How do I change the settings in my user account?

Depending on how your Canvas account was created, you may be able to make changes to your name, pronouns, default email, language, time zone, and password.

  • Setting a chosen language will override any default language settings across your institution; however, any language set in a course will override your user language.
  • Your institution may take care of updating or changing your password by using the password associated with your login credentials for Canvas.
  • Users associated with a SIS ID cannot delete their own account.

Learn more about your profile and user settings.

Note: Some settings may not be available to you. If you are not able to edit your user settings, you will need to contact your institution to change this information.

00:06: How do I change the settings in my user account? 00:09: In Global Navigation, click the Account link. 00:13: Then click the Settings link. 00:16: Click the Edit Settings button. 00:19: If enabled, edit the appropriate settings: 00:22: Full Name is used for the Gradebook and Grades pages, Chat, People, and SIS imports. 00:29: Display name is how other users will see your name in announcements conferences 00:33: conversations and discussions. 00:37: Sortable name defaults to your last name first name and appears in sorted 00:41: lists. So admins can search for it. 00:45: Pronouns display after your name in various areas throughout Canvas. 00:50: Default email can be set when you have multiple notification email addresses 00:54: associated with your account. 00:57: Language can be set to your native language and is the language you want to use in canvas does 01:01: not apply if an instructor sets a specific language for a course. 01:06: Time Zone can be set to where you are located and displays assignments in your local time. 01:12: Password is the combination of characters you choose to use to log in to your Canvas account. 01:18: Click the Update Settings button. 01:21: This guide covers how to change the settings in a user account.

Open User Settings

Open User Settings

In Global Navigation, click the Account link [1], then click the Settings link [2].

Edit Settings

Edit Settings

Click the Edit Settings button.

Change Settings

Change Settings

If enabled, edit the appropriate settings:

  • Full Name [1] is used for the Gradebook and Grades pages, Chat, People, and SIS imports.
  • Display Name [2] is how other users will see your name in Announcements, Conferences, Conversations, and Discussions.
  • Sortable Name [3] defaults to your last name, first name and appears in sorted lists so admins can search for it.
  • Pronouns [4] display after your name in various areas throughout Canvas.
  • Default Email [5] can be set when you have multiple Notification email addresses associated with your account.
  • Language [6] can be set to your native language and is the language you want to use in Canvas (does not apply if an instructor sets a specific language for a course).
  • Time Zone [7] can be set to where you are located and displays assignments in your local time.
  • Password [8] is the combination of characters you choose to use to log in to your Canvas account.

Note: Some settings may not be available to you. If you are not able to edit your user settings, you will need to contact your institution to change this information.

Update Settings

Update Settings

Click the Update Settings button.