How to Download your Canvas Gradebook

Introduction

With the increase in security incidents affecting educational technology platforms across higher education, SPC faculty are strongly encouraged to regularly download and save a copy of their Canvas Gradebook. Keeping a local backup helps protect against unexpected access issues, accidental changes, or data loss and ensures you still have access to student grades if Canvas is temporarily unavailable. This step-by-step guide will show you how. 

Contents

How to Download your Gradebook

How to Save Your File

Important Notes

How to Download Your Gradebook

1. Open your Canvas course.
2. In Course Navigation, click Grades.
3. In the Grades area, click Export.
   
4. Select Export Entire Gradebook.
   
5. Canvas will automatically download a CSV file to your computer.
   
   By default, the filename will be Year-Month-DateHourMinute, followed by the coursename. This is so you can put all of your exports in the same place, and easily see when they were exported. 

How to Save Your File

• Open the downloaded file in Microsoft Excel or another spreadsheet program.
• Save the file somewhere secure, such as:
  • OneDrive
  • An SPC network drive
  • An encrypted external drive

It is recommended that you download updated copies throughout the semester, especially before major grading deadlines.

Important Notes

• The exported file includes student grades and should be treated as confidential educational data.
• The file downloads as a CSV spreadsheet.
• You can also adjust your view in Canvas and download just the current gradebook view. However, we recommend a full backup regularly, which is why this guide instructs you to select Export Entire Gradebook.
• Hidden or unposted grades may appear in separate read-only columns.

Have Questions? Contact the Academic Technology Support Team 
 
atst@spcollege.edu

 Phone at 727-341-3500

(Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST).
After-hours or weekend assistance? Contact the Technical Support Center

Phone at 727-791-2795 or onlinehelp@spcollege.edu

Want to Schedule a One-on-One or Group Session on Canvas or other instructional technology issues or opportunities?

Schedule 1:1 Support Help with a Member of the Academic Technology Support Team