Where Canvas stores your old courses and how to find them
Canvas keeps your old courses in your account indefinitely, but they are hidden by default once the course ends. You will not see them on your dashboard or in your course list unless you change your view settings. The courses are still there — you just need to tell Canvas to show them.
The fastest way to access an old course is to go to your Canvas dashboard, look for the Courses menu on the left side, and click the dropdown arrow next to it. You will see an option that says Show All Courses or View All Courses (the exact wording depends on your Canvas version). Click that, and Canvas will display every course you have ever taken or taught, including the ones that ended months or years ago.
Once you see the full list, you can click on any course name to open it and view all the materials, assignments, discussions, and grades from that course. Nothing is deleted — it is all still there.
Key Takeaways
- Old courses remain in your Canvas account after they end and are not deleted unless your institution removes them.
- Click Show All Courses from the Courses menu on your dashboard to see courses that are no longer active.
- You can view all course materials, grades, and assignments in old courses the same way you would in an active course.
- If you cannot find a course you took years ago, contact your school's Canvas administrator, as some institutions archive or delete very old courses after a set period.
Using the course filter to narrow down your search
If you have taken many courses and scrolling through the entire list is slow, Canvas lets you filter by course status. When you click Show All Courses, you will see tabs or filter options that let you view only Current Courses, Past Courses, or Concluded Courses. Clicking Past Courses or Concluded Courses will show you only the courses that have ended, making it much faster to find what you are looking for.
You can also search by course name or code if you remember any part of it. Most Canvas dashboards have a search box near the top of the Courses section. Type in the course name, instructor name, or course number, and Canvas will filter the list to show only matching results.
Accessing course materials after the course ends
Once you open an old course, you can view everything that was in it: lecture notes, readings, assignment descriptions, your submitted work, grades, discussion posts, and any files the instructor uploaded. The course content does not disappear or lock when the course ends.
However, some features may not work the same way. For example, you usually cannot submit new assignments or post new discussion replies in a concluded course, because the course is no longer active. If you need to contact your instructor about something in an old course, you will need to use Canvas Messaging or email them directly — you cannot reply in the course itself.
If you need a copy of your work or grades from an old course, you can read files, take screenshots, or ask your instructor to send you a transcript or summary. Many schools also keep official grade records separate from Canvas, so you can request a transcript from your registrar if you need proof of what you earned.
What to do if you cannot find an old course
If you have looked through all your past courses and cannot find one you know you took, there are a few reasons why. The most common is that your institution has archived or deleted very old courses — some schools automatically remove courses after three to five years to keep the system running smoothly. Others keep courses indefinitely.
Another possibility is that you were enrolled under a different name or email address, or that your account was merged with another account when you transferred schools or changed your login information. If you think this might be the case, contact your school's Canvas administrator or IT help desk and explain which course you are looking for and when you took it. They can search their records and either restore access to the course or confirm whether it was deleted.
If the course was taught by an instructor you still have contact with, you can also ask them directly. Instructors sometimes keep backup copies of course materials or can re-enroll you temporarily so you can access the course again.
Downloading or exporting old course content
If you want to save a copy of an old course for your own records, Canvas lets you read course materials. Open the course, go to the Files section, and read any documents, PDFs, or other files the instructor posted. You can also take screenshots of grades, discussion posts, or assignment feedback.
Some instructors also use the Course Export feature, which creates a downloadable file containing the entire course structure, materials, and sometimes student work. If you need a complete backup of a course, ask your instructor whether they have exported it or whether they can do so for you. Not all institutions allow students to export courses themselves, so your instructor or the Canvas administrator may need to do it.
Viewing grades and transcripts from old courses
Your grades in old courses stay in Canvas permanently. Open the course and click the Grades link to see your score on every assignment, quiz, and exam, as well as your final grade for the course. You can also see comments or feedback your instructor left on individual assignments.
If you need an official record of your grades for a job process, graduate school, or transfer, request a transcript from your school's registrar instead of relying on Canvas. Registrar transcripts are the official document and carry more weight than a screenshot of your Canvas grades. Canvas is useful for reviewing your own work and understanding what you earned, but it is not a substitute for an official transcript.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I re-enroll in an old course after it ends?
No, you cannot re-enroll yourself. If you need access to a course again, contact your instructor or your school's Canvas administrator and explain why you need it. They can manually re-enroll you or give you temporary access to view the materials.
Will my old courses disappear if I graduate or leave the school?
Not when ready. Most schools keep your Canvas account and all your courses accessible for at least a few years after you leave. However, some institutions delete accounts or archive old courses after a set period, usually three to seven years. Check your school's data retention policy or contact the Canvas administrator to find out how long your courses will be kept.
Can I print or save my grades from an old course?
Yes. You can take a screenshot of your grades page, print it directly from Canvas, or read a PDF of your transcript from your school's registrar. The registrar's transcript is the official record and is what employers and other schools will accept as proof of your grades.
What if my instructor deleted all the course materials before the course ended?
If the instructor removed files or assignments before the course concluded, they are gone from Canvas. Your best option is to contact the instructor and ask whether they have a backup copy. If they do not, you may be able to recover some materials from your own downloads or notes, but Canvas cannot restore deleted content.
Do old courses take up storage space in my Canvas account?
Canvas does not limit how many old courses you can keep in your account, and they do not count against any personal storage quota. You can safely leave old courses in your account without worrying about running out of space.