# How do I assign an assignment to everyone, individual students, or sections?

By default, assignments you create in your course are assigned to everyone. You can specify a due date and availability dates that apply to everyone. You can also assign an assignment to an individual student or a course section.

You can also assign an assignment to a [course group](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-assign-an-assignment-to-a-course-group/ta-p/633).

When [Multiple Grading Periods](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-use-grading-periods-in-a-course/ta-p/1030) are enabled in a course, assignments are also respected against closed grading periods.

Only assigned students can view the assignment.

**Notes:**

<div id="bkmrk-if-multiple-due-date"><div>- If multiple due dates apply to a student, Canvas assigns the latest due date to the student. For example, if a student's individual due date is November 18 and the section due date is November 20, the student is assigned a due date of November 20.
- If you unassign a student or section to a differentiated assignment you have previously graded, the grade and submission are removed from the assignment. You can restore the submission by reassigning the assignment to the student.
- When using differentiated assignments with the [Gradebook](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-use-the-Gradebook/ta-p/701), the assignment appears as a column for all students, but grade cells are grayed out for students who have not been included in the assignment. Grades cannot be assigned for students who have not been included in the assignment, and assignments that are not assigned to a student are not factored into overall grades.

</div></div><div id="bkmrk-embed-this-video"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="400px" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-presentation" src="https://embed.app.guidde.com/playbooks/bndR428K1HGPbEQRmgMM4a" title="How do I assign an assignment to everyone, individual students, or sections?" width="700px"></iframe>

<button class="embed-button">Embed this Video</button></div>## Open Assignments

<div data-step-uuid="f6c75a6f-5e78-436b-99db-90e81f243adc" id="bkmrk-"><div data-step-uuid="f6c75a6f-5e78-436b-99db-90e81f243adc"><div>![Open Assignments](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/596/991/original/22838c72-a329-4ac0-9cab-53e930b7d10d.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>In Course Navigation, click the **Assignments** link.

## Add Assignment

<div data-step-uuid="fc926e15-8be7-4b0b-ac54-8a4241784df4" id="bkmrk--0"><div data-step-uuid="fc926e15-8be7-4b0b-ac54-8a4241784df4"><div>![Add Assignment](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/001/257/842/original/6558bf36-dbe1-4bad-8f44-d5284d2d88e6.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>Click the **Add Assignment** button.

## Add Assignment Details

<div data-step-uuid="b9f2c8af-9427-48a1-b96f-505623eff5da" id="bkmrk--1"><div data-step-uuid="b9f2c8af-9427-48a1-b96f-505623eff5da"><div>![Add Assignment Details](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/005/242/083/original/e20933c3-216f-45fd-acbb-aa954dceb668.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>Add [details to the assignment](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-add-or-edit-details-in-an-assignment/ta-p/971).

## Assign Access

<div data-step-uuid="1fd37f86-5dbe-4e17-a911-baf58ece6791" id="bkmrk--2"><div data-step-uuid="1fd37f86-5dbe-4e17-a911-baf58ece6791"><div>![Assign Access](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/886/500/original/587ac4d2-e849-417f-a634-fa13e64070cd.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>In the Assign Access section, you can manage assignees \[1\], the due date \[2\], and availability dates \[3\]. You can also add additional assignment details \[4\].

### Select Assignees

<div data-step-uuid="1fd37f86-5dbe-4e17-a911-baf58ece6791" id="bkmrk--3"><div data-step-uuid="1fd37f86-5dbe-4e17-a911-baf58ece6791"><div data-step-uuid="04da6579-8d7a-41fa-93c9-49a750d8386d"><div>![Select Assignees](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/882/816/original/a863c6c2-a6e7-4923-9a81-679300d1e148.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div>By default, assignments are assigned to everyone in the course. However, you can differentiate the assignments.

To assign an assignment to an individual student, section, or Mastery Path, remove Everyone by clicking the **Remove** icon \[1\].

To change the assignees, click the **Assign To** field. Then, select one or more assignees. You can assign to a course section \[2\] or an individual student \[3\].

