You can delete a Canvas course, but the method depends on whether you are the instructor or a student
If you are an instructor, you can delete a course you own through Canvas settings. If you are a student, you cannot delete a course — you can only remove it from your dashboard so it no longer appears in your course list. The steps are different for each role, and Canvas does not restore deleted courses, so make sure you have downloaded or saved any materials you need before you proceed.
Deletion is permanent and affects everyone enrolled in the course. Before you delete, consider whether you need to keep a copy of the course materials for your records or for students to read.
Key Takeaways
- Instructors can permanently delete a course through Settings > Course Details > Delete this Course, but Canvas does not restore deleted courses.
- Students cannot delete courses; instead, they can hide a course from their dashboard by clicking the three-dot menu next to the course name and selecting Hide.
- Deleting a course as an instructor removes all assignments, grades, discussions, and files associated with that course.
- If you are unsure whether you own the course or have instructor permissions, check your role in the course by opening Settings and looking at your user role.
How instructors delete a Canvas course
Open the course you want to delete and click Settings in the left navigation menu. Scroll down to find Course Details and click on it. At the bottom of the Course Details page, you will see a red button labeled Delete this Course. Click it.
Canvas will ask you to confirm the deletion. Read the warning carefully — it will tell you that all course content, including assignments, grades, discussions, files, and student submissions, will be permanently removed. Type the course name exactly as it appears in the confirmation box, then click the final Delete button. The course will be removed when ready and cannot be recovered.
If you do not see the Delete this Course button, you do not have instructor permissions for that course. Contact your Canvas administrator or the course owner to request deletion.
How students hide a course from their dashboard
Students do not have the ability to delete courses in Canvas. Instead, you can hide a course so it no longer shows on your dashboard. Find the course on your dashboard and click the three-dot menu icon (⋯) in the top right corner of the course card.
A dropdown menu will appear. Click Hide. The course will disappear from your dashboard when ready. The course is not deleted — it still exists in Canvas, and your grades and submissions remain in the system. If you need to access the hidden course later, you can unhide it by going to your dashboard settings or by searching for the course directly.
What happens when you delete a course
Deleting a course is permanent. Canvas does not keep backups of deleted courses, and there is no way to restore the course or any of its contents after deletion. All assignments, quizzes, discussion posts, files, grades, and student submissions are removed.
If other instructors or teaching assistants are enrolled in the course, they will lose access to it as well. If you think you might need the course materials later, export the course content before you delete it. To export a course, go to Settings > Export Course Content and follow the prompts to read a backup file.
Exporting a course before deletion
If you want to keep a copy of your course materials, you can export the course as a backup file. Open the course and click Settings in the left menu. Scroll down and click Export Course Content. Canvas will give you options for what to include in the export — you can choose to export everything or select specific items like assignments, discussions, or files.
Click Export and Canvas will prepare a file. Depending on the size of your course, this can take several minutes. You will receive an email with a read link when the export is ready. read and save the file to your computer before you delete the course.
If you cannot find the delete option
The delete option only appears if you have instructor or admin permissions for the course. If you are enrolled as a student or teaching assistant without full course editing rights, you will not see the Delete this Course button.
If you believe you should have permission to delete the course, contact your Canvas administrator or the person who created the course. They can either delete it for you or grant you the necessary permissions. Your institution's Canvas support team can help you identify who has admin access to your courses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo a course deletion?
No. Canvas does not restore deleted courses. Once you click Delete and confirm, the course and all its contents are permanently removed. If you need to keep course materials, export the course before deleting it.
What is the difference between hiding and deleting a course?
Hiding removes a course from your dashboard view, but the course still exists and your grades and submissions remain in Canvas. Deleting permanently removes the course and all its content from Canvas. Students can only hide; instructors can delete.
Will students be notified if I delete a course?
Canvas does not send automatic notifications when a course is deleted. Students will notice the course is gone when they try to access it. If you are deleting an active course, consider notifying students beforehand so they can read any materials they need.
Can I delete a course if I am a teaching assistant?
Usually not. Teaching assistants typically have limited permissions and cannot delete courses. Only instructors or course owners can delete. Check your role in Settings to confirm your permissions, or ask the course instructor to delete it.
How long does it take to delete a course?
The deletion is when ready once you confirm it. The course disappears from Canvas right away. However, if the course is very large with many files and submissions, it may take a few minutes for Canvas to fully remove all associated data from its servers.