Canvas Guides (English)Canvas Badges/CredentialsCanvas BadgesTroubleshootingTroubleshooting: 500 Error getting data Unable to retrieve modules for course

Troubleshooting: 500 Error getting data Unable to retrieve modules for course

Troubleshooting: 500 Error getting data Unable to retrieve modules for course

On rare occasions, you may be presented with an error message in Canvas. We're working to make the error messages more meaningful, but in the meantime, you may find some helpful tips below. These tips are suggested actions based on past experience. They may not resolve the issue in every circumstance. Feel free to contact [email protected] with questions.

500 Error getting data: Unable to retrieve modules for course: <Response 401>

500 Error getting data: Unable to retrieve modules for course: <Response 401>

Possible causes

Holding both a teacher and student role in the course

When two different email addresses are associated with a single Canvas Badges/Credentials account and are used in different roles in Canvas, this error may occur. When this happens, the system doesn't know which permission (teacher or student) to serve to the user. For example, an instructor uses "[email protected]" in the role of instructor in a Canvas course. The instructor has added an additional email address, "[email protected]" to their Canvas Badges/Credentials account. When the instructor uses the additional email address "[email protected]" in a student role in the same Canvas course they encounter this error.

Remedy: Remove the test student from the course or disassociate the email address from the Canvas Badges/Credentials account.

Course and/or modules are not published

Remedy: Publish the course and modules, ensure you're enrolled as a teacher.

Canvas authorization token

Occasionally, the Canvas authorization token isn't working in a course. If the above two troubleshooting processes don't resolve the issue, then this is likely what's going on.

Remedy: Contact [email protected] to have your authorization token reset. In your email, describe the error, provide a screenshot of the error message and the course URL, and include the fact that you've gone through the troubleshooting process so that the support team doesn't direct you back to this page.