Import a Canvas Course Export Package

Owned by
Christine Sandella
Last updated: May 01, 2024
3 min read

If you have a Canvas course export package from another Canvas instructor that you'd like to use, or if you've previously exported a course, you can import it as a Canvas course export package. This package is imported as an IMSCC file.

Notes:

  • You cannot modify an existing quiz by importing a modified version. Imports can only be used when creating a quiz for the first time. If you import the same quiz multiple times, previously imported quizzes will not be overwritten, it will produce multiple copies of the same quiz.

  • Instructors will need to manually subscribe to or enable notifications for discussions and announcements after importing them into a new course.

  1. In Course Navigation, click the Settings link.

  2. Click the Import Course Content link.

  3. In the Content Type drop-down menu, choose the Canvas Course Export Package option.

  4. Click the Choose File button.

  5. Choose the .imscc file you want to import, then click the Open button.

  6. Select the content that you would like to import.

    • To import all content from the course, select the All content radio button. 

    • If you want to select specific content, click the Select specific content radio button.

      • If you select the specific content option, you are required to select the content you want to import after you review the remaining page options. Once you start importing the content, the import selection cannot be canceled.   

        Content field displaying two radio buttons, all content and select specific content

         

  7. You can bulk migrate existing quizzes into New Quizzes by clicking the Importing existing quizzes as New Quizzes checkbox.

    1. New Quizzes does not include a survey feature. Therefore, surveys migrated from Classic Quizzes come over as standard quizzes in New Quizzes.

    2. After migration to New Quizzes, multiple drop-down questions display as matching questions.

    3. Text No Question questions migrate to New Quizzes as Stimulus questions. An instructor must add a question in order for it to display in a quiz.

    4. Question groups with manually created questions will migrate as item banks in New Quizzes.

    5. If a quiz is migrated multiple times, Canvas uses smart merging to decipher the question bank content that should be retained. This process helps ensure all content is retained, such as in cases where multiple users may be making edits to a quiz at the same time.

    6. Practice quizzes from Classic Quizzes can be migrated to New Quizzes. Once migrated, by default, the practice quizzes are displayed as zero points possible and are hidden from the Gradebook and Grades page.

  8. You will have the option to adjust events and due dates either by selecting new dates or by removing the dates altogether. View Modify Due Dates During Import for more information.

  9. When importing content, a message displays explaining that importing the same course content or export package more than once overwrites any existing content in the course.

    Content import warning.png

  10. Click the Import button.

Please note: Depending on the size of your course, this process may take several minutes to complete. You will be able to see the progress under the Current Jobs section of the Import Content page. If you chose to select specific content in your course, the current job would show as Waiting to Select, which means you must select the content you would like to import.

The import may also display other status indicators as part of the import process. Learn more about course import statuses.