Provides 209 tools for interacting with a school's Canvas LMS API, covering courses, assignments, submissions (text, URL, file), grades with weighted breakdowns and what-if/needed-score calculations, quizzes (read-only), discussions, inbox messaging, calendar, files/pages/modules and .imscc course export, plus planning tools like week-ahead agendas and study-priority rankings.
Want it on your phone, on the web, or across several computers? Go to the Remote Edition → (website). It has the same 237 tools, served over a password-protected tunnel with a status page, phone alerts and automatic failover between computers.
Use Canvas from your AI assistant on your own computer. No tunnel, no passwords, no background service.
237 tools · One-command setup · Nothing exposed to the internet
Website · Quick start · Configuration · Tools · Troubleshooting · Changelog
On Windows? Skip the terminal. The free Canvas MCP Installer Assistant sets this up in Claude Desktop, the ChatGPT desktop app and other AI apps with pictures and a check after every step, or does every step for you. Download for Windows
Local (this repo) | ||
Works with | Claude Desktop, the ChatGPT desktop app, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code and other MCP clients on this computer | Any MCP client that supports remote servers, on any device |
When it runs | Only while your AI app is open, because the app starts it | Always on, in the background |
You need | Node.js and a Canvas token | Node.js, a Canvas token, an ngrok or Cloudflare account and a password |
Internet exposure | None: no port is opened | Public HTTPS address, password-protected |
Multiple computers | Install it separately on each one | Built-in automatic failover between computers |
Setup time | About 2 minutes with | About 15 minutes, plus about 5 per extra computer |
Related MCP server: canvas-parent-mcp
Your day and week: daily_briefing, get_week_ahead, semester_snapshot, cross-course missing work in one call
Planner: add your own to-do notes, check items off your Canvas To Do list, export deadlines to Google, Apple or Outlook calendars
Study plans: study_plan spreads study time before each deadline around your calendar; schedule_study_plan puts it on your Canvas calendar
Grade intelligence: final_grade_scenarios (what you need for each letter, with group weights), what_if_grade, grade_impact_ranking, calculate_gpa
Assignments: assignment_brief gives the instructions, rubric, late policy and linked files in one call
Submissions, discussions and inbox: submit, post and message, always after you confirm (apps that support it ask you directly)
Content: read lecture PDFs, Word docs and slides with read_course_file, plus pages, modules, captions and full course export
Prompts and attachments: one-click prompts like Daily briefing, Start this assignment and Am I on track to pass?, and attach a syllabus or assignment to a chat
Your AI app (MCP client) ──stdio──► node index.js ──HTTPS──► your school's Canvas API
(starts the server) (237 tools, runs only
while your app is open)No web server, no ports, nothing to keep running. Your AI app starts the server when it opens and stops it when it closes.
Rather click than type? Download the Canvas MCP Installer Assistant for Windows. It walks you through these steps with pictures and checks each one as you go, for both the Local and Remote editions. See screenshots.
Windows may show "Windows protected your PC" because the app isn't code-signed yet. Click More info, then Run anyway.
You need: Node.js 18+ (22+ to read PDFs) and a Canvas account.
In Canvas, go to Account → Settings → Approved Integrations → + New Access Token. Canvas only shows the token once, so copy it right away. Student tokens usually expire after 30–120 days.
npx canvas-lms-mcp-local setupIt asks for your school's Canvas address and your token, checks they work, then adds Canvas to the apps you pick: Claude Desktop, the ChatGPT desktop app, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Gemini CLI and LM Studio. Your old settings are backed up first. It can also keep the token in Windows Credential Manager, the macOS Keychain or the Linux keyring instead of in each app's settings file.
Afterwards, fully quit and reopen your app (the command tells you how for each one).
Download canvas-lms.mcpb from the latest release.
Open it (double-click, or drag it into Claude Desktop's Settings → Extensions).
Click Install, then enter your school's Canvas address and your token when Claude asks.
The extension includes everything it needs, so you don't have to install Node.js for it.
Open your app's MCP config file. It's usually under Settings → Developer or Settings → MCP servers, and most apps use an mcpServers JSON block. npx canvas-lms-mcp-local print-config <app> prints the exact snippet for each app.
Add this canvas entry with your token and school address (also in mcp_config.example.json):
{
"mcpServers": {
"canvas": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "canvas-lms-mcp-local"],
"env": {
"CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here",
"CANVAS_BASE_URL": "https://yourschool.instructure.com"
}
}
}
}Fully quit the app: on Windows, right-click the tray icon and choose Quit; on macOS, press ⌘Q. Then reopen it. Closing the window isn't enough.
Open Settings → Plugins, go to the MCPs tab, then click Add → Add MCP server.
Choose STDIO and fill in the form. On Windows, each argument goes in its own box:
Field | Value |
Name |
|
Command to launch |
|
Arguments |
|
Environment variables |
|
Click Save, then start a new chat. Chats that were already open don't pick up new tools.
Register this command as a stdio MCP server named canvas, with CANVAS_API_TOKEN and CANVAS_BASE_URL set in its environment:
npx -y canvas-lms-mcp-localFor Claude Code, npx canvas-lms-mcp-local setup --apps claude-code does it for you. Then check your client's MCP status to confirm it's connected.
Ask your assistant: "Run test_connection." It checks your identity, courses, planner, inbox and missing submissions, and reports any features your school has disabled.
Then try: "Give me my daily briefing", "What do I need on the rest of Biology to get a B?", "Plan my study time for the next two weeks" or "Explain the Lab 4 assignment and its rubric."
If something isn't working, run npx canvas-lms-mcp-local doctor. It checks Node, each app's settings and your token, and says how to fix what it finds.
git clone https://github.com/Fireiscoolsolo/canvas-lms-mcp-local.git
cd canvas-lms-mcp-local
npm installCopy .env.example to .env in the same folder as index.js, fill in your token and school address, then point your config at the file instead of npx:
{ "mcpServers": { "canvas": { "command": "node", "args": ["C:/Users/YOUR-NAME/Documents/canvas-lms-mcp-local/index.js"] } } }Forward slashes work on Windows. On macOS, the path looks like /Users/you/canvas-lms-mcp-local/index.js. On Windows, make sure the file is named .env, not .env.txt. To check, turn on View → File name extensions in File Explorer.
The tools live in core/, which is shared with the Remote Edition: change them here, then run npm run sync-core to copy them across. npm test runs every tool against a fake Canvas, so no token is needed.
Put settings in the env block of your config, as in step 2. If you run from source, you can use .env next to index.js instead.
