Canvas Guides

How do I use the Global Navigation Menu?

The Global Navigation Menu is located on the left side of every page in Canvas. Global Navigation links provide quick access to frequently used Canvas features. These links provide access to all your courses collectively. Default links include Account, Dashboard, Courses, Groups, Calendar, Inbox, History, and Help.

Depending on your institution account settings, other links may display in the Global Navigation Menu.

Note: Depending on course settings, the Global Navigation Menu may use a different font for one or more of your courses. For example, Canvas uses a different font when displaying courses that use the Canvas Elementary Theme.

00:07: How do I use the global navigation menu, as a student? 00:11: Have you your user information? Click the account link a menu will expand 00:15: in display links to access your user settings, notification settings, 00:19: personal files and e-portfolios. 00:22: If enabled if your institution has enabled profiles you 00:26: can access your profile. You can also use the account linked 00:31: to log out of canvas. 00:33: The dashboard is the landing page after you login to Canvas the 00:37: dashboard can be toggled to a course view list for you or recent activity, 00:41: View and shows notifications, for all current, canvas course, 00:46: To view your courses. Click the course, is link. 00:48: The course, is menu displays a list of your favorite courses. 00:51: Or if you haven't selected any favorite courses, the 00:56: menu displays current courses where you are enrolled, 01:00: For each course, you can view the course name turn details and 01:04: section enrollment details to view a course. 01:07: Click the course name link 01:10: To customize your courses list or view, all your canvas courses, click the 01:14: all courses link. 01:16: If you are enrolled in groups, view your groups in the group's link and 01:20: then you will expand and display all groups in current courses where you are enrolled. 01:26: To view a group. Click the name of the group to view, all your groups, 01:30: click, the all groups link. 01:33: To view your calendar. Click the calendar link. 01:36: To view your conversations inbox, click the inbox, link conversations 01:40: is the Candace messaging system where you can communicate with other users in your courses. 01:44: The number of new messages are shown as part of the inbox icon. 01:50: To view your recent canvas course, page view history, click the history, link 01:54: recent history, displays up to three weeks of your canvas course, page 01:58: view history. 02:00: To get help with canvas, click the help link Celexa help option 02:04: that is relevant to your needs. 02:07: To collapse the global navigation, then you click the arrow icon. 02:12: To expand the global navigation, then you click the arrow icon. 02:16: The global navigation menu will be automatically kill apps for tablet screens. 02:22: This guy covered how to use the global navigation than you as a student.

After logging into Canvas, view the Global Navigation Menu.

View Account

To view your user information, click the Account link [1]. A menu tray expands and displays links to access your user settings, notification settings, personal files, and ePortfolios (if enabled) [2]. If your institution has enabled Profiles, you can access your profile.

You can also use the Account link to log out of Canvas.

View Dashboard

The Dashboard is the landing page after you log in to Canvas. You may be able to view the Dashboard in a course view, list view, or recent activity view.

Learn more about using the Dashboard as a student, as an instructor, or as an observer/parent.

View Courses

To view your courses, click the Courses link [1]. The Courses menu displays a list of your favorite courses, or, if you haven't selected any favorite courses, the menu displays current courses where you are enrolled.

If you are an instructor, the Courses menu is organized by published courses and unpublished courses.

For each course, you can view the course name, term details, associated Student Information System ID (SIS ID), and section enrollment details [2]. To view a course, click the course name link.

To customize your cour≤ses list or view all your Canvas courses, click the All Courses link [3].

View Groups

If you are enrolled in Groups, view your groups in the Groups link [1]. A menu will expand and display all groups in current courses where you are enrolled as a member.

To view a group, click the name of the group [2].

To view all your groups, click the All Groups link [3].

As a student, you can learn more about viewing student groups and using groups.

As an instructor, you can learn more about viewing instructor groups as an instructor and viewing course groups.

View Calendar

To view your Calendar, click the Calendar link.

View Inbox

To view your Conversations Inbox, click the Inbox link. Conversations is the Canvas messaging system where you can communicate with other users in your courses. The number of new messages are shown as part of the Inbox icon.

View History

To view your recent Canvas course page view history, click the History link. Recent History displays up to three weeks of your Canvas course page view history.

View Help

To get help with Canvas, click the Help link. Select the help option that is relevant to your needs.

Note: Depending on your institution settings, the Help menu may display different options.

Collapse Global Navigation Menu

To expand or collapse the Global Navigation menu, click the arrow icon.

The Global Navigation Menu automatically collapses for tablet screens.