Canvas - Using the Redirect Tool and External URL Modules

This document shows instructors how to use the redirect tool and external URL modules in Canvas to help students navigate to external webpages.

If you use an external website for your Canvas course, Canvas provides easy options to help your students navigate to that website. You can add the website to your Canvas course sidebar using the Redirect Tool, or to a Module using the External URL option. This document will show you how to use both.

    

Add a Website to your Canvas Sidebar Using the Redirect Tool

  1. Log into Canvas, and select Settings at the bottom of your Canvas course sidebar.
    Screenshot of sidebar with settings highlighted

  2. Select the Apps tab from the top of the Settings page.
    Screen capture of Settings page, with Apps tab highlighted

  3. Search Redirect Tool, and select the arrow tile that appears.
    Searchbar with text "redirect", and image of the Redirect Tool tile

  4. On the next page select the +Add App button.

  5. Fill out the fields that appear next:
    Image of Add App fields. Fields are described below.

    1. Name: Enter the title of the webpage, how you would like to appear on the Navbar. 

    2. URL Redirect: Paste the URL of the external website. 

    3. Show in Course Navigation: Check this so that the page will appear on your navigation bar. 

  6. Select Add App to finish installation.

  7. Refresh the page, and check your sidebar to confirm that the changes have been applied.
    *Note: If you uncheck Force open in new tab, certain websites may not open in Canvas.

Remove or Move Redirect Link

  1. Navigate to Settings at the bottom of your course sidebar.

  2. Select the Navigation tab on your Settings page.
    Image of tabs on Settings page with Navigation selected

  3. Find the link you have added, and select the three, stacked dots next to it.
    Image of new link on Navigation page

  4. From the dropdown menu that appears:

    1. Select Move if you would like to move this link up or down your course navigation sidebar.

    2. Select Disable if you would like to remove this link from your sidebar.

  5. Select Save at the bottom of the page to save these changes.

View a Webpage Within Canvas Using an External URL Module

  1. On your course navigation sidebar, navigate to Modules.

  2. If you want to create a new Module, select +Add Module. Skip this step if the module already exists.
    Image of "Add Module" button

  3. Select the + button next to the module where you want to add the URL.

  4. On the next page, open the drop-down menu next to Add and select External URL.
    Image of "add module" page, with "internal URL" selected

  5. Enter the URL of the site into the URL field, and the title of the page in the Page Name field. Select Add Item when you are done.
    Image of module fields described above

  6. From the Modules page, select the link you have just added to your module.
    image of newly added link in module

  7. The page will now load within a window on your Canvas course.
    Image of UW website within a frame on Canvas page.


Keywords:
redirect integrate website external add link sidebar embed webpage 
Doc ID:
124351
Owned by:
Learn@UW Madison in Learn@UW-Madison
Created:
2023-02-24
Updated:
2023-12-07
Sites:
DoIT Help Desk, Learn@UW-Madison