Gradebook Settings

The Gradebook Settings panel allows instructors to configure Late Policies (including missing submissions), Grade Posting Policies, and several View Options to display your Gradebook exactly how you want.

Access the Gradebook Settings

Click on the ⚙️ Settings (gear/cog wheel) icon in the top right hand corner of the Gradebook to view the Gradebook Settings slide-out menu.

A partial screenshot of the Canvas Gradebook toolbar. A large dark purple arrow points directly to the "Settings" button on the far right, which is represented by a gear icon. To the left of the settings gear are buttons for "Import" and "Export" (with a dropdown arrow), and a small keyboard icon.

Late Policies

Under the Late Policies tab:

  • Optional: Check the box next to Automatically apply grade for missing submissions.
    • In the Grade for missing submissions % textbox, enter a percentage grade that all missing submissions should receive.
      • Example: Entering in a 0 will mean that all students who have not submitted the assignment will receive a 0 grade. If students turn in their assignment after the deadline, you can still enter in a grade for it.
  • Optional: Check the box next to Automatically apply deduction to late submissions.
    • In the Late submission deduction % textbox, set the percentage you want late submissions to be deducted
    • In the Deduction interval drop-down list, set the interval for which you would like Canvas to deduct points (Day or Hour).
    • In the Lowest possible grade % textbox, set the lowest possible grade threshold for the late policy. Per official documentation, “The lowest possible grade percentage is the lowest score a student can receive when late policy deductions are applied to grades entered above that percentage. Any grade awarded equal to or below that percentage will not receive late policy deductions.”

Click the Apply Settings button when you are finished.

A screenshot of the Canvas LMS "Gradebook Settings" pop-up window. The "Late Policies" tab is currently selected, highlighting options for setting missing and late submission grade rules. The first checkbox, "Automatically apply grade for missing submissions," is checked and pointed to by a dark purple arrow, with the "Grade for missing submissions %" field set to 0. The second checkbox, "Automatically apply deduction to late submissions," is unchecked and also indicated by a dark purple arrow; its associated numerical and interval fields are empty. Below these, there is an empty field for "Lowest possible grade %". A final dark purple arrow points to the dark purple "Apply Settings" button in the bottom right corner, adjacent to a "Cancel" button.

Grade Posting Policy

Grade Posting Policy for the Course

Under the Grade Posting Policy tab, you will likely see Automatically Post Grades selected. The default setting in Canvas is for assignment grades and feedback to automatically post, or be released, to each student once you enter them, meaning some students will receive their grade and feedback before others.

If you want to keep grades for an assignment hidden from students until you choose to release them, select Manually Post Grades. Click the Apply Settings button if you make a change to your grade posting policy. When Manually Post Grades is applied, all assignments will have MANUAL next to their names in the instructor’s view of the Gradebook.

A screenshot of the Canvas LMS "Gradebook Settings" window with the "Grade Posting Policy" tab active. A dark purple arrow points to the selected radio button for "Manually Post Grades," which notes that grades will be hidden by default. The option for "Automatically Post Grades" is unselected above it. Below the description of what students cannot see while grades are manual, a second dark purple arrow indicates the "Apply Settings" button in the bottom right corner.

Grade Posting Policy for an Assignment

You can also set a Grade Posting Policy for individual assignments. From the Grades tab in the course navigation, hover over an assignment name and click on the three vertical dots that appear. Click on Grade Posting Policy in the dropdown menu.

A screenshot from the Canvas Gradebook showing the options menu for an assignment column titled "Introduce Yourself, Out of 10 MANUAL". A dark purple arrow points to the three-dots icon in the column header, which is highlighted in blue, indicating the menu is open. The resulting dropdown list includes active options: "Sort by," "SpeedGrader," "Message Students Who," "Curve Grades," "Set Default Grade," and "Enter Grades as". The options "No grades to post" and "No grades to hide" are grayed out. A second dark purple arrow indicates the final option in the list, "Grade Posting Policy".

Select a grade posting policy, and click Save to save your changes.

A screenshot of a Canvas LMS Gradebook pop-up window titled "Grade Posting Policy: Sample Assignment - Text Entry". The "Post Grades" section has two options: "Automatically" and "Manually". The radio button for "Automatically" is selected. Explanatory text below it reads, "Assignment grades will be visible to students as soon as they are entered. Grades that have already been hidden will remain hidden.". Below the unselected "Manually" option, the text says, "Grades will be hidden by default. Any grades that have already posted will remain visible. Choose when to post grades for this assignment in the gradebook.". A dark purple arrow in the bottom right points to the dark blue "Save" button, next to a "Cancel" button.
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Tips for Gradebook Settings

It is best to set any Gradebook Settings (Late Policies, Grade Posting Policy) at the beginning of the semester. Changing these settings during the semester may cause Gradebook inconsistencies. Make sure that you communicate the Gradebook Settings to the entire teaching team.