Variable | Required | Default | Description |
| Yes* | — | Your Canvas personal access token |
| — | Or the path of a file that holds only the token | |
| — | Or | |
| Yes | — | e.g. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| all | Only these tool groups or tools, e.g. | |
| — | Leave out these tool groups or tools, e.g. | |
|
| Response cache time in seconds | |
| system | IANA time zone for dates | |
|
| Where download tools save files. They can't save anywhere outside it | |
|
| Longest answer before it is trimmed | |
| both |
|
* One of CANVAS_API_TOKEN, CANVAS_API_TOKEN_FILE or CANVAS_TOKEN_STORE.
Group | Count | Highlights |
Identity | 27 |
|
Courses | 17 |
|
Assignments | 13 |
|
Submissions | 17 | text, URL, file and annotation submission, comments, rubric assessments |
Grades | 15 |
|
Quizzes | 12 | read-only: dates, attempts, reviews |
Discussions | 21 |
|
Inbox | 14 | messaging, |
Calendar | 11 | events, office-hours booking |
Content | 36 | files, pages, modules, captions, ePortfolios, |
Groups | 11 | group workspaces |
Rubrics | 11 | peer reviews |
Search | 3 |
|
Planner | 12 |
|
Planning | 13 |
|
Meta | 4 |
|
Long lists come one page at a time (limit and page), dates read like "Fri, Nov 7, 11:59 PM (in 2 days)", and Canvas errors are explained with the fix. In your token's last week, answers carry a heads-up so the assistant can remind you to renew it.
The server also adds these to your AI app's menus. They don't count as tools.
Prompts: Daily briefing, Plan my week, Plan my study blocks, What did I miss?, Start this assignment, Prep me for an exam, How are my grades?, Am I on track to pass?, Catch me up on a course, Draft an email to my professor and Semester wrap-up. Each one tells the assistant which tools to use, and course names autocomplete.
Attachments: attach a course syllabus, or an assignment due in the next 14 days, to a chat the same way you'd attach a file.
Apps that support MCP prompts and resources, such as Claude Desktop, show them in the + menu.
Nothing is exposed: the server doesn't listen on any port. Only the app that started it can talk to it, through a private pipe.
Confirmation gate: tools that send, submit, post, upload or delete need confirmation. Apps that can ask you directly always do, and nothing the AI sends can skip that. Other apps get a preview and a one-time token that only works for that exact request, for 5 minutes. The token can't prove you agreed, so keep your AI app's own "ask before running" setting on for these tools.
Prompt-injection fencing: text other people wrote (posts, messages, comments, rubric notes) is wrapped in <<<CANVAS_CONTENT>>> markers and labelled as untrusted.
Your token stays private: every request is checked, so it can only go to your school's Canvas. It's never written to logs, and can live in your system's password store instead of a config file.
Safe downloads: files only go in your download folder, never replace another file, and have their names cleaned.
Private files stay private: uploads refuse .env files, keys, sign-in files, and the folders where browsers and AI apps keep their data.
No quiz-taking: quiz attempt endpoints are deliberately not included, and writes to them are refused for every tool, however the address is written.
Never commit
.env. It's already listed in.gitignore. See SECURITY.md.
This is a study and organization tool. It helps you see deadlines, understand your grades and plan your week. It never takes quizzes, and nothing is sent or submitted until you've confirmed it.
Follow your school's academic integrity and acceptable-use policies. Some schools restrict personal API tokens or third-party tools.
Want to be sure nothing in Canvas changes? Set CANVAS_ALLOW_WRITES=false for read-only mode. Downloads still work, into your download folder.
Start with npx canvas-lms-mcp-local doctor: it checks everything below and says what to fix.
Symptom | Fix |
Canvas tools don't appear in your app | Check that the config is valid JSON, then fully quit and reopen the app. |
| Install Node.js, then restart the app. If it still fails, use the full path as |
The first start is slow |
|
"CANVAS_API_TOKEN is not set" | Add it to the |
"Your Canvas token was rejected" | Your token expired. Create a new one (step 1) and run |
Your app struggles with so many tools | Set |
Reading works but uploads or new connections time out |
|
Changes to the code don't take effect | Restart your AI app, because tool lists are loaded when it connects |
Where are the logs? | In your AI app's MCP log folder. Every line from this server starts with |
Known limits: a student token can't reach admin endpoints, gradebook history, course analytics or quiz statistics. smart_search is a Canvas beta feature and often returns 404. Canvas doesn't let other apps add ePortfolio entries.
MIT. This project isn't affiliated with Instructure.
Star a course as a favorite so it shows on your Canvas dashboard. Only affects your own view. Reverse with remove_favorite_course.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Add more people to an existing Inbox conversation so they receive its messages. Get user IDs from find_recipients. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: recipients (required), conversation_id (required), confirm, confirm_token.
Archive an Inbox conversation so it leaves your inbox view; it stays under the archived scope. Only affects you.
Inputs: conversation_id (required).
Everything needed to start an assignment, in one call: the instructions as clean text, due and lock dates, how to submit, attempts, the rubric, the late policy, linked files, group and peer-review details, and your current status.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
Apply one action (mark read or unread, star, unstar, archive or delete) to many Inbox conversations at once. Only affects your own inbox. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: event (required), conversation_ids (required), confirm, confirm_token.
Calculate your GPA on a 4.0 scale from your current Canvas grades, weighted by credit hours. Read-only. Uses the letter grade Canvas shows, or converts the percent (93+ A, 90 A-, 87 B+ and so on). Supports what-if grades and extra points for honors or AP classes. Pass-fail courses are listed as excluded.
Inputs: credits, what_if, extra_points, default_credits, +1 more.
Cancel an appointment slot you booked. The instructor can see the cancellation. Get event_id from list_my_reservations. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: event_id (required), confirm, cancel_reason, confirm_token.
Check when your Canvas access token expires and warn if it is close. Read-only. Canvas often forces student tokens to expire after 30–120 days without warning, so run this at the start of a term.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Calculate the average you need on remaining ungraded work in a course to reach a target final percentage, accounting for group weights. Pure math with no writes. Use what_if_grade to test one specific score with Canvas itself.
Inputs: course_id (required), target_percent (required).
Who to contact in a course and when: the teachers and TAs (with the user IDs send_message needs), office hours found in the syllabus, and office-hour or advising sign-up slots. Read-only.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Get a full status check for one course: current grade, missing and ungraded work, upcoming deadlines and unread discussions. Read-only. Use semester_snapshot for all courses at once.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Save a Canvas bookmark to a course page or any Canvas URL. Only you see it. Returns the new bookmark with its ID. Use list_bookmarks to see existing ones.
Inputs: url (required), name (required), position.
