Date

July 2, 2025

Type

Owner

Joel Vanner

Tags

CanvasCanvas Faculty & StaffNavigating CanvasCanvas Course Management

Make frequently used external websites easy to find by adding a link to them to the course navigation!

Use the Redirect tool to add direct links to external tools in your course navigation. This will give your students quick, one-click access to important resources outside of Canvas.

We recommend using the Redirect tool only for external links. Internal Canvas links added with the Redirect tool will not update automatically when copying your course for a new semester.

Using the Redirect tool does not substitute for linking your course with any external publisher content if applicable (like Connect, WebAssign, etc.). You must use the LTI integration with external publisher content.

In the course navigation of the course you want to add an external link to, select “Settings” (at the bottom).

Canvas course navigation menu showing “Files,” “Pages,” and “Outcomes” with eye icons indicating hidden status, and “Settings” visible.

Select “Apps” from the top tabs (1), type “redirect” in the search box (2), and select the “Redirect Tool” app with the blue arrow (3).

Canvas External Apps screen showing tabs for Course Details, Sections, Navigation, Apps, Feature Options, and Integrations. The “Apps” tab is selected. The user has searched for “redirect,” revealing the Redirect tool with a blue arrow icon, marked as installed.

Select the blue “+ Add App” button.

Canvas Redirect Tool setup screen with a blue arrow icon, description of the tool, and a highlighted “+ Add App” button.

Type in the name of the external website (1) that will appear in your course navigation. Paste in the URL for the website (2), and make sure “Force open in new tab” and “Show in Course Navigation” are both checked. Select the blue “Add App” button to submit.

We recommend using the Redirect tool only for external links. Internal Canvas links added with the Redirect tool will not update automatically when copying your course for a new semester.

Canvas “Add App” settings window showing a new app named “Dictionary” with the URL https://www.merriam-webster.com/. The options “Force open in new tab” and “Show in Course Navigation” are checked.

A dialogue box at the top of Canvas will let you know the app has been added successfully!

Green Canvas confirmation message stating, “The app was added successfully” with a checkmark icon and close button.

If you want to change the positioning of the link in your course navigation, follow the steps here →

If you want to edit or delete an existing external link in your course navigation, follow the steps here →

QILT is here to help you and answer any questions you may have. Schedule a consultation with the team!

Faculty, staff, and students have access to 24/7/365 phone and chat support through the Help menu in Canvas.

Visit the Faculty Advancement in Teaching Excellence Canvas site for teaching resources, opportunities for engagement, and spaces to connect with colleagues about teaching!

Additional Resources

View full knowledgebase →

View all teaching and learning resources →

Use the buttons below to toggle through resource types.

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Canvas Announcements

Page	Date	Owner
Linking or Embedding a YouTube Video in Canvas	July 3, 2025	Joel Vanner
Enabling E-mail Notifications for Announcements and Messages You Send in Canvas	May 22, 2025	Joel Vanner

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Canvas Course Content

Page	Date	Owner
Linking or Embedding a YouTube Video in Canvas	July 3, 2025	Joel Vanner
Publishing Your Canvas Module and Content (Make Visible to Students)	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner
Using Text Headers to Organize a Module in Canvas	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner
Adding Content to a Module in Canvas	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner
Creating a Module in Canvas	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner

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Canvas Course Management

Page	Date	Owner
Editing the Course Navigation in Canvas	July 2, 2025	Joel Vanner
Adding an External Link to the Canvas Course Navigation	July 2, 2025	Joel Vanner
Copying a Canvas Course for a New Semester	April 25, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner

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Canvas Inbox

Page	Date	Owner
Enabling E-mail Notifications for Announcements and Messages You Send in Canvas	May 22, 2025	Joel Vanner

‣

Canvas Item Banks

Page	Date	Owner
Migrating Tests and Pools from Blackboard Original to Canvas	April 25, 2025	Alex D'Adamo

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Canvas Modules

Page	Date	Owner
Publishing Your Canvas Module and Content (Make Visible to Students)	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner
Using Text Headers to Organize a Module in Canvas	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner
Adding Content to a Module in Canvas	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner
Creating a Module in Canvas	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner
Assigning Canvas Modules to Specific Student(s) or Section(s)	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner
Requiring Canvas Modules to Be Completed in a Set Order	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner
Locking Canvas Modules Until a Specific Date	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner
Duplicating/Copying a Module in Canvas	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner
Moving Modules and Content in Canvas	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner

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Canvas Notifications

Page	Date	Owner
Enabling E-mail Notifications for Announcements and Messages You Send in Canvas	May 22, 2025	Joel Vanner

‣

Canvas Quizzes

Page	Date	Owner
Linking or Embedding a YouTube Video in Canvas	July 3, 2025	Joel Vanner
Migrating Tests and Pools from Blackboard Original to Canvas	April 25, 2025	Alex D'Adamo
Troubleshooting Missing Images in Tests Imported from Blackboard to Canvas	May 21, 2025	Alex D'Adamo
Using LockDown Browser in Canvas	April 28, 2025	Joel Vanner

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Canvas Sandboxes

Page	Date	Owner
Deleting a Sandbox Course in Canvas	May 21, 2025	Alex D'AdamoJoel Vanner
Creating a Canvas Sandbox Course	March 21, 2025	Joel Vanner

‣

Canvas SpeedGrader

Page	Date	Owner
Annotating in Canvas SpeedGrader (Grading)	April 25, 2025	Joel Vanner

‣

Communication in Canvas

Page	Date	Owner
Enabling E-mail Notifications for Announcements and Messages You Send in Canvas	May 22, 2025	Joel Vanner

‣

Elsevier Evolve

Page	Date	Owner
Adding Elsevier Evolve Content to Canvas	April 28, 2025	Joel Vanner

‣

Khanmigo

Page	Date	Owner
Access Khanmigo in Canvas	December 9, 2024	Joel Vanner

‣

LockDown Browser

Page	Date	Owner
Using LockDown Browser in Canvas	April 28, 2025	Joel Vanner

‣

Lucid

Page	Date	Owner
Lucid in Canvas	February 12, 2025	Joel Vanner

‣

Navigating Canvas

Page	Date	Owner
Editing the Course Navigation in Canvas	July 2, 2025	Joel Vanner
Adding an External Link to the Canvas Course Navigation	July 2, 2025	Joel Vanner
Accessing Canvas (Faculty and Staff)	March 31, 2025	Joel Vanner

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Perusall

Page	Date	Owner
Setting up and Integrating Perusall with Canvas	April 28, 2025	Joel Vanner

‣

YuJa

Page	Date	Owner
Adding a YuJa Quiz to a Canvas Assignment	March 28, 2025	Alex D'Adamo

‣

Canvas Training

Page	Date	Owner
Canvas Consultant May 2025 Onsite Session Recordings	June 4, 2025	Joel Vanner
Canvas Training Calendar (Faculty and Staff)	June 4, 2025	Joel Vanner
Training Services Portal (Faculty and Staff) (self-paced modules, recorded and live webinars)	March 25, 2025	Joel Vanner
Canvas Help and Training (Faculty and Staff)	June 4, 2025	Joel Vanner

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Canvas Help

Page	Date	Owner
Canvas Help and Training (Faculty and Staff)	June 4, 2025	Joel Vanner
Join the Canvas Community	June 4, 2025	Joel Vanner
Canvas Basics Guide from Instructure	June 4, 2025	Joel Vanner
Faculty Guides from Instructure	June 4, 2025	Joel Vanner
Canvas Request Form (Faculty and Staff)	June 4, 2025	Joel Vanner

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Canvas People

Page	Date	Owner
Differentiation Tags in Canvas	June 18, 2025	Joel Vanner

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Canvas Assignments

Page	Date	Owner
Linking or Embedding a YouTube Video in Canvas	July 3, 2025	Joel Vanner

‣

Canvas Discussions

Page	Date	Owner
Linking or Embedding a YouTube Video in Canvas	July 3, 2025	Joel Vanner

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Canvas Gradebook

Page	Date	Owner
Hiding Unpublished Assignments from the Canvas Gradebook	June 30, 2025	Joel Vanner

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Differentiation Tags in Canvas

Page	Date	Owner
Differentiation Tags in Canvas	June 18, 2025	Joel Vanner

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McGraw Hill Connect

Page	Date	Owner
McGraw Hill Connect Resources for Faculty	June 20, 2025	Joel Vanner

Adding an External Link to the Canvas Course Navigation

Additional Resources