Why Is My Canvas To-Do List Not Working?

For many students and instructors, the Canvas To-Do List is one of the most important features. It helps keep track of assignments, grading, and deadlines. But recently, users have noticed problems: items not clearing after submission, graded work still appearing on the list, and even missing notifications. If your Canvas To-Do List has stopped working, you’re not alone.

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Common Issues with Canvas To-Do List

Many users have reported the following problems:

• Assignments not clearing: Even after submission, items remain on the to-do list.
• No notifications: Due reminders and assignment alerts don’t appear.
• Graded items still showing: Teachers note that even after grading, assignments remain on their list.
• False resubmissions: Canvas sometimes interprets a first submission as a resubmission, requiring extra clicks to mark as graded.

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Why This Happens

There are several possible reasons behind this issue:

1. Ungraded submissions remain – If even one student’s submission hasn’t been graded, the assignment will continue to appear on the to-do list.
2. SpeedGrader glitch – If a student submits while the teacher is inside SpeedGrader, the system may not register it, leaving the assignment stuck on the list.
3. Resubmission requests – If work is sent back for resubmission, Canvas continues to list it until the new grade is applied.
4. App bugs – Users on iOS (Canvas v.8.1.0) have reported that reinstalling doesn’t solve the issue, suggesting it’s a bug with the current version.

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Known Bug Confirmed

Some users have reached out to Instructure (the company behind Canvas) and received confirmation:

“This is a known bug that is in the process of being fixed. Hang in there, guys 🤞🏻.”

This means the issue is not entirely on your end—it’s tied to a recent update, and the developers are already working on a fix.

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What You Can Do Now

While waiting for an official update, here are a few workarounds:

• Check all grading: Ensure no submission is left ungraded. Even one pending grade will keep the item on your list.
• Resync the app: Try logging out, restarting your phone, and logging back in.
• Use a browser: If the mobile app doesn’t work, open Canvas on Safari, Chrome, or another browser to see if the list updates correctly.
• Submit a help ticket: Go to Help > Report a Problem in Canvas to notify tech support.
• Stay updated: Follow Canvas announcements or support pages for bug fix updates.

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Final Thoughts

The Canvas To-Do List is an essential productivity tool, and when it breaks, it causes frustration for both students and instructors. Fortunately, this issue seems to be a temporary bug in the latest update. Until Instructure pushes a fix, try the above workarounds and keep your assignments organized manually.

👉 Pro tip: If your Canvas app keeps glitching, consider syncing your deadlines with Google Calendar or Apple Calendar as a backup.