Start a course export as a .imscc Common Cartridge or a zip of files. Canvas packages it in the background; poll get_content_export with the returned ID. export_course_archive does export and download in one step. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: course_id (required), confirm, export_type, confirm_token.
Create a folder in your personal Canvas storage (not in a course). Only you can see it. Returns the new folder with its ID. Upload into it with upload_to_my_files.
Inputs: name (required), parent_folder_id.
Create an event on your own Canvas calendar (only you see it). Returns the new event with its ID. Use update_calendar_event to change it later.
Inputs: title (required), start_at (required), end_at, description, +1 more.
Add a to-do note to your Canvas planner, e.g. "Email Prof. Lee about the extension". It shows on your Canvas To Do list and calendar. Only you see it.
Inputs: title (required), todo_date (required), details, course_id.
Today at a glance: today's classes and events, what is due today and tomorrow, missing work, grades posted in the last day, unread announcements and your unread inbox count, in one call.
Inputs: no named parameters. Returns: date, missing, timezone, due_today, +6 more
Find days in the next N days where several assignments are due at once, weighted by points, so you can spot pileups early. Read-only.
Inputs: days, min_items.
Delete one of your saved Canvas bookmarks. Only affects you. Get bookmark_id from list_bookmarks. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: bookmark_id (required), confirm, confirm_token.
Delete a calendar event you own, such as a personal event. Cannot be undone. Course events return a permission error. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: event_id (required), confirm, confirm_token.
Delete an Inbox conversation from your own inbox. Other participants keep their copy. Cannot be undone. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: conversation_id (required), confirm, confirm_token.
Delete one of your own discussion entries, if the course allows it. Classmates see that an entry was removed. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: entry_id (required), topic_id (required), course_id (required), confirm, +1 more.
Delete a file from your personal Canvas storage. Cannot be undone. Get file_id from list_my_files. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: file_id (required), confirm, confirm_token.
Delete one of your Canvas planner notes. This only affects your own notes. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: note_id (required), confirm, confirm_token.
List what changed since a given time, or since the last time you asked: newly posted grades, announcements, discussion replies and inbox messages, from your activity stream. Read-only apart from remembering when you last checked, so "what's new?" works without a date.
Inputs: since.
Close a school-wide announcement so it stops showing on your Canvas dashboard. Only affects you.
Inputs: notification_id (required), account_id.
Hide an item from your Canvas To Do list and its "new activity" badge, without marking it done. This only changes your own list.
Inputs: plannable_id (required), plannable_type (required).
Download every file you can access in a course to local disk, up to max_files (default 50). Writes local files only; nothing changes in Canvas. Can take many requests and a lot of disk space; use download_file for one file.
Inputs: course_id (required), dest_dir, max_files, content_types.
Download one Canvas file and save it to local disk. Returns the saved path and size. Get file_id from list_course_files or list_my_files.
Inputs: file_id (required), dest_dir.
Download a lecture's caption track and save it as a text transcript on local disk. Returns the saved path. Get media_id from list_media_objects and track_id from get_media_captions.
Inputs: media_id (required), dest_dir, track_id.
Download one file attached to your submission and save it to local disk. Returns the saved path. Get the URL from list_submission_attachments.
Inputs: url (required), filename.
Replace the text of one of your own discussion entries, if the course allows editing. The new text is visible to the whole class. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: message (required), entry_id (required), topic_id (required), course_id (required), +2 more.
Ask Canvas to package every active course (or the ones you pick) as a downloadable .imscc archive, in one step. Nothing in the courses changes. Use before the term ends. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: confirm, course_ids, confirm_token.
Export a whole course, wait for Canvas to package it, then download the .imscc archive to local disk. Nothing in the course changes. Can take several minutes; use it before a term ends and access disappears. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: course_id (required), confirm, dest_dir, confirm_token, +1 more.
Save your upcoming Canvas deadlines as an .ics calendar file you can import into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook, with a reminder before each one. Nothing changes in Canvas.
Inputs: days, include_events, include_completed, remind_minutes_before.
What-if planning for a whole course: your projected final grade if you average 100, 90, 80, 70 or 60% on everything not graded yet, and the average you need on the rest for each letter grade. Uses the course's assignment-group weights and its own letter cutoffs when Canvas shares them. Read-only.
Inputs: course_id (required), targets.
Search by name for people you are allowed to message, optionally within one course. Read-only. Returns the user IDs that send_message and add_recipients need.
Inputs: search (required), limit, course_id.
Get recent activity across all your courses: new announcements, discussion replies, graded submissions and messages, newest first. Read-only. Titles and messages are fenced as untrusted text. For counts only, use get_activity_stream_summary; for one course, use get_course_activity_stream.
Inputs: page, limit, only_active_courses.
Get counts of unread activity by type (announcements, discussions, messages, submissions) across your courses. Read-only and very cheap. Call it before get_activity_stream to see whether the full stream is worth pulling.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Get your current and final grades for every active course in one call, including unposted grades where Canvas shows them. Read-only. Use get_course_grade_breakdown to see how one course's grade is calculated.
Inputs: no named parameters. Returns: courses
Get every unread item in one call: inbox messages, discussion replies, announcements and activity stream items. Read-only; nothing is marked as read.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Get one appointment group (office hours or advising) with its time slots and remaining capacity. Read-only. Book a slot with reserve_appointment_slot using a slot ID from here.
Inputs: group_id (required).
Get full details for one assignment: instructions, due/lock dates, points, submission types and the rubric. Read-only. Prompt text written by the instructor is fenced as untrusted. Get assignment_id from list_assignments.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
List due, lock and unlock dates for every assignment in a course, sorted by due date, in a compact form. Read-only. Use list_assignments when you also need submission status.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
Get one assignment group (e.g. "Homework") with its weight, drop rules and assignments. Read-only. Use list_assignment_groups to see all groups and their IDs.
Inputs: group_id (required), course_id (required).
Get one calendar event: title, start and end time, location, description and the course it belongs to. Read-only. Get event_id from list_calendar_events.
Inputs: event_id (required).
Your personal Canvas calendar feed link and how to subscribe to it in Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook, so Canvas deadlines show up there and stay updated.
Inputs: no named parameters.
List the notification channels on your account (email addresses, SMS numbers, push) with their IDs and status. Read-only. Use a channel_id from here with get_notification_preferences.
Inputs: page, limit.
Check a course export's status and get its download URL once Canvas has finished. Read-only. Start an export with create_content_export.
Inputs: course_id (required), export_id (required).
Get the full message thread for one Inbox conversation, with authors and times. Read-only unless mark_as_read is true. Message bodies are fenced as untrusted.
Inputs: conversation_id (required), mark_as_read.
