Edit or Remove Assignment Group Subtotals in Canvas

Introduction

In Canvas, each Assignment Group automatically generates a sub-total column in the Gradebook. These sub-totals represent either the weighted percentage or total points of that group. If you want to change how these subtotals appear—or remove them entirely—you'll need to modify or delete the related Assignment Groups. This guide walks you through editing, deleting, and managing Assignment Groups to control the Gradebook display.

Prerequisites

  • You must be an instructor or other user with editing access to the Canvas course.

  • You should know whether your course uses weighted grading or total points.

  • You must be able to access the Assignments page within your Canvas course.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To manage Assignment Groups and their Gradebook sub-totals, do the following:

Edit an Assignment Group

  1. From the course sidebar, select Assignments.

  2. Find the Assignment Group you want to change.

  3. Select the three dots (⋮) next to the group name.

  4. Select Edit.

  5. Make your changes:

    • Update the group name.

    • If weighted grading is on, adjust the percentage.

  6. Select Save.

Delete an Assignment Group and Its Subtotal

  1. On the Assignments page, locate the group to delete.

  2. Select the three dots (⋮) next to the group name.

  3. Choose Delete.

  4. When prompted, choose whether to:

    • Move the assignments to another group, or

    • Delete them entirely (only if you’re sure).

  5. The Gradebook sub-total column for that group will disappear after deletion.

Adjust Weighting or Turn Off Subtotals

  1. From the Assignments page, select the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner.

  2. Select Assignment Groups Weight.

  3. To enable weighting, check Weight final grade based on assignment groups and adjust percentages.

  4. To disable weighting and remove all subtotal columns:

    • Uncheck Weight final grade based on assignment groups.

    • This switches the Gradebook to a simple total points structure.

Now your Assignment Groups and Gradebook subtotals reflect your desired grading structure.

Troubleshooting

  • If you delete a group but the subtotal remains, refresh the Gradebook page.

  • If your course uses weighted grading, make sure the percentages across all groups total 100%.

  • You can’t delete the last remaining Assignment Group in a course; at least one must exist.

Metadata

Title: Edit or Remove Assignment Group Subtotals in Canvas
Primary Audience: Instructor
Summary: Instructors can manage Gradebook sub-totals by editing or deleting Assignment Groups. Subtotals are generated automatically based on group configuration or weighting.

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