Canvas and Google Calendar can sync, but only one direction at a time

Canvas does not have a built-in two-way sync with Google Calendar. You can send your Canvas calendar events into Google Calendar so they appear alongside your other commitments, but changes you make in Google Calendar will not flow back into Canvas. This is a one-way connection: Canvas pushes to Google, not the other way around.

The sync works through a calendar feed — a special link that Google Calendar reads to pull in your Canvas events. Once you set it up, new assignments, due dates, and events from Canvas appear in Google Calendar automatically. If Canvas updates a due date, Google Calendar will reflect that change. But if you edit or delete an event in Google Calendar, it stays deleted only in Google Calendar; Canvas still shows the original.

This setup takes about five minutes and requires you to be logged into both Canvas and Google at the same time.

Key Takeaways

  • Canvas sends events to Google Calendar through a calendar feed URL that you copy from Canvas and paste into Google Calendar.
  • The sync is one-way only: Canvas updates appear in Google Calendar, but changes in Google Calendar do not go back to Canvas.
  • You need to be an instructor or student with calendar access in Canvas; some institutions restrict this feature.
  • Once linked, new Canvas events show up in Google Calendar within a few minutes, and you can color-code them separately from your other calendars.
  • If Canvas removes an event, it disappears from Google Calendar; if you delete it in Google Calendar, it reappears the next time the feed updates.

Find your Canvas calendar feed URL

Log into Canvas and go to the Calendar section in the left sidebar. Click the gear icon (settings) in the top right corner of the calendar view. You will see an option that says "Calendar Feed" or "Subscribe to this calendar." Click it.

Canvas will show you a long URL that starts with https:// and contains your institution's domain and a unique token. Copy this entire URL — do not edit it or shorten it. This feed URL is what tells Google Calendar where to find your Canvas events.

Keep this URL somewhere you can find it quickly, like a text document or email to yourself. You will paste it into Google Calendar next.

Add the Canvas feed to Google Calendar

Open Google Calendar in a new tab or window. On the left side under "Other calendars," click the plus sign (+). Select "Subscribe to calendar" from the menu that appears.

Paste the Canvas feed URL into the box that says "Calendar URL" or "Feed URL." Google Calendar will recognize it as a valid feed. Click "Subscribe" or "Add calendar."

Google Calendar will ask you to name the calendar (it may suggest "Canvas" or your institution's name) and choose a color. Pick a color that stands out so you can tell Canvas events apart from your personal calendar at a glance. Click "Add calendar" to finish.

What happens after you link the calendars

Canvas events will start appearing in Google Calendar within a few minutes. You will see assignments, quizzes, discussion posts, and any other dated items from Canvas courses you are enrolled in. The events will show up in the color you chose.

If a Canvas instructor changes a due date, that change will show up in Google Calendar the next time the feed updates — usually within 15 minutes, though it can take up to an hour. If Canvas removes an event (for example, an instructor cancels an assignment), it will disappear from Google Calendar on the next update.

If you delete a Canvas event from Google Calendar, it will reappear the next time the feed syncs because Canvas is still the source of truth. To permanently remove a Canvas event from your view, you have to delete it in Canvas itself, or you can hide the entire Canvas calendar in Google Calendar without deleting individual events.

Troubleshooting a feed that is not showing events

If you added the feed but no Canvas events appear, check that you copied the entire URL correctly — even one missing character will break the link. Go back to Canvas, copy the feed URL again, and try pasting it into Google Calendar a second time.

Some institutions disable the calendar feed feature for security or policy reasons. If Google Calendar rejects the URL with an error message, contact your school's Canvas support or IT help desk to ask whether calendar feeds are turned on for your account.

If events appear but stop updating after a few days, the feed URL may have expired. This is rare, but if it happens, delete the Canvas calendar from Google Calendar and re-add it using a fresh copy of the feed URL from Canvas.

Hiding or removing the Canvas calendar from Google Calendar

If you want to temporarily hide Canvas events without deleting the calendar, click the three dots next to the Canvas calendar name in the left sidebar and select "Hide." The calendar will disappear from your view, but the link stays active. You can unhide it anytime by clicking the plus sign under "Other calendars" and searching for it.

To permanently remove the Canvas calendar, click the three dots next to it and select "Unsubscribe." This deletes the connection between Canvas and Google Calendar. Your Google Calendar events stay; only the Canvas feed is removed. You can always re-add it later by pasting the feed URL again.

Using Canvas calendar on your phone

Once Canvas is linked to Google Calendar, the events appear in Google Calendar on your phone automatically — you do not need to do anything extra. Open the Google Calendar app on iOS or Android, and you will see Canvas events mixed in with your other calendars.

Canvas does not have its own calendar app that syncs with phones, so using Google Calendar on mobile is the easiest way to see your Canvas due dates on the go. You can set notifications for Canvas events the same way you would for any other Google Calendar event: tap the event and choose when you want to be reminded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sync Google Calendar back to Canvas?

No. The feed only works one direction — Canvas sends to Google Calendar, not the other way around. If you want Canvas to know about your personal events, you would have to enter them into Canvas manually.

What if my Canvas institution uses a different calendar system?

Some schools use Blackboard, Moodle, or other learning platforms instead of Canvas. Those systems may have their own calendar feeds, but the steps to link them to Google Calendar are similar: find the feed URL in your learning platform's settings and paste it into Google Calendar's "Subscribe to calendar" option.

Will my Canvas calendar feed work if I change my password?

Yes. The feed URL contains a token, not your password, so changing your Canvas password does not break the link. The feed will keep working unless your institution disables it or you delete it yourself.

Can I share my Canvas calendar with other people?

You can share your Google Calendar (which now includes Canvas events) with others through Google Calendar's sharing settings. However, they will see only what you see in Google Calendar, and they cannot edit Canvas events from the shared view.

What if I am in multiple Canvas courses?

The single feed URL you subscribe to includes events from all your Canvas courses. You do not need to add multiple feeds. All your Canvas assignments and due dates appear in one calendar in Google Calendar, color-coded the way you chose.