Canvas lets you delete courses you no longer need, but the process depends on whether you created the course or were enrolled as a student
If you are a Canvas instructor or administrator, you can remove a course entirely from your workspace. If you are a student, you cannot delete the course itself — only unenroll from it so it stops appearing in your course list. The steps differ based on your role and what you are trying to accomplish.
Removing old courses keeps your Canvas dashboard clean and makes it easier to find active work. Deleted courses cannot be recovered, so make sure you have saved any materials you need before you proceed.
Key Takeaways
- Instructors and administrators can permanently delete a course by going to Settings, scrolling to the Danger Zone, and clicking Delete this course.
- Students who want to hide a course from their list should unenroll instead of trying to delete it, using the course menu or the People section.
- Deleted courses cannot be restored, so read any syllabi, assignments, or student work you need to keep before you delete.
- If a course is archived rather than deleted, you can still access it later by showing archived courses in your course list.
How instructors and administrators delete a course
Open the course you want to remove. Click the Settings icon (a gear) in the left navigation menu. Scroll down to the bottom of the Settings page until you see the red Danger Zone section.
Click the red Delete this course button. Canvas will ask you to confirm by typing the course name or code. Type it exactly as it appears, then click Delete Course. The course will be removed from Canvas when ready and cannot be undone.
Before you delete, read any materials you want to keep. You can export the course content by going to Settings, clicking Export Course Content, and choosing what to read. This creates a backup file you can store or import into another course later.
How students unenroll from a course
If you are a student and want to remove a course from your list, you cannot delete it — only the instructor or administrator can do that. Instead, you unenroll, which hides the course from your dashboard.
Open the course. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the course header. Select Unenroll from this course. Canvas will ask you to confirm. Click Unenroll, and the course will disappear from your course list.
If you change your mind, you can re-enroll if the course is still open for enrollment. Ask your instructor to add you back, or use the course code to rejoin if self-enrollment is turned on.
Archiving a course instead of deleting it
If you might need the course later, archive it instead of deleting it. An archived course is hidden from your main course list but can be restored without losing any content.
Go to Settings and scroll to the Danger Zone. Click Archive this course. The course will move to an archived section. To see archived courses again, go to your Courses page, click the filter icon, and check Show archived courses. Click on the archived course and go to Settings to unarchive it if you need it back.
Archiving is safer than deleting because you keep all the course data. Use this option if you teach the same course each term or want to preserve student records.
What happens to student data when you delete a course
When you delete a course, all student submissions, grades, and discussion posts are permanently removed. Students will no longer see the course in their list, and they cannot access any materials or grades from it.
If you need to keep student records, export the course before deleting it. Go to Settings, click Export Course Content, and choose Gradebook to read grades as a CSV file. You can also export student submissions individually by going to each assignment and downloading files.
Some institutions require you to keep grade records for a set period. Check your school or organization's policy before deleting any course that contains student work.
Removing courses from your dashboard without deleting them
You do not have to delete a course to hide it from your main dashboard. You can favorite only the courses you use regularly, which makes your active courses easier to find.
On your Courses page, click the star icon next to a course name to favorite it. Unfavorited courses move to the bottom of your list but stay in Canvas. You can also use the filter icon to show only favorite courses, which clears your view of older or inactive courses.
This approach keeps your workspace organized without losing any course data. It is useful if you teach multiple terms and want to focus on current courses while keeping past ones available.
Bulk removal of multiple courses
If you need to remove many courses at once, Canvas does not have a bulk delete feature. You must delete each course individually by going to its Settings and using the Danger Zone button.
To speed up the process, open each course in a new tab. Go through the Settings and delete confirmation for each one, then close the tab and move to the next. This is faster than navigating back and forth between courses.
If you manage a large number of courses, ask your Canvas administrator whether they can delete courses in bulk from the admin panel. Some institutions have tools to remove courses by term or by course code list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a course after I delete it?
No. Deleted courses cannot be restored. If you think you might need the course later, archive it instead of deleting it. You can unarchive an archived course anytime without losing content.
What if I delete a course by accident?
Contact your Canvas administrator right away. Some institutions can restore a recently deleted course from a backup, but this depends on your school's backup policy and how long ago the deletion occurred. The sooner you report it, the better your chances.
Do students get notified when I delete a course?
Students do not receive a notification, but they will notice the course is gone from their list. If you are deleting a course mid-term, send students a message first so they know what happened and where to find any materials you are providing.
Can I delete a course if students are still enrolled?
Yes. Canvas does not prevent you from deleting a course with active students. However, students will lose access to all grades and materials. Unenroll students first or give them time to read what they need.
What is the difference between deleting and archiving?
Deleting removes the course permanently and cannot be undone. Archiving hides the course from your main list but keeps all content intact. You can unarchive an archived course anytime. Archive if you might teach the course again; delete only if you are certain you will not need it.