Option 1 Claude Desktop Integration Recommended Mcp Setup

{ "mcpServers": { "canvas-mcp-server": { "command": "npx", "args": ](https://imgur.com/a/BnhgXme)["-y", "canvas-mcp-server"], "env": { "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here", "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com" } } } }

# Install globally npm install -g canvas-mcp-server # Configure export CANVAS_API_TOKEN="your_token_here" export CANVAS_DOMAIN="your_school.instructure.com" # Run canvas-mcp-server

docker run -d \ --name canvas-mcp \ -p 3000:3000 \ -e CANVAS_API_TOKEN="your_token" \ -e CANVAS_DOMAIN="school.instructure.com" \ -e MCP_TRANSPORT="streamable-http" \ -e MCP_HTTP_HOST="0.0.0.0" \ -e MCP_HTTP_PORT="3000" \ -e MCP_HTTP_PATH="/mcp" \ ghcr.io/dmontgomery40/mcp-canvas-lms:latest

The server supports two explicit transport modes:

- stdio(default): best for Claude Desktop/Codex/Cursor local MCP wiring.
- streamable-http: best for local HTTP integrations and containerized workflows.

# Required Canvas auth CANVAS_API_TOKEN=your_token CANVAS_DOMAIN=your_school.instructure.com # Transport selection MCP_TRANSPORT=stdio # or streamable-http # Streamable HTTP settings MCP_HTTP_HOST=127.0.0.1 MCP_HTTP_PORT=3000 MCP_HTTP_PATH=/mcp MCP_HTTP_STATEFUL=true MCP_HTTP_JSON_RESPONSE=true MCP_HTTP_ALLOWED_ORIGINS=

"Create a new course called 'Advanced Biology' in account 123"

Now properly creates courses with required account_id parameter

"Create a new student user John Doe with email john.doe@school.edu in our main account"

Creates user accounts with proper pseudonym and enrollment setup

"Generate an enrollment report for account 456 for the current term"

Initiates Canvas reporting system for institutional analytics

"Show me all published Computer Science courses in our Engineering account"

Advanced filtering and searching across account course catalogs

"What assignments do I have due this week?"

Lists upcoming assignments with due dates, points, and submission status

"Help me submit my essay for English 101 Assignment 3"

Guides through text submission with formatting options

"What's my current grade in Biology?"

Shows current scores, grades, and assignment feedback

"Show me the latest discussion posts in my Philosophy class"

Displays recent discussion topics and enables posting responses

"What modules do I need to complete in Math 200?"

Shows module completion status and next items to complete
- Log into Canvas→ Account → Settings
- Scroll to "Approved Integrations"
- Click "+ New Access Token"
- Enter description: "Claude MCP Integration"
- Copy the generated tokenSave securely!

⚠️Account Admin Note: For account-level operations, ensure your API token has administrative privileges.

git clone https://github.com/DMontgomery40/mcp-canvas-lms.git cd mcp-canvas-lms cp .env.example .env # Edit .env with your Canvas credentials docker-compose up -d

kubectl create secret generic canvas-mcp-secrets \ --from-literal=CANVAS_API_TOKEN="your_token" \ --from-literal=CANVAS_DOMAIN="school.instructure.com" kubectl apply -f k8s/

# Check application health curl http://localhost:3000/health # Or use the built-in health check npm run health-check

# Setup development environment git clone https://github.com/DMontgomery40/mcp-canvas-lms.git cd mcp-canvas-lms npm install # Start development with hot reload npm run dev:watch # Run tests npm run test npm run coverage # Code quality npm run lint npm run type-check

- canvas_health_check- Check API connectivity
- canvas_list_courses- List all your courses
- canvas_get_course- Get detailed course info
- canvas_list_assignments- List course assignments
- canvas_get_assignment- Get assignment details
- canvas_submit_assignment- Submit assignment work
- canvas_get_submission- Check submission status
- canvas_list_modules- List course modules
- canvas_get_module- Get module details
- canvas_list_module_items- List items in a module
- canvas_mark_module_item_complete- Mark items complete
- canvas_list_discussion_topics- List discussion topics
- canvas_get_discussion_topic- Get discussion details
- canvas_post_to_discussion- Post to discussions
- canvas_list_announcements- List course announcements
- canvas_get_user_grades- Get your grades
- canvas_get_course_grades- Get course-specific grades
- canvas_get_dashboard- Get dashboard info
- canvas_get_dashboard_cards- Get course cards
- canvas_get_upcoming_assignments- Get due dates
- canvas_list_calendar_events- List calendar events
- canvas_list_files- List course files
- canvas_get_file- Get file details
- canvas_list_folders- List course folders
- canvas_list_pages- List course pages
- canvas_get_page- Get page content
- canvas_list_conversations- List messages
- canvas_get_conversation- Get conversation details
- canvas_create_conversation- Send messages
- canvas_list_notifications- List notifications
- canvas_get_syllabus- Get course syllabus
- canvas_get_user_profile- Get user profile
- canvas_update_user_profile- Update profile

- canvas_create_course- Create new courses(FIXED: now requires account_id)
- canvas_update_course- Update course settings
- canvas_create_assignment- Create assignments
- canvas_update_assignment- Update assignments
- canvas_list_assignment_groups- List assignment groups
- canvas_submit_grade- Grade submissions
- canvas_enroll_user- Enroll students
- canvas_list_quizzes- List course quizzes
- canvas_get_quiz- Get quiz details
- canvas_create_quiz- Create quizzes
- canvas_start_quiz_attempt- Start quiz attempts
- canvas_list_rubrics- List course rubrics
- canvas_get_rubric- Get rubric details

- canvas_get_account- Get account details
- canvas_list_account_courses- List courses in an account
- canvas_list_account_users- List users in an account
- canvas_create_user- Create new users in accounts
- canvas_list_sub_accounts- List sub-accounts
- canvas_get_account_reports- List available reports
- canvas_create_account_report- Generate account reports

{ "tool": "canvas_create_course", "arguments": { "name": "My Course" // ❌ Missing account_id - caused "page not found" } }

{ "tool": "canvas_create_course", "arguments": { "account_id": 123, // ✅ Required account_id "name": "My Course", "course_code": "CS-101" } }

Student:"I need to check my upcoming assignments and submit my English essay"

Claude:I'll help you check your upcoming assignments and then assist with submitting your English essay. Let me start by getting your upcoming assignments...

[Claude usescanvas_get_upcoming_assignmentsthen helps withcanvas_submit_assignment]

Instructor:"Create a new Advanced Physics course in the Science department and enroll my teaching assistant"

Claude:I'll help you create the Advanced Physics course in your Science department account and then enroll your TA...

[Claude usescanvas_create_coursewith proper account_id, thencanvas_enroll_user]

Administrator:"Generate an enrollment report for all Computer Science courses this semester"

Claude:I'll generate a comprehensive enrollment report for your CS courses...

[Claude usescanvas_list_account_courseswith filters, thencanvas_create_account_report]

- ❌401 Unauthorized: Check your API token and permissions
- ❌404 Not Found: Verify course/assignment IDs and access rights
- ❌"Page not found" on course creation: Update to v2.2.0 for account_id fix
- ❌Timeout: IncreaseCANVAS_TIMEOUTor check network connectivity

We welcome contributions! SeeCONTRIBUTING.mdfor guidelines.

git clone https://github.com/DMontgomery40/mcp-canvas-lms.git cd mcp-canvas-lms npm install npm run dev:watch # Make changes, add tests, submit PR

- 🐛Bug Reports:GitHub Issues
- 💬Questions:GitHub Discussions
- 📖Documentation:[Wiki