Get full details for one course: name, code, term, start and end dates, syllabus and public description. Read-only. Use list_courses to find course IDs; use get_syllabus for the syllabus as plain text.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Get recent activity in one course: announcements, discussion replies, grade changes and messages. Read-only. Titles and messages are fenced as untrusted. For all courses at once, use get_activity_stream.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
Break down your grade in one course: each assignment group's weight, your points earned vs possible, and its weighted contribution to the total. Read-only. Use compute_needed_score to plan toward a target grade.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Get the pacing plan for a self-paced course: suggested days for each module and the resulting dates. Read-only. Returns an error if course pacing is not used.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Show what your token is allowed to do in a course, such as posting to discussions or sending messages. Read-only. Call it before a write tool to avoid an action failing halfway.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Get your module completion progress in a course: requirements met, total requirements and next item. Read-only. Returns an error for courses without module completion requirements.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Get course-level settings such as whether final grades are hidden, the late policy is shown, or a grading standard is used. Read-only. Some settings may be hidden from students, in which case Canvas returns an error.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Read key-value data you previously stored on your Canvas account with set_custom_data. Read-only. Returns an error if nothing is stored at that namespace and scope.
Inputs: scope, namespace.
Get the course cards on your Canvas dashboard, in dashboard order, with names, colors and links. Read-only. Use list_courses for every enrollment, including ones not on the dashboard.
Inputs: no named parameters.
The pages of one of your ePortfolios, with their text. Read-only.
Inputs: eportfolio_id (required), limit.
Get details for one file: name, size, content type, created and updated dates, and download URL. Read-only. Use download_file to save it locally.
Inputs: file_id (required).
Get a temporary public download link for a file that works without logging in. Read-only, but anyone with the link can download the file until it expires.
Inputs: file_id (required).
Get one folder's details: full path, parent folder, and how many files and subfolders it holds. Read-only. Get folder_id from list_folders.
Inputs: folder_id (required).
Show a course's folders and files as an indented outline. Read-only. A good first look at what material exists; use list_course_files for IDs and details.
Inputs: course_id (required), max_depth.
Get an entire discussion thread, all entries and nested replies, in one request. Read-only. Much lighter on rate limits than paging through list_entries. All participant text is fenced as untrusted.
Inputs: topic_id (required), course_id (required), max_entries.
List graded assignments in a course in date order with a running average, so you can see whether your grade is rising or falling. Read-only.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Get the letter-grade scale for a course, i.e. the percentage needed for each letter such as A- or B+. Read-only.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
Get one student group: name, description, member count and the course it belongs to. Read-only. Get group_id from list_my_groups.
Inputs: group_id (required).
Get recent activity in a group workspace: new discussion posts, files and announcements, newest first. Read-only. Text written by others is fenced as untrusted.
Inputs: group_id (required), page, limit.
Get a course's late policy: the percentage deducted per late interval, the lowest score a late penalty can reach, and the grade given for missing work. Read-only. Returns an error if the course has no late policy.
Inputs: course_id (required).
List the caption (subtitle) tracks on a recorded lecture with their languages and IDs. Read-only. Captions are the closest thing to a transcript; save one with download_media_captions.
Inputs: media_id (required).
Get one module: name, position, unlock date, prerequisites, your completion state and its items. Read-only. Get module_id from list_modules.
Inputs: course_id (required), module_id (required).
Get one item inside a module (assignment, page, file, quiz, link…) with its completion requirement and whether you met it. Read-only. Get item_id from list_module_items.
Inputs: item_id (required), course_id (required), module_id (required).
Show where a piece of content sits in its module: the previous and next items, so you can work through a module in order. Read-only.
Inputs: asset_id (required), course_id (required), asset_type (required).
Get your page views and participations in a course, counted per day. Read-only. Returns an error if course analytics are disabled at your school.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Get your score on each assignment next to the class median, min and max, plus whether you submitted on time. Read-only. Returns an error if course analytics are disabled at your school.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Get daily counts of messages between you and the instructor in a course. Read-only. Returns an error if course analytics are disabled at your school.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Get your mastery scores on each of a course's learning outcomes, from rubric-graded work. Read-only. Use get_outcome_rollup for one rolled-up score per outcome.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Get the due, lock and unlock dates that actually apply to you for an assignment, after section or individual overrides. Read-only. Use this instead of the default dates when deadlines differ by section.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
List your own Canvas page views (URL, time and course) in a time range. Read-only. Useful for showing you opened material on a given date. How far back history goes depends on your school.
Inputs: page, limit, end_time, start_time.
Get your full Canvas profile: name, bio, avatar, primary email and calendar feed URL. Read-only. For just your ID and name, whoami is cheaper.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Get your latest submission for a quiz: score, attempt number, state and timing. Read-only. Use list_my_quiz_submissions for every attempt.
Inputs: quiz_id (required), course_id (required).
Get how the rubric was applied to your submission: points and comment for each criterion, plus your score. Read-only. Returns no assessment if the instructor did not grade with a rubric. get_rubric_assessment returns the same data plus the compact rubric_assessment form.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
Get your account-level Canvas preferences, such as dashboard view, activity stream visibility and comment notification settings. Read-only. For how often you are notified about each event, use get_notification_preferences.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Get your submission for one assignment: score, grade, submitted time, lateness and deductions, attachments and instructor comments. Read-only. Use get_submission_history for earlier attempts.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
Get details for one New Quizzes assessment: title, instructions, points and timing. Read-only. Uses the Quiz LTI API, which some schools do not expose to students. For Classic Quizzes use get_quiz.
Inputs: quiz_id (required), course_id (required).
List the questions in a New Quizzes assessment. Read-only. Most schools only allow this for instructors, so students usually get a permission error.
Inputs: quiz_id (required), course_id (required), page, limit.
Get how often Canvas notifies you about each event type (due dates, grades, announcements…) on one channel: immediately, daily, weekly or never. Read-only. Get channel_id from get_communication_channels first.
Inputs: channel_id (required).
Get the plagiarism or originality score (e.g. Turnitin) for your submission and its attachments. Read-only. Returns no report if no originality tool is enabled on the assignment.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
Get one learning outcome with its description and mastery scale. Read-only. Use list_outcomes to find outcome IDs.
Inputs: outcome_id (required).
Get one rolled-up mastery score per learning outcome for you in a course. Read-only. Use get_my_outcome_results for the individual results behind each score.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Read a course page as plain text (converted from HTML), with its title and last-updated time. Read-only. The body is fenced as untrusted. Find page slugs with list_pages.
Inputs: page_url (required), course_id (required).
