Profile & Notifications
Canvas provides a space for each user to create and manage their own personal profile, allowing users to highlight their individuality and establish an online presence. This profile is a space for users to update their personal details and share meaningful information about themselves, such as their interests, goals, educational background, work experience, etc.
Canvas notifications enable users to stay informed and updated about important course activities and communication. They can be delivered through various channels, including email, mobile push notifications, and in-platform notifications, providing users with flexibility and convenience as they engage with their online learning experience.
This page explains:
- How to edit your Canvas profile
- How to customize your notification settings
Let's dig in!
How Can I Edit My Canvas Profile?
You can edit your Canvas Profile to specify your display name, your preferred contact information, and, importantly, to let others know a little more about you. This is a great opportunity to be intentional in your online presence. Your online presence is how you engage and make connections with your students. Instructors who have a stronger online presence have an easier time connecting with their students and building trusting relationships.
Follow the steps below to navigate to and edit your Canvas profile.
- Click Account, which is the first option in your Global Navigation bar (left side of your window).
- Click Profile.
- Select the more options button (three vertical dots) in the far-right corner.
- Select edit profile from the drop-down menu.
- Now, you can type in your preferred name, select your pronouns, write a short biography, add links to your website or social media, and upload a profile picture.
- After you've finished updating your profile, click Save Profile.
When you select your pronouns they will display after your name in various areas in Canvas, including:
- Comment Fields
- Discussions
- Inbox
- People Page (Course and Groups)
- User Navigation Menu
- User Profile Page
- User Settings Page
How Can I Change My Notification Settings?
Adjusting your notification preferences will control how frequently you receive Canvas notifications related to course activities. You can choose to change your notification setting for your account, which means that the changes will apply to all of your courses, or you can change them for specific courses. Follow the steps below to navigate to and change your notification settings.
- Click Account, which is the first option in your Global Navigation bar (left side of your window).
- Click Notifications.
- Under Settings For, select Account if you'd like to change notification settings for all of your courses. or select a specific course to change the notification settings for that course only.
- Scroll down the Notification Settings page to view the various types of course activities (listed in the left column) for which you can control your notification settings.
- For each course activity in which you'd like to change the setting, click the icon in the column to the right. Select if you'd like to be notified immediately of any changes, or if you'd like to receive a daily summary, weekly summary, or you can choose to turn the notifications off.
Survival Tip: Encourage Students to Update their Notification Settings
Each Canvas user is in control of their own notification settings, which means you cannot decide how and when your students receive their course notifications. We recommend, however, that you suggest to your students that they update their notification settings so that they'll receive important information as soon as it's sent out. For example, encouraging students to set their Announcement and Conversation Message notifications to "Notify immediately" means that they will be notified immediately about any Announcements you post and Inbox messages you send.
Not finding what you need? Still have questions, a comment, or suggestion?
Additional Resources
User Settings & Profile Picture (Video) Links to an external site.
Canvas Guides: How do I edit my profile in my user account? Links to an external site.
Canvas Guides: How do I add a profile picture in my user account? Links to an external site.
Canvas Guides: How do I manage my Canvas notification settings? Links to an external site.