How do I bulk update due dates and availability dates as an instructor?

As an instructor, you may have the option to update due dates and availability dates for multiple assignments and assessments at one time. Additionally, if you previously assigned differentiated due dates for sections, students, or groups, you can bulk update these due and availability dates.  Learn more about the difference between due dates and availability dates.

Note: If a date does not include a time, the listed date defaults to the course’s default due time.

00:07: How do I bulk update due dates and availability dates as an instructor? 00:11: On the assignments, index page, click the more options icon. 00:15: Click the edit assignment dates from the drop-down menu. 00:19: Select the assignments you need to edit the dates for by checking the box in front of each. 00:24: After checking the assignments that need to be edited, click the batch edit button. 00:30: If the selected dates need to be shifted forward, enter the number of days in the field. 00:35: Click the okay button to preview the shifted dates. 00:39: If you are unhappy with the changes, click the cancel button. 00:43: You will return to the assignments index page and no changes will be saved. 00:48: To batch edit all assignments, check the box in the header. 00:52: Click the batch, edit button. 00:55: Select "Remove Dates" to remove dates instead of shift them. 00:59: Select whether you want to remove the due dates, the availability dates, or both by checking the appropriate boxes. 01:06: Click the okay button when you are ready to preview the removed dates. 01:10: To apply your change dates, click the save button. 01:15: It may take a few moments for your changes to be saved. 01:17: Once a confirmation message appears, click the close button to 01:21: return to the assignments index page. 01:25: This guide covered how to bulk update due dates and availability dates as an instructor.

Open Assignments

Open Assignments

In Course Navigation, click the Assignments link.

Open Assignment Dates

Open Assignment Date Editor

On the Assignments page, click the Options icon [1]. Then select the Edit Assignment Dates option [2].

View Assignment Dates

View Assignment Dates

You can view and manage assignment information on the Edit Assignment Dates page. All graded items in your course, including assignments, discussions, and quizzes, are listed in the Title column [1]. Current assignment due dates and times (if any) display in the Due At column [2], and current availability dates (if any) display in the Available From and Available Until columns [3].

You can also view and edit differentiated due dates for students, sections, and groups [4].

Select Multiple Assignment Dates

Select Multiple Assignment Dates

You can edit multiple assignment dates at the same time by selecting multiple assignments.

To select all assignments that fall within a date range, type dates into the date range fields [1] or select dates using the calendar icon [2].

To select all assignments, click the Select All checkbox [3].

To select specific assignments, click the checkboxes in the assignment rows [4].

The number of assignments selected displays in the header [5].

To batch edit selected assignments, click the Batch Edit button [6].

Batch Edit Assignment Dates

Batch Edit Assignment Dates

When you batch edit assignment dates, you can choose to shift dates forward by a number of days or remove due and availability dates. The option you choose applies to all selected assignments.

To shift dates forward by a number of days, click the Shift Dates option [1]. Type the number of days to shift assignments dates in the Days field [2] or use the up and down arrow buttons to select the number of days [3].

To remove due and availability dates from all selected assignments, select the Remove Dates option [4].

When you are finished, click the Ok button [5].

Edit Individual Assignment Dates

Edit Individual Assignment Dates

To edit an individual assignment due, availability date or time, locate the item in the list and click the corresponding date field you wish to update [1]. Type the date and time in the Date field [2], or select a date from the calendar [4]. You can update due dates for assignments with existing due dates or enter a new due date for an assignment without a due date.

View Date Error

View Date Error

If you enter invalid due or availability dates, an error displays beneath the invalid date. You must modify or remove the invalid date before you can save your date changes.

Revert Date Changes

Revert Date Changes

To revert date changes for an assignment, click the Remove icon. Reverting changes removes any date changes made to the assignment dates.

Save Updated Dates

Save Updated Dates

To save your updates, click the Save button.

View Save Progress

View Save Progress

Canvas displays the progress for your updates.

View Update Notification

View Update Success Notification

When your updates save successfully, Canvas displays a Success notification.