Get the content of a course page as it was at one past revision, with the editor and date. Read-only. The body is fenced as untrusted text. Use list_page_revisions to find revision numbers, and get_page_content for the current version. Canvas returns a permission error if page history is hidden from students.
Inputs: page_url (required), course_id (required), revision_id (required).
Get the peer reviews set up on one assignment: who reviews whom and whether each is complete. Read-only. Use list_my_peer_reviews for just the reviews you still owe.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
Get one Classic Quiz: instructions, time limit, allowed attempts, dates and when results are shown. Read-only. Instructions are fenced as untrusted. This server never takes quizzes.
Inputs: quiz_id (required), course_id (required).
Get section- or student-specific due dates for quizzes in a course. Read-only. Use get_my_override for the dates that apply to you on one assignment.
Inputs: course_id (required), quiz_assignment_overrides.
Get extra time or extra attempts granted to you on a quiz (accommodations). Read-only. Returns an empty list if none were granted.
Inputs: quiz_id (required), course_id (required).
Get IP address restrictions on a quiz (used for lab-only or proctored exams), so you know where you can take it. Read-only.
Inputs: quiz_id (required), course_id (required).
Get the time remaining and end time for an in-progress timed quiz attempt. Read-only. Needs the submission ID from get_my_quiz_submission.
Inputs: quiz_id (required), course_id (required), submission_id (required).
Report Canvas rate-limit state from the most recent API call: remaining quota, last request cost and requests this session. Read-only and makes no Canvas call itself. Canvas throttles by cumulative request cost, so check this before expensive tools like semester_snapshot.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Get a full rubric: every criterion, rating level and point value. Read-only. Read it before starting work to know how it will be scored; get_rubric_assessment shows how your submission was scored.
Inputs: course_id (required), rubric_id (required).
Get the rubric scoring applied to your submission, criterion by criterion, with points and comments. Read-only. Use get_rubric to see the full rubric before you submit.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
Get class statistics for an assignment (mean, min, max, quartiles) next to your own score. Read-only. Canvas only shows these once enough students are graded and if the instructor allows it.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
Show this server's settings (school URL, profile, write mode, cache, time zone, download folder) and whether a token is present, without revealing it. Read-only, makes no Canvas calls and works before a token is set, so use it first to diagnose setup problems.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Get your personal Canvas storage quota and how much of it is used. Read-only.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Get every past attempt of your submission for one assignment, oldest to newest, with scores and timestamps. Read-only. Use get_my_submission for just the latest attempt.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
Get counts of graded, ungraded and not-submitted submissions for an assignment. Read-only. Often instructor-only, so students may get a permission error.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
Get a course syllabus as plain text, converted from Canvas HTML. Read-only. The text is fenced as untrusted. If the instructor uploaded the syllabus as a file instead, look in list_course_files; syllabus_digest pulls out dates and weights.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Get the number of items on your Canvas to-do list without fetching them. Read-only and cheap. Use list_todo to see the items.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Get a one-time launch URL for an external (LTI) tool in a course, so you can open it directly in a browser. Read-only. Get tool_id from list_external_tools. The URL expires quickly.
Inputs: course_id (required), url, tool_id.
Get one discussion topic: its prompt, author, posting rules and unread count, without the replies. Read-only. The prompt is fenced as untrusted text. Use get_full_topic_view to read the whole thread, or list_topics to find topic IDs.
Inputs: topic_id (required), course_id (required).
Get scores your instructor entered but has not released yet, where your enrollment can see them. Read-only. Usually empty for students; use get_all_grades for released grades.
Inputs: page, limit, course_id.
Get the number of unread Canvas Inbox conversations. Read-only and very cheap. Use list_conversations with scope unread to see them.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Get the unread entry count for each discussion topic in a course. Read-only and cheap. Use get_full_topic_view to read a topic.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
Get one person's profile within a course: name, role, section and avatar. Read-only. Get user_id from list_course_users. Your institution's privacy settings may limit what is returned.
Inputs: course_id (required), user_id.
Get the coming week in one call: everything due, anything already missing, unread announcements and your unread inbox count. Read-only. Merges the Planner feed, missing submissions, calendar and inbox.
Inputs: days.
Show points at stake per week for the next few weeks across all active courses, so you can see crunch weeks coming. Read-only. Use get_week_ahead for item-level detail on the next 7 days.
Inputs: weeks.
Rank a course's ungraded and upcoming assignments by how much each point moves your final grade. Read-only. Shows where effort pays most; study_priority_ranking does this across all courses with urgency added.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Search every active course by keyword in one call. Read-only but uses many API calls; prefer search_course_content when you know the course.
Inputs: query (required), limit.
Join a self-signup student group. Groupmates and instructors see that you joined. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: group_id (required), confirm, confirm_token.
Leave a student group you belong to. You lose access to its workspace. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: group_id (required), confirm, confirm_token.
List announcements from one or more courses in a date range, newest first, with title, author and body. Read-only. Bodies are fenced as untrusted text. Without dates it covers the last 30 days; without course_ids it covers all active courses.
Inputs: limit, end_date, course_ids, start_date, +1 more.
List appointment groups you can sign up for, such as office hours or advising slots, with open time slots. Read-only. Book a slot with reserve_appointment_slot.
Inputs: page, limit, scope, include_past.
List a course's assignment groups (e.g. Homework, Exams) with their grade weights and drop rules, optionally with each group's assignments. Read-only. Explains how your final grade is weighted; get_course_grade_breakdown does the math for you.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit, include_assignments.
List due-date overrides on an assignment: different dates or extensions for sections, groups or individual students. Read-only. Use get_my_override for the dates that apply to you.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required), page, limit.
List assignments in a course with due dates, points and your submission status, optionally filtered by bucket (e.g. upcoming, overdue) or name. Read-only. Use get_assignment for one assignment's full instructions and rubric.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit, bucket, +1 more.
List no-work days (blackout dates) in a course used by course pacing. Read-only. Returns an empty list when pacing is not used.
Inputs: course_id (required).
List your saved Canvas bookmarks with their names, URLs and IDs. Read-only. Use the IDs with delete_bookmark.
Inputs: page, limit.
List calendar events, or assignment due dates with type=assignment, in a date range (default: the next 14 days). Read-only. Filter to specific courses with course_ids.
Inputs: page, type, limit, end_date, +2 more.
List collaborative documents in a course (Google Docs or Microsoft 365 integrations) with titles and links. Read-only.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
List web conferences in a course (BigBlueButton or similar) with titles, status and join links. Read-only. Returns an empty list if conferences are not enabled.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
List your Canvas Inbox conversations, newest first, with subject, participants, last message preview and unread state. Read-only. Use get_conversation for the full thread.
