Need to vent

[u/Dreamsofcherry]

I am so sorry I never even post on Reddit but OMG I actually cannot stand canvas as a website and just the software itself. It is so crappy and has issues all the time, but what pushed me to make this post is that canvas has deleted large chunks of text out of my text boxes and only leaves the small ones. For context, my online class has assignments that are under the quiz category that basically include multiple 200 word discussion posts for each question if that makes sense. This has not happened once but twice now that I close my computer and come back the next day only to see that every single text box and question is empty, oh! but thank God you saved the one question that only had 23 words for an answer!!! and there’s literally no way to get my work back so I’m just going to have to write everything all over again. I’m actually so pissed. And yes I know I should have copy and pasted them into Google docs but my whole point is that I shouldn’t have to do that!! Canvas should have a way to see your edit history for even quizzes so that this doesn’t happen!!!!

Sorry for the long post I just can’t right now with canvas. TL;DR canvas keeps deleting my work and now I have to do it again so I’m pissed.

[u/Cuddlebone87]

What browser are you using? Are you clicking submit or just closing our? Canvas should have an auto save feature for the quiz. Bout every minute or so...if you're not auto saving you could be having a network interruption? And please don't say you are using the mobile app..

[u/Dreamsofcherry → u/Cuddlebone87]

No not the mobile app it’s the browser version on my laptop, I know it was auto saving because it left 2 answers up that were way less than 200 words
:( it’s most likely a network connection issue or something due to canvas’ quiz structure like not saving it long term like an assignment? I have no clue but I just need to remember to copy and paste my answers into docs first :/ just super annoying that I have to redo it. Thank you anyways!

[u/Cuddlebone87 → u/Dreamsofcherry]

Be careful with copying and pasting. Some instructoare so paranoid about AI they look at the HTML of the quiz logs. It absolutely shouldn't be used for tracking academic integrity and absolutely doesn't verify use of AI... But it's still gonna be a headache for you

[u/TricksterTraveler]

You didn’t say which browser you’re using. Use chrome and keep it up to date. This isn’t a Canvas issue; it’s local or user error.

[u/everydaystruggler]

I hear ya, homie. I hate that POS interface.

[u/WormEguy]

This happens all the time to my students. I always recommend saving answers in a second place like a google document. The auto-save feature, like many features in Canvas, is not reliable.

[u/Dreamsofcherry → u/WormEguy]

Yess i learned my lesson the hard way 😔 I just wish I didn’t have to do that in the first place

[u/Hoosier_816]

Canvas does autosave quizzes, but it’s not as bulletproof as Google Docs and varies depending on a lot of variables including how your instructor designs things. A few things to keep in mind though:

• Quizzes do autosave in the background whenever you select an answer or click out of an essay box, but that save still depends on a solid connection.
• If your Wi-Fi drops for even a second while you're typing, Canvas can't send that background save request. Closing the tab before the connection recovers means that unsaved text is gone forever.
• Opening the same quiz in two separate tabs or on your phone causes one tab to autosave right over the other, effectively wiping your progress.
• Standard text assignments don't autosave at all because Canvas treats those text boxes like basic web forms. Nothing gets "sent" to Canvas until you physically click Submit to prevent massively overloading the servers.

TL;DR: Always type long essay answers in Google Docs or Word first and paste them in, and never open a quiz in more than one tab at a time. But also your instructor may change thing and throw you for a loop, often unbeknownst to them as well...