How Do I Export Grades from Canvas?

The Gradebook lets you download your students’ scores as a CSV file — either just what’s currently displayed, or your entire gradebook across every grading period. This guide covers both options and what to do if a download doesn’t come through.

Before You Start: Preparation Checklist

Before you export grades from Canvas, decide on the following:

• Do you need the current Gradebook view — with your filters and grading period applied — or the entire gradebook across every grading period?
• If you’re using filters, apply them before exporting if you only want certain students or assignments included.
• Have a spreadsheet program — Excel, Google Sheets, or similar — ready to open the CSV once it downloads.
• Know why you need the export — handing grades to a registrar, backing up before the term ends, or working with the numbers outside Canvas — so you pick the right export type.

Export Your Grades

1. In Course Navigation, click Grades.
2. Click Export in the Gradebook’s action bar.
3. Choose Export Current Gradebook View to capture only what’s currently displayed, including any filters or grading-period selection — or Export Entire Gradebook to capture every assignment across every grading period, ignoring filters.
4. Canvas automatically downloads the CSV file to your computer.
5. If the download is interrupted or you need it again later, click Export > Previous Downloads in the Gradebook to retrieve it.

Best Practices

• Apply any filters before exporting if you only need certain students or assignments — Export Current Gradebook View respects them, Export Entire Gradebook does not.
• Open the CSV in a spreadsheet program rather than a plain text editor, so columns display correctly.
• Keep a copy of your final export at the end of each term as a personal backup of your grades.
• Remember that the exported file’s column order mirrors whatever the Gradebook was displaying at the time — double-check it matches what you expect before sharing it.

Troubleshooting

Issue: Your export is missing grades from an earlier grading period.

Solution: You likely used Export Current Gradebook View, which only pulls what’s currently filtered or selected. Use Export Entire Gradebook instead to capture everything across every grading period.

Issue: You can’t find the file after exporting.

Solution: Click Export > Previous Downloads in the Gradebook to retrieve a CSV whose download was interrupted or that you closed before saving.

Issue: The file won’t open correctly in your spreadsheet program.

Solution: Confirm you’re opening the CSV file itself rather than a renamed copy — right-click the downloaded file and choose to open it with your preferred spreadsheet software.

Important Considerations

• Make sure to keep all student data secure, including Canvas and grade exports.
• Incomplete (missing) assignments will display as empty cells unless a zero (“0”) has been entered.
• Double-check if you have filters on the gradebook before exporting, if using Export Current Gradebook View.
• The CSV file will only include active enrollments.
• If your download didn’t finish, check Export > Previous Downloads.

Additional Resources

• Instructure Community: How Do I Export Grades in the Gradebook?

Need Extra Support?

If an export isn’t giving you what you expect, reach out to the TLC.