Inputs: page, limit, scope, filter.
List files in a course (slides, readings, handouts) with names, sizes, types and IDs, optionally filtered by name or type. Read-only. Save one with download_file, or all with download_all_course_files.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit, search_term, +1 more.
List the personal nicknames you have given courses. Read-only. Only you see nicknames. Change them with set_course_nickname or remove_course_nickname.
Inputs: page, limit.
List the courses you are enrolled in with IDs, names, codes, term and your current grade. Read-only. Only active courses unless include_concluded is set. Start here to get course_id values for other tools.
Inputs: page, limit, include_grades, include_concluded.
List the navigation tabs visible to you in a course (Home, Assignments, Files, Quizzes…). Read-only. Check this first to see whether a feature such as Files or Pages is enabled before calling its tools.
Inputs: course_id (required).
List people in a course with names, roles and user IDs, optionally filtered by role or name. Read-only. Your school's privacy settings often limit or block this for students.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit, search_term, +1 more.
List top-level entries in a discussion topic, page by page. Read-only. Entry text is fenced as untrusted. Prefer get_full_topic_view to read a whole thread at once.
Inputs: topic_id (required), course_id (required), page, limit.
List the replies under one discussion entry, oldest first. Read-only. Bodies are fenced as untrusted text. To read a whole thread at once, use get_full_topic_view instead.
Inputs: entry_id (required), topic_id (required), course_id (required), page, +1 more.
Your Canvas ePortfolios (showcase sites of your work). Read-only; Canvas does not let other apps add entries, so edit them in Canvas itself.
Inputs: page, limit, include_deleted.
List external (LTI) tools enabled in a course, such as publisher platforms or proctoring apps, with their IDs. Read-only. Open one with get_tool_launch_url.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
List the courses you have starred as favorites; these decide what appears on your dashboard. Read-only. Change them with add_favorite_course and remove_favorite_course.
Inputs: page, limit.
List every folder in a course's Files area with its path, file count and ID. Read-only. Use get_folder_tree for a readable outline of folders and files together.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
School-wide announcements: the banners your school shows everyone on the Canvas dashboard (closures, outages, deadlines). Read-only. Messages are provenance-fenced.
Inputs: no named parameters.
List a course's grading periods (e.g. quarters) with start, end and close dates. Read-only. Returns an empty list if the course does not use grading periods.
Inputs: course_id (required).
List the group sets in a course (e.g. "Project teams") and whether you can sign up yourself. Read-only. Join an open group with join_group.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
List discussion topics inside a group workspace with titles and unread counts. Read-only. Post to one with post_group_discussion.
Inputs: group_id (required), page, limit.
List files shared in a group workspace with names, sizes and IDs. Read-only. Save one with download_file.
Inputs: group_id (required), page, limit.
List the members of a student group with names and user IDs. Read-only. Get group_id from list_my_groups.
Inputs: group_id (required), page, limit.
List wiki pages in a group workspace with titles and URL slugs. Read-only.
Inputs: group_id (required), page, limit.
List recorded lectures and other video or audio in a course with titles and media IDs. Read-only. Get captions with get_media_captions or download_media_captions.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
List every assignment Canvas has flagged as missing across all your courses, with due date, points and how overdue it is. Read-only. One call instead of looping over courses. list_overdue_assignments checks submission status course by course instead.
Inputs: limit.
List the items in a module (assignments, pages, files, quizzes, links) with each one's completion requirement and whether you met it. Read-only. Use list_modules to find module IDs.
Inputs: course_id (required), module_id (required), page, limit.
List the modules in a course in order, with your completion state, prerequisites and unlock dates. Read-only. Use list_module_items to see what is inside a module.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
List your enrollments across all courses, with role (student, observer…), section and current grade summary. Read-only. Use list_courses for course details; use this when you need roles, sections or per-enrollment grades.
Inputs: page, type, limit, state.
List files in your personal Canvas storage (not course files), with names, sizes and IDs. Read-only. For course files use list_course_files.
Inputs: page, limit, search_term.
List the student groups you belong to across all courses, with group IDs and course. Read-only. Use the IDs with the other group tools.
Inputs: page, limit.
List the students you are linked to as an observer, for parent or mentor accounts. Read-only. Returns an empty list for regular student accounts.
Inputs: page, limit.
List peer reviews assigned to you that you still need to complete, in one course or all active courses. Read-only. Checks both the assignment endpoint and the Planner feed, since either alone can miss items. Submit with submit_peer_review.
Inputs: course_id.
List all your attempts on a quiz with the score for each. Read-only. Use get_my_quiz_submission for just the latest.
Inputs: quiz_id (required), course_id (required).
List the appointment slots you have booked, from the past week through the next 60 days. Read-only. Cancel one with cancel_reservation.
Inputs: page, limit.
List all of your submissions in a course with scores, grades and status. Read-only. Use get_my_submission for full detail on one.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
List New Quizzes assessments in a course with due dates, points and question counts. Read-only. New Quizzes is a separate service from Classic Quizzes (list_quizzes) and may not be enabled at your school.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
The notification categories on one delivery channel (email, phone) and how often Canvas currently notifies you about each, e.g. due dates, grading, announcements. Use with update_notification_preference.
Inputs: channel_id (required).
List how a course's learning outcomes are organized into groups and subgroups. Read-only. Use list_outcomes for the outcomes themselves.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
List the learning outcomes linked to a course with titles, descriptions and mastery points. Read-only. Use get_my_outcome_results for your own mastery.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
List assignments past their due date that you have not submitted, checking each active course. Read-only. Slower than list_missing_submissions, which relies on Canvas's own missing flag, but catches items without that flag.
Inputs: limit.
List the edit history of one course page: revision numbers, editors and dates. Read-only. Students often cannot see page history, in which case Canvas returns a permission error. Read a revision with get_page_revision.
Inputs: page_url (required), course_id (required), page, limit.
List the wiki pages in a course with titles, URL slugs and last-updated dates. Read-only. Read one page with get_page_content using its url slug.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit, search_term.
Your Canvas To Do list (the Planner) for a date range, across every course: assignments, quizzes, discussions, pages and your own notes, with plannable IDs for mark_planner_item_done.
Inputs: limit, end_date, course_id, start_date, +1 more.
Your own Canvas to-do notes (planner notes). Only you see these.
Inputs: page, limit, end_date, course_id, +1 more.
List a quiz's questions so you can review a completed, graded attempt. Read-only and never used to take a quiz. Canvas hides questions unless the instructor allows review, so this often returns a permission error or nothing.
Inputs: quiz_id (required), course_id (required), page, limit, +1 more.