Scheduled Feedback Release

On December 13, 2025, Instructure pushed out a new feature to the Canvas Gradebook called Scheduled Feedback. Prior to this date, scores and comments were released together. This is still the default, but scores and comments can now be released on different timetables.

Change Benefit

“This feature gives instructors greater flexibility and control over feedback timing, allowing them to align the release of rubric scores and comments with grading workflows, review sessions, or instructional pacing. It helps ensure students receive feedback when it is most meaningful and actionable.”

Quoted from: Canvas Release Notes (2025-12-13)

How it Helps
  • Coordinate your grading process: Schedule release dates to match department review cycles or feedback sessions.
  • Support fair assessment: Hold rubric scores until all submissions are graded to ensure consistency.
  • Enhance student experience: Deliver feedback at the most impactful time for learning.

    Quoted from: Scheduled Feedback Release in Canvas is Here!
More Details
  • Manual override: Instructors can still manually post grades early if needed.
  • Copied courses: Scheduled feedback settings can copy over with your course, but you’ll be reminded to adjust them, just like due dates.
  • API support: Feedback scheduling will also be available via API for programmatic control.

    Quoted from: Scheduled Feedback Release in Canvas is Here!

To use Scheduled Feedback:

  1. For an assignment in your course, access the Grade Posting Policy option as described above in Grade Posting Policy for an Assignment.
  2. Select the Manual radio button option.
  3. Place a ✅ checkmark in the Schedule Release Dates checkbox.
The Canvas LMS "Post Grades" settings panel shows the "Manually" radio button selected, which ensures grades and notifications remain hidden from students until explicitly posted by the instructor. An arrow points to the selected "Manually" option, while another arrow at the bottom of the menu highlights the "Schedule Release Dates" checkbox, which is currently unselected. The descriptive text between these options explains that while in manual mode, students will not see their assignment grades, submission comments, or score change notifications.

Select one of the following options:

Grades & Comments Together
  1. Select the Grades & Comments Together radio button option.
This image from the Canvas Gradebook shows the options available when the "Schedule Release Dates" checkbox is selected. An arrow highlights the chosen radio button for "Grades & Comments Together," indicating they will be posted simultaneously. Below this selection are required input fields for the instructor to specify the exact "Release Date" and "Time."
  1. Set a Release Date and Time you wish to make both available to your students. (These fields are required.)
Separate Schedules
  1. Select the Separate Schedules radio button option.
This image from the Canvas Gradebook settings panel shows the "Schedule Release Dates" checkbox selected. An arrow points to the active radio button below it labeled "Separate Schedules." Activating this option reveals two distinct sections containing required fields: the first section is for specifying the "Grades Release Date" and "Time," and the second section below it is for specifying a separate "Comments Release Date" and "Time."
  1. Set Grades Release Date, Time, Comments Release Date, and Time fields based on when you want that type of feedback made available to your students for the assignment. (These fields are required.)
  1. Click the Save button to finalize your selection.
  2. Repeat Steps 1-6 for other assignments in your Canvas course.

View Options

You can configure additional options via the View Options tab.

  • The Arrange By drop-down list allows you to choose how you want to arrange the columns in your Gradebook (Assignment Name, Due Date, Points, or by Module).
  • The Show section allows you to turn on/off elements such as a Notes column, Unpublished Assignments, Split Student Names, and more.
  • The Status Color section allows you to select alternative colors for labels such as Late, Missing, Resubmitted, and more.
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Caution!

Modifications to Status Colors are account-wide. For example, changing the ‘Late’ color updates that label across all your courses simultaneously.

A screenshot of the Canvas "Gradebook Settings" pop-up window with the "View Options" tab selected. The tab shows configuration options organized into three main sections: "Arrange By," "Show," and "Status Color". In the "Arrange By" section, a dropdown menu is set to "Default Order". The "Show" section contains six checkboxes: "Notes," "Unpublished Assignments," "Split Student Names," "Hide Assignment Group Totals," "Hide Total Column," and "View hidden grades indicator". Of these, only the checkbox for "Unpublished Assignments" is currently checked; all others are unchecked. The "Status Color" section lists five grade statuses: "Late," "Missing," "Resubmitted," "Dropped," and "Excused," with each item featuring a unique background color and a small pencil icon, indicating that the default colors can be customized.

Additional Resources

Arrange Columns in the Gradebook

How do I arrange columns in the Gradebook?