer work.

Write down your new password or save it in a password manager before you close the settings page. If you close the page and when ready forget the password you just created, you'll have to use the Forgot Password link to reset it again, which takes extra time.

Canvas password versus your school email password

Changing your Canvas password does not change your school email password or any other school account password. Canvas is a separate system from your school email, your Google Classroom account, your GoGuardian account, or any other school portal. Each one has its own password, and changing one does not affect the others.

If you need to change your school email password, your Google password, or any other school account password, you'll need to go to that system's settings separately. Your school's IT department or help desk can tell you where to find the password change page for each system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same password for Canvas and my school email?

Technically yes, but it's not recommended. If someone learns that password, they can access both your Canvas and your email. Using different passwords for different accounts means that if one password is compromised, your other accounts stay protected. Canvas and your school email are separate systems with separate logins.

What if I change my password and then can't log back in?

Go to the Canvas login page and click Forgot Password. Canvas will send a reset link to your school email address. Click the link in that email and create a new password. If you don't receive the email within a few minutes, check your spam folder, or contact your school's IT help desk.

Do I have to change my Canvas password regularly?

Most schools do not require students to change their Canvas password on a schedule. You only need to change it if you think someone else knows your password, if you used the same password on another website that was hacked, or if your school tells you to. Check your school's password policy or ask your IT department.

Will changing my Canvas password log me out of Canvas on my phone?

Not when ready. You'll stay logged in on your phone until the app closes or your session expires. The next time you open the Canvas app and it asks you to log in, use your new password. If the app keeps asking you to log in, try closing it completely and opening it again.