List Classic Quizzes in a course with due dates, time limits, allowed attempts and points. Read-only. For New Quizzes, use list_new_quizzes. This server never takes quizzes.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit, search_term.
List the rubrics in a course with titles, point totals and IDs. Read-only. Read one in full with get_rubric.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
List the sections in a course (e.g. lecture or lab sections), including the one you are enrolled in. Read-only. Useful for understanding section-specific due-date overrides.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
List files attached to your submission for one assignment, with names, sizes and download URLs. Read-only. Pass a URL from here to download_submission_attachment to save a file.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
List comments on your submission from your instructor and others, with author and time. Read-only. Comment text is fenced as untrusted. Reply with post_submission_comment.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
List Canvas's own to-do items for you: assignments waiting for your submission, and items to grade if you are an instructor. Read-only. For a date-bounded view use list_upcoming_assignments; for one course use list_todo_for_course.
Inputs: page, limit.
List Canvas to-do items for a single course. Read-only. Use list_todo for all courses at once.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit.
List discussion topics in a course with unread counts and whether you must post before seeing replies. Read-only. Set only_announcements for announcements; read a thread with get_full_topic_view.
Inputs: course_id (required), page, limit, search_term, +1 more.
List assignments and other planner items due in the next N days (default 7) across all active courses, soonest first. Read-only. Uses the same Planner feed as the Canvas dashboard; set include_completed to also show items already done.
Inputs: days, include_completed. Returns: days, items
List your upcoming calendar events and assignment due dates, using Canvas's own default window. Read-only. For a specific date range, use list_calendar_events.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Mark every unread announcement in the last N days as read, across all your courses or the ones you pick. Clears the unread badges in Canvas.
Inputs: days, course_ids.
Mark every entry in a discussion topic as read for you. Only affects your unread counts.
Inputs: topic_id (required), course_id (required).
Mark one course announcement as read, clearing its unread badge.
Inputs: course_id (required), announcement_id (required).
Mark one Inbox conversation as read. Only affects you; the sender is not notified. Reverse with mark_conversation_unread.
Inputs: conversation_id (required).
Mark one Inbox conversation as unread so it shows up again. Only affects you. Reverse with mark_conversation_read.
Inputs: conversation_id (required).
Mark one discussion entry as read for you. Only affects your unread counts.
Inputs: entry_id (required), topic_id (required), course_id (required).
Mark a module item as done to satisfy a 'mark as done' completion requirement. Shows in your instructor's progress view.
Inputs: item_id (required), course_id (required), module_id (required).
Mark a module item as viewed to satisfy a 'must view' requirement, without opening it. Shows in your instructor's progress view.
Inputs: item_id (required), course_id (required), module_id (required).
Check an item off (or back on) your Canvas To Do list. This only changes your own list; it does not submit anything.
Inputs: plannable_id (required), plannable_type (required), done.
Mark your submission, including any new grade or comments, as read so the unread badge clears. Only affects you.
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required).
Mark a discussion topic as read for you. Only affects your unread counts. Use mark_all_entries_read to also clear every reply.
Inputs: topic_id (required), course_id (required).
Post a new top-level entry to a course discussion. Visible to the whole class. Use reply_to_entry to answer someone's entry. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: message (required), topic_id (required), course_id (required), confirm, +1 more.
Post to a discussion inside a group workspace. Visible to your groupmates and instructors. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: message (required), group_id (required), topic_id (required), confirm, +1 more.
Post a comment on your own submission for an assignment, optionally with files attached. Your instructor sees it. To attach a file, upload it first with upload_comment_attachment. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: comment (required), course_id (required), assignment_id (required), confirm, +2 more.
Like (rating 1) or remove your like (rating 0) on a discussion entry, where the instructor enabled ratings. Others see the like count. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: rating (required), entry_id (required), topic_id (required), course_id (required), +2 more.
Call a Canvas REST API endpoint directly, for anything the other tools don't cover. Requests only go to your Canvas, inside /api/v1. GET is read-only. POST, PUT and DELETE can change data: they are blocked when CANVAS_ALLOW_WRITES=false and need confirmation. Quiz-submission writes and endpoints that hand out sign-ins or tokens are always refused. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: path (required), method (required), body, params, +4 more.
Read the text of a Canvas file so you can summarize it, quiz from it or answer questions about it. Read-only. Works with PDF, Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx, including speaker notes), web pages and plain-text files up to 25 MB. Long files come back in parts: call again with next_offset. Scanned PDFs have no text. Get file_id from list_course_files or list_module_items.
Inputs: file_id (required), offset, max_chars.
Remove your personal nickname for a course so Canvas shows its official name again. Only affects your own view.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Unstar a favorite course so it no longer shows on your Canvas dashboard. Only affects your own view; your enrollment is unchanged. Reverse with add_favorite_course.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Reply within an existing Canvas Inbox conversation. Every participant receives it. Use send_message to start a new thread. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: body (required), conversation_id (required), confirm, confirm_token, +1 more.
Reply to one discussion entry. Visible to the whole class. Use post_entry for a new top-level post. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: message (required), entry_id (required), topic_id (required), course_id (required), +2 more.
Book an office hours or advising time slot. The instructor sees the booking. Get slot IDs from get_appointment_group; cancel with cancel_reservation. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: appointment_id (required), confirm, comments, confirm_token.
Clear every what-if score you entered in a course so Canvas shows your real grades again. Only affects your own view.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Put study blocks (from study_plan) on your personal Canvas calendar, or add them as planner notes. Only you see them. At most 60 blocks per call. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: blocks (required), add_to, confirm, confirm_token.
Search one course by keyword across pages, assignments, announcements and discussions (titles and bodies). Read-only. Works at every school, unlike smart_search. Use grep_all_courses when you don't know the course.
Inputs: query (required), course_id (required), limit.
Search this server's tools by keyword and return matching names with one-line descriptions. Read-only, makes no Canvas calls and works before a token is set. Use it to find the right tool among the 200+ available.
Inputs: group, query.
Choose which branch to follow at a mastery path (conditional release) point in a module. Unlocks that branch's assignments and may not be reversible. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: item_id (required), course_id (required), module_id (required), assignment_set_id (required), +2 more.
Get every active course in one call with its grade, missing work, upcoming deadlines and unread counts. Read-only but uses many API calls; best at the start of a session. Use course_health_check for one course.
Inputs: no named parameters.
End-of-term checklist for every active course: current and final grades, missing work, anything still due before the course ends, and how many days until the course (and your access to its files) may close. Read-only; use export_all_courses to save copies.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Send a new Canvas Inbox message, e.g. to a professor or classmate. Recipients get it immediately. Get recipient IDs from find_recipients; to answer an existing thread, use reply_to_conversation. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: body (required), subject (required), recipients (required), confirm, +3 more.
