Canvas Lms MCP

Name: Canvas Lms MCP
Author: bruchris

by bruchrisversion 2.11.1i★ –iRuns on your computer

Registry nameio.github.bruchris/canvas-lms-mcp

Install

Overview

Description from the maker (original English)

TypeScript MCP server for Canvas LMS — 187 tools across 42 domains.

PopNx MCP’s three pillars

These three are never merged into one score: opinions, measurements and popularity are different things.

User voiceiNo reviews yetReviews open together with accounts in a later step
Our basic checksi1 of 1 passedChecked from public information; code not scanned yet
UsageiEarly↓ 639/wk · ★ –

What you can do with it

We have not written a plain-language summary for this one yet. Below are the facts we read from the registry.

Connection: Runs on your computer
Transport: stdio
Category: Developer tools
You need to fill in: CANVAS_API_TOKEN, CANVAS_BASE_URL

Install

Pick the AI app you use, then copy the settings.

Before you install

Basic checks: 1 of 1 passed
Runs on your computer with your user’s permissions (files, network, apps).
You fill in yourself: CANVAS_API_TOKEN, CANVAS_BASE_URL

Values marked secret are keys to your account. Never share them or paste them into a chat.

You need

npmNode.js installed (for the npx command)

Which app do you use?

ClaudeClaude CodeCursorVS CodeChatGPT

Pick your app above. We remember it, so next time the button says “Install in …”.

Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config, and paste this into claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "canvas-lms": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "canvas-lms-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your-value",
        "CANVAS_BASE_URL": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Run this in your terminal

claude mcp add canvas-lms --env CANVAS_API_TOKEN=your-value --env CANVAS_BASE_URL=your-value -- npx -y canvas-lms-mcp

Fill in the empty values before running it.

Open in Cursor

Or copy the settings yourself

Paste into .cursor/mcp.json in your project, or ~/.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "canvas-lms": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "canvas-lms-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your-value",
        "CANVAS_BASE_URL": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Your browser asks to open the app, then the app shows the settings and asks you to confirm. Key values are left empty for you to fill in.

Open in VS Code

Or copy the settings yourself

Paste into .vscode/mcp.json in your project

{
  "servers": {
    "canvas-lms": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "canvas-lms-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your-value",
        "CANVAS_BASE_URL": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Your browser asks to open the app, then the app shows the settings and asks you to confirm. Key values are left empty for you to fill in.

This one runs on your computer, and ChatGPT can only connect to servers on the internet. Pick another app.

Your choice stays on this device in a cookie; no account needed.

Values you fill in

CANVAS_API_TOKEN secret required env
Canvas personal access token (Account → Settings → Approved Integrations → New Access Token)
CANVAS_BASE_URL required env
Canvas instance base URL, origin only with no path, e.g. https://school.instructure.com

These settings are generated from the maker’s registry entry. If the README says otherwise, follow the README.

What it can do

Runs on your computer; the tool list appears in your AI app after you install it.

Basic checksi

We check information anyone can see; we have not read the code. Checks that do not apply are left out of the count. · Checked Nov 9, 2026

✓ Pass
Maker matches the repo
The registry name was verified with the GitHub account bruchris, which owns the repo
… Not checked yet
Still maintained
We have not read this repo from GitHub yet
… Not checked yet
Has a licence
We have not read this repo from GitHub yet
– Not applicable
Endpoint responds
This one runs on your computer; there is no internet endpoint
– Not applicable
Sign-in with OAuth
Runs on your computer and uses local settings instead
… Not checked yet
No hidden instructions in tool descriptions
Runs on your computer; we can only read tool lists from internet endpoints

Compared with others in Developer toolsi

More stars than 0% of the other 5559 servers in this category
Published to the registry more recently than 67% of the other 5559 servers in this category
Basic checks equal to or better than 100% of the other 5559 servers in this category

Compared with every active server in this category in the registry. Stars count only when the publisher owns the repo.

Common questions

Is Canvas Lms MCP safe?

It passed 1 of 1 applicable basic checks. We have not read the code. Before adding a key or token, see what access the server asks for and use a key with only the permissions you need.

What keys or codes does it need?

You need to fill in: CANVAS_API_TOKEN, CANVAS_BASE_URL

Does it run on my computer or in the cloud?

It runs on your computer. Your AI app starts it when needed, and data does not pass through the maker’s servers (unless it calls an online service itself).

Is it still maintained?

The GitHub repo last changed –, and the latest version (2.11.1) reached the registry 12 days ago.

Which apps can use it?

Apps that support MCP, such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code. You also need Node.js on your computer.

What can I use instead?

