Prevent Overwrites When Copying Content in Canvas

Instructors copying content multiple times between Canvas courses may inadvertently overwrite updated content. Utilizing Canvas's native duplication feature before copying can prevent this issue.

Quick Links: | Environment | Solution | Root Cause |

Instructors attempting to copy content (like assignments or quizzes) multiple times from a source course to a destination course in Canvas sometimes overwrite the updated content in the destination course. This action can inadvertently affect student grades and course integrity, as copying content multiple times can overwrite updated assignment parameters (such as points possible).

This also occurs if the instructor exports the course and re-imports it since Canvas still maintains a reference to the original content in the course export.

Environment

• Canvas
• Copy To, Send To, and Import Existing Content

Solution

To avoid overwriting content when copying it between courses, follow these steps:

1. In the source course, locate the content you wish to duplicate.
2. Utilize Canvas's native duplication feature by selecting the ⋮ three dots option next to the content item and choosing Duplicate.
3. Once the content is duplicated, it will appear in your course with the same name followed by "Copy."
4. Proceed to copy this newly duplicated item to your destination course using the Copy To feature.

For quizzes specifically, refer to the related article: How do I duplicate a quiz in the same Canvas course as an instructor?

This process ensures that a fresh copy of the desired content is transferred without overwriting any existing, updated content in the destination course.

Root Cause

Canvas's content copying workflow treats the source course (like a template sandbox) as the canonical version. This design supports instructors who create content in a sandbox course and distribute it across multiple destination courses. When updates are needed, instructors are expected to modify the source content and recopy it to destination courses, with the system overwriting the previous versions.

When content is copied, Canvas creates an invisible link between source and destination content through a unique identifier. This link persists even if the destination content is modified beyond recognition. When content is recopied, Canvas uses this identifier to locate and update matching content in the destination course. If no match is found, it creates new content instead. This linking mechanism explains why content can be unexpectedly overwritten during multiple copy operations.

To avoid overwriting, instructors should duplicate content within the source course before copying it elsewhere. Duplication generates a new unique identifier, breaking the link to the original content. When copied to a destination course, this duplicated content is treated as new, preventing any overwrites of existing material.

Still need help? Reach out to Canvas support or the Technology & Learning Program for further assistance.