Give a course a personal nickname that replaces its name in your own Canvas view. Only you see it; the course is unchanged for everyone else. Undo with remove_course_nickname.
Inputs: nickname (required), course_id (required).
Store your own key-value data on your Canvas account (a small private per-user store, invisible to others). Overwrites any existing value at the same namespace and scope. Read it back with get_custom_data.
Inputs: data (required), scope, namespace.
Search a course by meaning using Canvas's AI search. Read-only. It is a beta Canvas feature that often returns 404; when it does, this tool falls back to a keyword scan. search_course_content is the reliable keyword option.
Inputs: query (required), course_id (required), filter.
Star an Inbox conversation so it appears under the "starred" scope. Only affects you. Reverse with unstar_conversation.
Inputs: conversation_id (required).
Propose study blocks for everything due in the next N days: estimates the hours each item needs, then spreads them over the days before each deadline inside your study hours, around your Canvas calendar. Read-only; use schedule_study_plan to put the blocks on your calendar.
Inputs: days, day_end, course_id, day_start, +3 more.
Rank everything due soon across all courses by a priority score that combines grade impact, urgency and how weak your standing is in that course. Read-only. The formula is included so you can judge it.
Inputs: days.
Hand in a student-annotation assignment (where you mark up a document inside Canvas). Do the annotating in Canvas first; this submits what is there. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: course_id (required), assignment_id (required), comment, confirm, +1 more.
Upload a local file and submit it to an assignment in one step. Your instructor sees it and it counts as a submission attempt. To upload now and submit later, use upload_submission_file. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: course_id (required), file_path (required), assignment_id (required), comment, +2 more.
Submit text for an online text-entry assignment, exactly as given; the tool never writes content for you. Your instructor sees it and it counts as a submission attempt. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: body (required), course_id (required), assignment_id (required), comment, +2 more.
Submit a website URL for an assignment that accepts URL submissions. Your instructor sees it and it counts as a submission attempt. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: url (required), course_id (required), assignment_id (required), comment, +2 more.
Submit your peer review of a classmate's work: a comment and, optionally, rubric scores. The classmate and instructor can see it. Get student_id from list_my_peer_reviews. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: comment (required), course_id (required), student_id (required), assignment_id (required), +3 more.
Subscribe to a discussion topic so you are notified about new replies. Only affects you. Reverse with unsubscribe_topic.
Inputs: topic_id (required), course_id (required).
Pull a course syllabus and extract lines that look like dates, grade weights or policies. Read-only. A rough text heuristic; read the full text with get_syllabus.
Inputs: course_id (required).
Check the token, school URL and access end to end: identity, courses, planner, inbox and missing submissions, and report any features your school disabled. Read-only. Run this first if anything fails.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Remove the star from an Inbox conversation. Only affects you; the conversation itself is unchanged. Reverse with star_conversation.
Inputs: conversation_id (required).
Stop getting notifications for new replies in a discussion topic. Only affects you; the topic and your posts are unchanged. Reverse with subscribe_topic.
Inputs: topic_id (required), course_id (required).
Change the title, times or description of a calendar event you created. Only events you own can be changed; course events return a permission error. Fields you omit stay the same. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: event_id (required), title, end_at, confirm, +3 more.
Change how often Canvas emails or texts you about one kind of event, e.g. "grading" only weekly, or "announcement" immediately. Only affects your own notifications. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: category (required), frequency (required), channel_id (required), confirm, +1 more.
Change one of your Canvas planner notes: its title, details, date or course. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: note_id (required), title, confirm, details, +3 more.
Upload a local file so it can be attached to a comment on your submission. Returns a file ID; nothing is visible to anyone until you call post_submission_comment with that ID in file_ids. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: course_id (required), file_path (required), assignment_id (required), confirm, +1 more.
Upload a local file into an assignment's submission slot without submitting it. Nothing is submitted and your instructor sees nothing yet. Returns a file_id that can be submitted later through raw_canvas_request; submit_assignment_file uploads and submits in one step. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: course_id (required), file_path (required), assignment_id (required), confirm, +1 more.
Upload a local file into your personal Canvas storage. Only you can see it until you share or submit it. Returns the new file's ID. [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: call it once for a preview and a confirm_token, show the preview to the user, and only if they say yes call it again with the same arguments, confirm=true and that confirm_token. Apps that can ask the user directly show a confirmation instead.]
Inputs: file_path (required), confirm, confirm_token, parent_folder_path.
Enter a hypothetical score on one assignment and get your recalculated course grade, with Canvas applying group weights and drop rules. Writes a what-if score only you can see; it is not a real grade. Undo with reset_what_if_grades. Canvas treats this as expensive; for pure math with no writes, use compute_needed_score.
Inputs: score (required), submission_id (required).
Get your Canvas user ID, name and login. Read-only and very cheap. Use it to confirm the token works; use get_my_profile for bio and email, or test_connection for a full diagnostic.
Inputs: no named parameters.
Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
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Scored across 237 tools
Descriptions are unusually diligent about cross-referencing alternatives (e.g. "use list_missing_submissions instead", "get_rubric_assessment returns the same data plus..."), which rescues many pairs. But at 237 tools there is real overlap: daily_briefing vs get_week_ahead vs semester_snapshot vs course_health_check, get_activity_stream vs get_all_unread vs diff_since_last_check, get_outcome_rollup vs get_my_outcome_results, and a long tail of mark_* and list_upcoming/list_todo/list_planner variants that an agent could easily misselect.
The dominant pattern is snake_case verb_noun (list_courses, get_assignment, submit_assignment_file, mark_entry_read), applied consistently with no camelCase mixing. There is a noticeable minority of noun-first composite names (daily_briefing, assignment_brief, semester_snapshot, course_health_check, grade_impact_ranking, whoami, grep_all_courses), which is a minor deviation rather than a breakdown.
237 tools is far beyond what an agent can select from reliably; the server itself ships search_tools to help find things "among the 200+ available", which is an admission the surface is unmanageable. Even granting Canvas's broad domain, many tools are narrow conveniences (get_todo_count, get_storage_quota, mark_conversation_unread, dismiss_global_announcement) that inflate the surface rather than earn a slot.
Coverage across courses, assignments, submissions, grading, quizzes, discussions, files, modules, planner, calendar, groups, outcomes, peer review and export is close to exhaustive for a student-facing Canvas client, and raw_canvas_request provides an escape hatch for anything missed. Gaps are deliberate or platform-limited (quiz taking is explicitly never supported, ePortfolio editing is not possible via API, no instructor grading writes).
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