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Moving OneDrive Links to Microsoft Education in Canvas

Microsoft is replacing the current OneDrive (Legacy) tool in Canvas with a new integration called Microsoft Education.

To make the transition as smooth as possible, the Libraries’ Learning Technology Services team will update OneDrive links in Canvas courses from the past two years. While we may be able to help with older links as well, our team has limited capacity and a short timeframe to complete this work by Sept 17, when the legacy tool will be retired. If you are concerned about OneDrive links in your course(s), you can migrate those links course-by-course by following these instructions.

Please note: The OneDrive Migration Tool will not scan and migrate links from Collaborations or New Quizzes. You can use the “Manual Re-linking” instructions below to re-link content if you use OneDrive links in these tools. You must have the role of Instructor or Guest Instructor in the Canvas course to successfully launch/ use the OneDrive Migration Tool.

  1. Navigate into your Canvas course site and click the Settings link in the Course Navigation. In the right-hand side course action section, select the OneDrive Migration Tool button.
    • If this is your first time accessing the OneDrive Migration Tool / Microsoft Education integration, you will be prompted to Authorize the tool’s access to scan and migrate your links. Select the Authorize button if prompted to continue to the migration tool.
  2. Opening the OneDrive Migration Tool will automatically scan your course. Canvas items with the old OneDrive links will be listed in sections based on Canvas type.
    • The OneDrive Migration Tool will scan Assignments, Pages, Syllabus, Announcements, Discussions, Quizzes, Outcomes, and Modules for embedded OneDrive files and cloud assignments.
    • If you have a lot of links that need to be migrated, consider migrating individual sections rather than the entire course at once.
  3. After the OneDrive links identified, select the Migrate button to begin the migration.
    • A pop-up will open asking you to confirm migration of your links. Select the Migrate option on the pop-up.
  4. The migration process begins with a progress bar at the bottom of the page. After scanning, a completion message will appear with a summary of the items in Canvas that were migrated. You will be prompted to reload your window to be taken back to the OneDrive Migration Tool scan page in the event you need to migrate any other links.
    • Depending on how many OneDrive links that need to be migrated, this step may take a few moments to complete.
  5. If the course has no OneDrive links that need to be migrated, you will get an “All Set” message letting you know no further action is necessary. You can then repeat this process with any other Canvas course site you need to migrate links for still.

Manual Re-linking: For links in Collaborations

Video guide for re-linking Collaborations from OneDrive to MS Education.

  1. Click Collaborations in the course nav.
  2. Click the collaboration to migrate. It opens the old document.
  3. Edit Document in the top right.
  4. File > Save As > Download a Copy.
  5. Back to Canvas > Start a New Collaboration.
  6. Collaborate using > Microsoft Education.
  7. In the file picker: Upload the downloaded .docx, then Select it.
  8. Confirm the Document Name, add a description, choose People / Groups.
  9. Click Create.
  10. Start Collaborating.
  11. Open the new collaboration to verify it launches through Microsoft Education with the content intact.
  12. Repeat for each remaining collaboration, then remove the old ones.

Manual Re-linking: For links in New Quizzes
Or if the migration fails or is incomplete

  1. Find the file:
    • In your OneDrive, check My Files and Recent for documents previously shared in Canvas.
    • Use the OneDrive search bar with file names, assignment names, course names, or keywords.
  2. Re-add in Canvas:
    • Use the Microsoft Education integration (LTI app) to re-link the file.
    • Follow the Microsoft Education integration instructions to upload or link the file again.

Questions or Support

Contact JMU Libraries’ Learning Innovations & Design Desk for questions or support: