Latest revision: 2022-01-25

Canvas' function for personal messages has multiple useful functions. You can among else:

See which course the student you have gotten a message from is taking.
Filter your messages after a certain course.
Declutter your inbox by archiving messages.
Send messages to an entire group that is defined in a course.
Get all your messages forwarded to your e-mail and/ or phone and reply to them there instead.

Find and handle your messages

Overview of messages

You can find your message through Inbox in the main menu. You will also see if you have any unread messages here.
When you have opened a message, it is shown which course that student is taking.
You can filter so that you only see messages from a certain course.
By using the archive button (downward facing arrow) when you have read a message, you will keep the inbox cleaned. You can always go back to that message later when needed. Deleted messages (the trash can) disappear permanently and cannot be read again.
You can find your archived messages by clicking on the arrow by Inbox and choosing Archived.

Send new messages

Composing a new message

When composing a new message, you need to choose in which course the person you are typing to belongs.
You can type the name directly in the To-box. Canvas will find the person quickly.
You can choose to browse for the right person by clicking on the symbol for people. Here, you can also choose sections and groups in case such things are defined in the course. If you want to choose several people, keep Ctrl pressed down and click on each person one at a time.
It is possible to attach files. Avoid attaching very large files since it takes up a lot of space.

Answer Canvas messages in you regular e-mail or phone

Click on Account – Notifications and choose that you want notifications for Conversation messages if you would like to get messages forwarded to your e-mail. You can reply directly in your normal e-mail and your reply will be sent back to Canvas. If you are using the app and would like messages in your phone, choose that in the second column. You can read more about e-mail and push notifications here.

Limitations that are good to know:

You cannot attach files when replying from your e-mail.
You cannot send formatted text (i.e. bold or coloured text). It will automatically transform to normal text.
Auto replies in your e-mail will not be sent as replies to messages from Canvas.

Bonus tip: Message students who...

Bonus tip

It is also possible to send messages from a few places inside a course. One of the more useful ones is from the grading view. Click on the three dots next to the heading for an assignment and choose Message students who. Canvas will then help you make a selection based on that assignment. You can, among else, send messages to those who have not handed in an assignment or to those who have gotten a certain grade.