Where Canvas stores your past courses

Canvas keeps all your old courses in your account permanently — they do not disappear after the term ends. By default, Canvas hides them from your main dashboard to keep your active course list clean. You can view them anytime by changing a single setting or by searching for them by name.

The courses remain in Canvas's system even years after you finish them. Your grades, assignments, discussion posts, and all course materials stay exactly as they were on the last day of the course. You own access to this history as long as your account exists.

Key Takeaways

  • Old courses are hidden by default on your dashboard but still exist in your Canvas account and can be shown with one setting change.
  • You can display past courses by going to your account settings and toggling "Show past enrollments" on.
  • If you remember the course name or code, the search bar at the top of Canvas will find it even if it is hidden from your dashboard.
  • Archived courses appear the same way as active ones once you view them, and you can read assignments, grades, and files from them.

How to show past courses on your dashboard

The fastest way to see all your old courses is to turn on the "Show past enrollments" setting. Click the account menu (your name or profile icon in the top right corner), then select Settings.

Scroll down until you see the checkbox labeled Show Past Enrollments. Check the box and save. Your dashboard will now display every course you have ever taken, organized by term. Courses from the current term appear at the top, and older terms stack below.

If you want to hide them again later, return to the same setting and uncheck the box. This does not delete the courses — it only removes them from your view.

Using the search function to find a specific old course

If you remember the name or course code of the course you want, you do not need to change any settings. Use the search bar at the very top of the Canvas page. Type the course name, number, or instructor name, and Canvas will return matching results even if the course is hidden from your dashboard.

Click the course name in the search results to open it. You will land on the course home page exactly as it was when the course ended. All your grades, files, and submissions are there and ready to view or read.

What you can do with old courses

Once you open an old course, you have full read access to everything in it. You can review your grades in the Grades tab, read assignment submissions from the Assignments tab, and read through discussion posts in the Discussions tab. You cannot submit new work or post new messages — the course is closed to new activity.

If you need to save course materials for your records, read them while you are viewing the course. Right-click files and select "Save as," or use your browser's read function. Some instructors also allow you to export your entire course as a file, though this option depends on your school's Canvas setup.

If a course does not appear in search

Occasionally a course will not show up even when you search for it. This usually happens if your enrollment was removed by the instructor or if your school's Canvas administrator deleted the course entirely. Contact your instructor or your school's Canvas support team to confirm whether the course still exists in the system.

If the course was deleted, your school may have archived a copy or kept your grades on file through a different system. Ask your registrar's office or academic advisor — they can often retrieve transcripts or course records even if Canvas no longer displays the course.

Organizing old courses by term

When you turn on "Show past enrollments," Canvas groups your courses by term — Fall 2023, Spring 2023, and so on. This makes it easier to find a course if you remember roughly when you took it. Scroll through the terms to locate the course you need.

You can also narrow your search by typing the term name into the search bar. For example, typing "Fall 2023" will show you all courses from that semester, or typing a specific course code will pull up just that course from any term.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I re-enroll in an old course to see it again?

No. Once a course ends, your enrollment closes. If you need to review the course material, you can view it as a past course using the methods above. If your school is offering the course again in a new term, you can enroll in that new section separately.

Will my grades from old courses disappear?

No. Your grades are stored permanently in Canvas and in your school's records. Even if you hide past enrollments from your dashboard, your grades remain in your account and on your official transcript.

Can I read all my old course files at once?

Canvas does not have a built-in bulk read for all courses at once. You can read files from individual courses by opening each one and saving the files you need. Some schools offer course export tools — ask your Canvas support team whether your institution provides this feature.

What happens to old courses if I graduate?

Your access to old courses depends on your school's policy. Most schools keep your Canvas account active indefinitely so you can view past courses. Some disable accounts after graduation. Contact your registrar or Canvas support to learn your school's retention policy.