In the same category: GitHub, Desktop Commander, Cloudflare MCP

Alternatives

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Reading a card:↓ Downloads per weeki★ GitHub starsiThree pillars: reviews · checks · usageiUpdated = latest version published to the registryi

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Cloudflare MCP

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README from the maker

Open the README

Copied from the maker’s repo as written. PopNx MCP has not reviewed or endorsed it. HTML, images and scripts are removed. Links lead off this site.

Canvas LMS MCP Server

The TypeScript MCP server for Canvas LMS.

MCP server for Canvas LMS. Read courses, assignments, submissions, rubrics, quizzes; grade, comment, manage course content, and handle Canvas admin workflows from any AI agent.

187 tools across Canvas courses, assignments, submissions, gradebook history, rubrics, quizzes, New Quizzes (LTI), files, users, groups, enrollments, discussions, modules, pages, calendar, conversations, peer reviews, accounts, analytics, outcomes, grading standards, grade projection, link audit, accessibility audit, content exports, content migrations, quiz accommodations, appointment groups, student workflows, student search, dashboard, instructor attention workflows, and health checks. Three deployment modes: stdio, HTTP, and library import.

One-click install (Claude Desktop)

[Download `canvas-lms-mcp.mcpb`](https://github.com/bruchris/canvas-lms-mcp/releases/latest/download/canvas-lms-mcp.mcpb) from the latest release.
Double-click the file (or drag it into Claude Desktop's Extensions settings).
When prompted, paste your Canvas API token and Canvas base URL — your institution's origin only, e.g. https://school.instructure.com (do not append /api/v1). Teachers and staff handling student data can also flip FERPA mode — pseudonymize students on in the same dialog (what it does).

No terminal, no Node.js install, no config-file editing — Claude Desktop bundles the runtime and handles config for you. The same .mcpb works in Claude Code and MCP for Windows.

Prefer the terminal? Use the Quick Start below.

One-click install (Cursor / VS Code)

Click a badge to open Cursor or VS Code with canvas-lms-mcp pre-configured (placeholder credentials filled in — replace with your actual Canvas API token and base URL after install). For manual config-file setup, see docs/manual-setup.md.

One-click install (Claude Code plugin)

/plugin marketplace add bruchris/canvas-lms-mcp

/plugin install canvas-lms-mcp

Installs the MCP server (via npx canvas-lms-mcp) and all 17 Agent Skills in a single step, versioned and updatable through Claude Code's plugin manager. On enable, Claude Code prompts for your Canvas API token and base URL (and the optional FERPA pseudonymization settings). See the Claude Code plugins reference for how marketplaces and plugin manifests work.

Comparison

	canvas-lms-mcp	vishalsachdev/canvas-mcp	DMontgomery40/mcp-canvas-lms
Language	TypeScript	Python	TypeScript
Tools	187	80+	54
License
Last commit

Quick Start

1. Get a Canvas API Token

Log in to your Canvas instance
Go to Account > Settings
Scroll to Approved Integrations and click + New Access Token
Give it a name (e.g., "MCP Server") and click Generate Token
Copy the token immediately -- you won't see it again

2. Run the Setup Wizard

npx canvas-lms-mcp init

The wizard detects your installed AI clients (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Codex, Continue, Claude Code), prompts for your Canvas token and base URL, validates the credentials against your Canvas instance, and writes the config for every client you select.

add-mcp is also supported as a generic alternative: npx add-mcp canvas-lms-mcp.

For clients not yet supported by the wizard, or if you prefer editing config files by hand, see docs/manual-setup.md.

Agent Skills

Install reusable Canvas workflows into Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Cline, and 40+ other AI agents:

npx skills add bruchris/canvas-lms-mcp

Skill	Description
`canvas-at-risk-students`	Surface students with missing assignments or declining grades and send targeted outreach
`canvas-gradebook-audit`	Inspect the full grade-change audit trail — who changed what grade, when, and by how much
`canvas-outcome-tracker`	Track learning outcome mastery and class-wide proficiency for accreditation and program review
`canvas-accessibility-sweep`	Pre-launch WCAG accessibility and broken-link sweep of a course, with a prioritised remediation list
`canvas-office-hours`	Create, publish, and manage Canvas Scheduler office-hour sign-up slots and see who reserved

Skills are markdown workflow files (no extra dependencies). They work with the MCP server you already have installed. See the skills/ directory for the full list.

The same 17 workflows are also served over MCP as prompts, so a host without a skill-file loader — Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, or an application embedding this server in-process — can list them with prompts/list and fetch one with prompts/get. Each prompt advertises optional course_id-style arguments a host can prefill, and marks the workflows that reach write tools. Prompts are inert templates the user chooses: selecting one grants the model no tool authority it did not already have.

