Canvas does not let you delete courses yourself — only your institution's Canvas administrator can remove them
If you are looking at old courses in your Canvas account and want them gone, you cannot do it through your own settings. Canvas is designed so that course deletion happens at the administrative level, not the student or instructor level. Your school, college, or organisation controls which courses stay in the system and which ones are archived or removed.
What you can do is hide courses from your own view, which cleans up your dashboard without actually deleting anything from Canvas. If you need courses permanently removed from the system, you will need to contact your institution's Canvas administrator or IT department and explain why the courses should be deleted.
Key Takeaways
- You cannot delete Canvas courses yourself — only your institution's administrator has that permission.
- You can hide old courses from your own dashboard view so they do not clutter your course list.
- To permanently remove a course from Canvas, contact your school's Canvas administrator or IT support with the course name and term.
- Archived courses are hidden from most views but still exist in the system and can be restored if needed.
- Some institutions automatically archive courses after a set period, so check with your administrator about your school's policy.
How to hide courses from your Canvas dashboard
Hiding a course removes it from your main course list without deleting it from Canvas. This is the fastest way to clean up your view if you have completed a course and do not need to see it regularly.
Log into Canvas and go to your Dashboard. Find the course you want to hide. On the right side of the course card, click the three-dot menu (or the star icon, depending on your Canvas version). Select "Hide from Dashboard" or "Unfavorite" from the menu. The course will disappear from your main view when ready.
The course still exists in Canvas and you can unhide it later if you need it. To find hidden courses, look for a "Show All Courses" link or a "Courses" menu option that displays your full course history. You can unhide any course the same way you hid it.
When to contact your Canvas administrator about deletion
If hiding the course is not enough and you genuinely need it removed from the system, you will need to reach out to your institution's Canvas support team. This is typically your school's IT department, help desk, or a designated Canvas administrator.
Before you contact them, gather the course name, the term it was offered in, and the course ID if you have it. Explain why the course should be deleted — for example, it was a duplicate, it was created by mistake, or it is no longer being used. Administrators may ask questions about whether the course contains any materials that need to be saved first.
Some institutions have policies about how long courses are kept before automatic deletion or archiving. Ask your administrator what your school's retention policy is, so you know whether old courses will be removed automatically or if you need to request removal.
The difference between hiding, archiving, and deleting
Hiding a course removes it from your personal view only. The course stays in Canvas and other users can still see it. You can unhide it anytime.
Archiving a course is an administrative action that hides it from most users but keeps it in the system. Archived courses can be restored if needed. Some schools automatically archive courses after a semester or year has passed.
Deleting a course removes it from Canvas entirely. This is permanent and usually requires administrator approval. Most institutions are cautious about deletion because it removes all course materials, grades, and records. Some schools never delete courses and instead archive them indefinitely.
How to find your Canvas administrator's contact information
Your Canvas administrator is usually listed in your school's help desk or IT support directory. Look for a "Canvas Support" link on your institution's website, or search for "Canvas administrator" on your school's intranet.
You can also find support information inside Canvas itself. Click the question mark icon (Help) in the bottom left corner of Canvas and select "Contact Support" or "Report a Problem." This will show you the contact options your institution has set up for Canvas users.
If you cannot find the administrator's contact information, email your general IT help desk and ask them to direct you to the right person. Include the course name and term in your message so they can locate it quickly.
What happens to course materials when a course is deleted
When a Canvas course is deleted, all of its contents are removed — assignments, discussions, grades, files, and student submissions. This is why administrators are usually cautious about approving deletions and may ask whether you need to export or save any materials first.
If you think you might need materials from an old course later, ask your administrator whether you can export the course before deletion. Canvas allows administrators to read course content as a backup. Some institutions keep backups of deleted courses for a set period in case recovery is needed.
Before requesting deletion, make sure you do not need anything from the course. If you just want it out of your view, hiding it is the safer choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a Canvas course if I am the instructor?
No. Even instructors cannot delete courses in Canvas. Only your institution's Canvas administrator can do that. If you are an instructor with an old course you no longer teach, contact your administrator and explain that the course should be deleted or archived. Provide the course name, term, and course ID.
Will deleting a course affect student grades or transcripts?
Yes. Deleting a course removes all grades and records associated with it from Canvas. However, most institutions keep separate records outside of Canvas for transcript purposes, so your school's official records should not be affected. Check with your registrar or records office if you are concerned about grade history.
Can I recover a course after it has been deleted?
It depends on your institution's backup policy. Some schools keep deleted course data for 30 to 90 days and can restore it. Others do not keep backups. Contact your Canvas administrator when ready if a course was deleted by mistake — the sooner you report it, the better the chance of recovery.
Why does Canvas not let me delete my own courses?
Canvas restricts deletion to administrators to prevent accidental loss of course materials and student data. Courses often contain grades, assignments, and records that affect student transcripts and institutional compliance. Keeping deletion at the administrative level protects both students and the institution.
How long does it take for an administrator to delete a course?
It usually takes one to five business days, depending on your institution's workload and policies. Some administrators may ask follow-up questions or require approval from another department before proceeding. Contact your help desk to find out your school's typical timeline.