How to Import a Canvas Course Export Package

This article explains how to import all content from a Canvas Course Export Package (.zip) and how to select specific content to import.

Things to keep in mind before you start this process:

1.  You do not have to unzip the course export package before uploading it into Canvas.
    
2. Importing the same course export package more than once can replace content that was previously imported from that package. Content you created manually in the destination course will remain.

How to Import a Canvas Course Export Package

1. In Course Navigation, select Settings.
    
2. Click Import Course Content.
   
    
3. In the Select Content Type drop-down menu, choose the Canvas Course Export Package.
   
    

4. Drag the course export package (.zip) into the upload area, or select browse your files to locate the file.
   
    

5. To import all course content, select the All content.
   
   [Optional] Adjust events and due dates
   To adjust assignments due dates and course events during the import, select Adjust events and due dates. For additional guidance, see The Instructure Community’s Article, How do I adjust events and due dates in a course import?
   
    
6. Before starting the import, review the warning that Canvas displays.
   
    
7. Click Add to Import Queue to begin the import.
   
    
8. Monitor the import status.
   Canvas may take some time to process the import. You can monitor progress on the same page. The status will first display Queued [1], then Running [2] with a progress bar [3]. When the import is finished, the status will display Completed [4].
   

Post-Import Review: After the import is complete, review your course content, due dates, links, and module settings before publishing the course.

How to Select Specific Content when Importing

1. To import selected items only, select the Select specific content.
   
    
2. If you selected Select specific content, the status will display Waiting for selection. Click Select content to start the import process.
   
   Notes:
   - After you add the import to the queue, Canvas will prompt you to choose the items you want to import. After you select the content to import and begin the import, the selection cannot be changed or canceled.
   - When importing specific content, linked files and images within items such as assignments, discussions, and pages may not be included. Review imported items after the import is complete.
    
3. Select the content you wish to import.
   
   Content from the course can be imported as individual items [1] or content groups [2]. Content groups show the number of items within the group. To view content within a group, click the group’s expanded icon [3]. To import all content for a content type, click the checkbox next to the content name [4]. If the content type is a group, Canvas automatically selects all items within the group.
   
   
   To import only a few items from a content group, expand the group and select the individual items you want to import [1]. Canvas places a dash in the content group checkbox [2], indicating not all items are selected within the group.
   
    
4. When you have the content selected that you wish to import, click Select Content.
   
   Canvas will resume the import process. Monitor the status on the import Course Content page until it displays Complete.

Post-Import Review: After the import is complete, review your course content, due dates, links, and module settings before publishing the course.

For additional help on these topics, you can visit The Instructure Community’s How do I select specific content as part of a course import? article or How do I import a Canvas course export package?

Need to adjust dates manually after an import? You can learn how to do that by clicking here to read our article on How to Adjust Due Dates and Availability Dates.