Example Prompts

Once configured, try these prompts with your AI client:

"List all my active courses"
"Show me the assignments for course 12345"
"What's the average grade on the midterm exam?"
"Grade Alice's essay submission with a B+ and add feedback"
"Show me the rubric for the final project"
"What discussions are happening in my Biology course?"
"List all upcoming calendar events for course 12345"
"Send a message to student 67890 about their missing assignment"

Tool Inventory

All Registered Tools (187)

Category	Tools
Health	`health_check`
Courses	`list_courses`, `get_course`, `get_syllabus`, `list_sections`, `create_course`, `update_course`
Assignments	`list_assignments`, `get_assignment`, `list_assignment_groups`, `create_assignment_group`, `update_assignment_group`, `create_assignment`, `update_assignment`, `delete_assignment`
Assignment Overrides	`list_assignment_overrides`, `create_assignment_override`, `set_student_assignment_dates`
Submissions	`list_submissions`, `get_submission`, `grade_submission`, `comment_on_submission`
Submissions Awaiting Grading	`list_submissions_awaiting_grading`
Submission Files	`list_course_submission_files`
Assignment Submission (opt-in)	`upload_submission_file`, `submit_assignment` — registered only when `CANVAS_ENABLE_ASSIGNMENT_SUBMISSION=true` (see Student assignment submission)
Rubrics	`list_rubrics`, `get_rubric`, `get_rubric_assessment`, `submit_rubric_assessment`, `create_rubric`, `attach_rubric`, `delete_rubric`
Quizzes	`list_quizzes`, `get_quiz`, `list_quiz_submissions`, `list_quiz_questions`, `get_quiz_submission_answers`, `score_quiz_question`, `get_quiz_submission_events`, `delete_quiz`, `delete_quiz_question`
Quiz Question Responses	`get_quiz_question_responses`
Quiz Accommodations	`list_student_quiz_accommodations`, `set_student_quiz_accommodation`
New Quizzes (LTI)	`create_new_quiz`, `update_new_quiz`, `delete_new_quiz`, `list_new_quiz_items`, `get_new_quiz_item`, `create_new_quiz_item`, `update_new_quiz_item`, `delete_new_quiz_item`
New Quiz Accommodations	`list_student_new_quiz_accommodations`, `set_student_new_quiz_accommodation`
Files	`list_files`, `list_folders`, `get_file`, `upload_file`, `download_file`, `delete_file`, `find_duplicate_files`
Gradebook History	`list_gradebook_history_days`, `get_gradebook_history_day`, `list_gradebook_history_submissions`, `get_gradebook_history_feed`
Grade Explanation	`explain_grade`
Grading Policy	`explain_grading_policy`
Grade Projection	`project_grade`
Grading Standards	`list_grading_standards`, `create_grading_standard`, `apply_grading_standard_to_course`
Users	`list_students`, `get_user`, `get_profile`, `search_users`, `list_course_users`
Groups	`list_groups`, `list_group_members`, `list_group_categories`, `create_group_category`, `create_group`, `delete_group`, `add_group_member`, `remove_group_member`
Enrollments	`list_enrollments`, `list_course_enrollments`, `enroll_user`, `remove_enrollment`
Discussions	`list_discussions`, `get_discussion`, `list_group_discussions`, `get_group_discussion`, `list_announcements`, `post_discussion_entry`, `create_discussion`, `update_discussion`, `delete_discussion`
Modules	`list_modules`, `get_module`, `list_module_items`, `get_course_structure`, `view_course_structure`, `create_module`, `update_module`, `delete_module`, `create_module_item`, `update_module_item`, `delete_module_item`
Pages	`list_pages`, `get_page`, `create_page`, `update_page`, `delete_page`
Calendar	`list_calendar_events`, `create_calendar_event`, `update_calendar_event`

| Conversations | `list

Only the beginning is shown; read the rest in the repo

Canvas Lms MCP

Overview

PopNx MCP’s three pillars

What you can do with it

Install

Before you install

Values you fill in

What it can do

Basic checksi

Maker matches the repo

Still maintained

Has a licence

Endpoint responds

Sign-in with OAuth

No hidden instructions in tool descriptions

Compared with others in Developer toolsi

Common questions

Alternatives

GitHub

Desktop Commander

Cloudflare MCP

README from the maker

Canvas LMS MCP Server

One-click install (Claude Desktop)

One-click install (Cursor / VS Code)

One-click install (Claude Code plugin)

Comparison

Quick Start

1. Get a Canvas API Token

2. Run the Setup Wizard

Agent Skills

Example Prompts

Tool Inventory

All Registered Tools (187)