Bulk Import Zoom Polls From a Spreadsheet in Canvas

Quick Links: | Prerequisites | Instructions | Troubleshooting | Next Steps |

Creating multiple polls efficiently can be accomplished using Zoom's CSV template feature for meetings linked to Canvas courses. This method allows you to prepare numerous questions and answers in a spreadsheet format, then import them all at once into your Zoom meeting. This approach is particularly useful for instructors who want to create many polls or prefer working in spreadsheet software.  CSV import supports creating Zoom polls. Quizzes and advanced question types may require additional configuration through Zoom's poll editor.

Prerequisites

Before creating polls using CSV templates, ensure you have:

  • Enabled polling in your Zoom account
  • A Zoom meeting that is linked to a Canvas course (CSV import only works for Canvas-integrated meetings)
  • Teacher role for the Canvas course and Zoom meeting
  • Access to spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, or similar

Use CSV Import When:

  • Creating many questions at once
  • Reusing questions from a spreadsheet
  • Preparing polls before the semester begins

Use the Zoom Poll Editor When:

  • Creating only a few questions
  • Making quick edits
  • Building polls directly in Zoom

Step-by-Step Instructions

To create polls using the CSV template method, do the following:

Download and Edit the CSV Template

  1. From Canvas, open your course
  2. From the course navigation menu, select Zoom
  3. Select Edit for your Zoom meeting
  4. At the bottom of the page, select Download a CSV Template
    Screenshot showing the Download CSV Template option at the bottom of the Canvas Zoom meeting edit page
  5. Open the downloaded CSV template using Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, or another spreadsheet editor
  6. Edit the template with your poll questions using the following schema:
    • Title: The title of the question group (such as "Survey" or "Quiz"). This will be visible to users
      • Each new value entered in the Title column starts a new poll. The title row should appear before the questions that belong to that poll.
    • Questions Name: The title of the individual question within the survey/quiz. This will be visible to users
    • Questions Type: Choose either "single" for single-choice questions or "multiple" for multiple-choice questions. This will be visible to users
    • Answers: The available response options for each question. This will be visible to users
  7. Important: Keep the header row intact (Title, Questions Name, Questions Type, Answers)
    Screenshot of the CSV template structure showing the required columns and format
  8. Save the file in CSV format

Import Your Polls

  1. Return to the Edit page for your Zoom meeting in Canvas
    1. If using Google Sheets, download the file as CSV before uploading it to Zoom.
  2. At the bottom of the page, select Import CSV
  3. Browse to locate your saved CSV file and upload it
  4. Verify that the polls imported correctly by reviewing the questions and answers displayed
  5. Save your meeting to finalize the changes

Now your polls have been imported into your Canvas-linked Zoom meeting and are ready to launch during your session.

Zoom limits:

  • Up to 10 questions per poll
  • Up to 10 answer choices per question
  • Multiple polls can be imported into the same meeting

Testing/verification:  We recommend launching a test meeting and reviewing imported polls before using them in a live class.

Troubleshooting

I don't see Download a CSV Template

  • Verify the meeting was created through the Canvas Zoom integration.
  • Verify you are editing the meeting from within Canvas.

My polls imported incorrectly

  • Download a fresh template and compare the column structure.
  • Verify the Title row appears before the questions belonging to that poll.

My spreadsheet uploaded but no polls appeared

  • Refresh the page after importing.
  • Verify the file was saved as a CSV file rather than XLSX.

If the CSV import fails, ensure that you maintained the original header row structure (Title, Questions Name, Questions Type, Answers) and that your file is saved in proper CSV format.

If questions don't import correctly, verify that your question types are either "single" or "multiple" - other values are not supported.

For complex formatting issues, try starting over with a fresh template download rather than modifying an existing spreadsheet.

 

Next Steps

After importing your CSV polls, you can:

Still need help? If you run into problems or still need help, reach out to the Technology & Learning Program. 

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