**Notes:**

<div data-step-uuid="1fd37f86-5dbe-4e17-a911-baf58ece6791" id="bkmrk-you-can-include-more"><div data-step-uuid="1fd37f86-5dbe-4e17-a911-baf58ece6791"><div data-step-uuid="04da6579-8d7a-41fa-93c9-49a750d8386d"><div><div>- You can include more than one student or section in the To field as long as the students are to be assigned the same due and availability dates.
- If your course is using Mastery Paths, you do not have to manually assign assignments to individual students. Learn how to assign an assignment using [Mastery Paths](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-assign-a-conditional-assignment-for-students-to/ta-p/1025).
- If you unassign a student or section to a differentiated assignment you have previously graded, the grade and submission are removed from the assignment. You can restore the submission by reassigning the assignment to the student.
- You can also assign an assignment to a [course group](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-assign-an-assignment-to-a-course-group/ta-p/633).

</div></div><div data-step-uuid="a7be6647-318b-4afb-81ce-aaf051fde17f"></div></div></div></div>#### Find Student or Section

<div data-step-uuid="1fd37f86-5dbe-4e17-a911-baf58ece6791" id="bkmrk--4"><div data-step-uuid="1fd37f86-5dbe-4e17-a911-baf58ece6791"><div data-step-uuid="04da6579-8d7a-41fa-93c9-49a750d8386d"><div data-step-uuid="a7be6647-318b-4afb-81ce-aaf051fde17f"><div>![Find Student or Section](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/882/818/original/9c4679bf-a7d0-4e06-8c2d-bc776f02ac8d.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>To find a student or section more easily, enter a few letters of the name \[1\] and select the name from a filtered list \[2\].

To remove an assignee, click the assignee **Remove** icon \[3\].

**Note:** The list is not scrollable.

## Enter Due and Availability Dates

<div data-step-uuid="60b02338-b51a-4077-b878-cbe24f04732a" id="bkmrk--5"><div data-step-uuid="60b02338-b51a-4077-b878-cbe24f04732a"><div>![Enter Due and Availability Dates](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/716/319/original/f594a29f-c660-4066-85fd-4d6b56246fe6.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>In the date fields, add your preferred date(s) with the following options:

<div data-step-uuid="60b02338-b51a-4077-b878-cbe24f04732a" id="bkmrk-due-date%C2%A0%5B1%5D%3A-set-th"><div data-step-uuid="60b02338-b51a-4077-b878-cbe24f04732a"><div><div>- **Due Date** \[1\]: Set the date and time that the assignment is due. The due date is already populated for you if you [created an assignment shell](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-create-an-assignment-shell-in-an-assignment-group/ta-p/974), but you can change it if necessary.
- **Available From** \[2\]: Set the date and time when the assignment is unlocked and becomes available.
- **Until** \[3\]: Set the date and time when the assignment is locked and no longer available.

</div></div></div></div>**Notes:**

<div data-step-uuid="60b02338-b51a-4077-b878-cbe24f04732a" id="bkmrk-due-dates-assigned-t"><div><div>- Due dates assigned to specific students override group or section due dates.
- If you have set section override dates in your course, you may need to assign to a course section and set due and availability dates that fall within the section override dates.
- After you enter due dates or availability dates, Canvas displays the time zone date and time according to context. If you manage courses in a time zone other than your local time zone and create or edit a due date for an assignment, the course and local times are displayed for reference.

</div></div></div>## Add Additional Assignments

<div data-step-uuid="a7eb3bd1-cdb0-447c-a65a-4f24a9f942e4" id="bkmrk--6"><div data-step-uuid="a7eb3bd1-cdb0-447c-a65a-4f24a9f942e4"><div>![Add Additional Assignments](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/882/820/original/75b7ccbe-46c4-4908-994f-4383f2d1134a.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>To add another student or section with a different due date and availability dates, click the **Add Assign To** button. Then enter a new set of assignees, due dates, and availability dates.

### Remove Assignment

<div data-step-uuid="a7eb3bd1-cdb0-447c-a65a-4f24a9f942e4" id="bkmrk--7"><div data-step-uuid="a7eb3bd1-cdb0-447c-a65a-4f24a9f942e4"><div data-step-uuid="70bc27f2-10dc-4274-9afc-942a347fb3f6"><div>![Remove Dates](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/882/822/original/8b057315-3760-4f85-b00c-a85f5cfd7f75.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div>You can delete entire assignments by clicking the **Remove** icon in the appropriate assignment section \[1\].

To remove the dates and times in the Due Date, Available from, or Until fields, click the **Clear** link \[2\].

## View Date Error

<div data-step-uuid="03506ef6-f394-44b9-92e4-a3d704ba5fbb" id="bkmrk--8"><div data-step-uuid="03506ef6-f394-44b9-92e4-a3d704ba5fbb"><div>![View Date Error](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/882/824/original/0d94b382-0cb6-4a86-878b-cbf6578719b9.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>If you enter invalid dates, Canvas displays error messages. Invalid entries include not unlocking the discussion before it is due, not placing the due date inside the range of availability dates, or assigning a date that is outside the course or term dates.

Correct the dates as needed.

**Notes:**

<div data-step-uuid="03506ef6-f394-44b9-92e4-a3d704ba5fbb" id="bkmrk-if-the-course-does-n"><div><div>- If the course does not include specified course start and end dates, Canvas validates the graded discussion against the term date set for the course.
- If your course is using Multiple Grading Periods, the Assign field validates the due date against the closed grading period and requires the discussion due date to be past the date of the closed grading period.

</div></div></div>## Save and Publish

<div data-step-uuid="efbbf347-8496-44ae-aacf-2fe467c37af7" id="bkmrk--9"><div data-step-uuid="efbbf347-8496-44ae-aacf-2fe467c37af7"><div>![Save and Publish](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/001/105/697/original/4fadf3ee-7e99-4121-b168-758a89da36ea.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>If you are ready to publish the assignment, click the **Save &amp; Publish** button \[1\]. If you want to create a draft of your assignment and [publish](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-publish-or-unpublish-an-assignment-as-an-instructor/ta-p/585) it later, click the **Save** button \[2\].

## View Warning

<div data-step-uuid="e485bdba-a329-4a8f-97c5-fa096b284c84" id="bkmrk--10"><div data-step-uuid="e485bdba-a329-4a8f-97c5-fa096b284c84"><div>![View Warning](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/882/826/original/4f077a24-67df-4d35-aee5-96acbabe68b9.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>If you do not add all students through course sections or individual assignments, a warning message displays.

If you don't want to add any others to the assignment, click the **Continue** button \[1\]. Alternatively, to go back and add additional sections or students, click the **Go Back** button \[2\].

**Note:** This warning message does not display if *Everyone, Everyone Else,* or all course sections or students in the course are assigned to the assignment.

## View Assignment Dates

<div data-step-uuid="b8035b04-c37d-40ae-aa4d-6babc76ca3f9" id="bkmrk--11"><div data-step-uuid="b8035b04-c37d-40ae-aa4d-6babc76ca3f9"><div>![View Assignment Dates](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/893/433/original/089e2cd2-1581-4279-9f9e-bc9671616a36.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>View the assignees and dates assigned to the assignment \[1\].

To quickly view details or make changes to assignments, click the **Assign To** button \[2\].

## View Assignments Page

<div data-step-uuid="a3278495-a0bc-476a-9b95-10a88df54bf4" id="bkmrk--12"><div data-step-uuid="a3278495-a0bc-476a-9b95-10a88df54bf4"><div>![View Assignments Page](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/886/502/original/7af33d8d-63ef-4a8e-ab1a-b6e14d9fe6f9.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>On the Assignments Index Page, a published assignment shows the assignment dates.

<div data-step-uuid="a3278495-a0bc-476a-9b95-10a88df54bf4" id="bkmrk--13"><div data-step-uuid="a3278495-a0bc-476a-9b95-10a88df54bf4"><div><div></div></div><div>[![View Multiple Dates](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/893/435/medium/af863af5-86df-427a-ae70-37654c711cf0.png)](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/893/435/original/af863af5-86df-427a-ae70-37654c711cf0.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>When multiple availability dates or due dates exist, you can view details from the Assignments Page. Hover the cursor over the **Multiple Dates** link \[1\] and view the date details \[2\].

\[Content retrieved from [https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-assign-an-assignment-to-everyone-individual-students-or/ta-p/1191](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-assign-an-assignment-to-everyone-individual-students-or/ta-p/1191)\]