Guide
How Canvas Modules Work: Locked Items, Prerequisites, and Requirements
Canvas modules are ordered containers instructors use to organize course content, and they lock for one of three reasons: a future unlock date, an unmet prerequisite (a previous module you haven't finished), or an unmet requirement (a specific action like viewing a page or scoring on a quiz). Hover over any lock icon and Canvas tells you exactly which one is blocking you.
Key takeaways
Modules lock for three reasons: a future unlock date, an unmet prerequisite, or an unmet requirement.
Green checkmarks are your progress tracker; if it is not checked, Canvas does not think you did it.
View requirements only register when you open items from the Modules page inside Canvas.
A quiz inside a locked module is unreachable even if its due date is tomorrow, so clear prerequisites early.
What is a module in Canvas?
A module is a unit (often a week or chapter) containing pages, files, assignments, quizzes, and links in the order the instructor wants them consumed. The Modules page is usually the truest map of a course: it shows the intended path, while the Assignments and Files pages just show piles.
Why is a module locked?
1. Unlock date. The instructor set it to open later ("Will unlock Mar 3 at 12:00 AM"). Nothing you do opens it early.
2. Prerequisites. The module requires completing one or more earlier modules first. Canvas lists which ones when you hover the lock or open the module.
3. Requirements inside a module. Individual items can carry requirements: view the item, contribute to a discussion, submit the assignment, or score at least X on a quiz. Until you satisfy them in order (if the instructor enabled sequential order), later items stay locked.
How do I see what a module requires?
Open the Modules page. Under each module header, Canvas prints the rule: "Complete All Items" or "Complete One Item," and each item shows its specific requirement on the right side ("Viewed," "Submitted," "Score at least 8"). Completed requirements get a green checkmark. The checkmarks are your progress tracker; if something you did isn't checked, Canvas doesn't think you did it.
Why isn't my requirement registering?
The common culprits:
- "View" requirements need the item opened in Canvas, not downloaded from a direct link someone sent you. Open it from the Modules page itself.
- Videos may need to be watched inside the page for the page view to register; opening and instantly closing sometimes doesn't count if the requirement is completion-based through an embedded tool.
- Score requirements need the graded score. If a quiz has manually graded questions, the requirement clears only after the instructor grades them.
- Sequential order. If the module enforces order, item 5 stays locked until 1-4 are done, even if item 5 itself has no requirement.
If a checkmark truly won't register after doing it correctly, message the instructor; they can manually mark requirements complete.
Do locked modules affect quizzes and assignments?
Yes. A quiz inside a locked module is inaccessible even if its own due date is approaching, which surprises students who track deadlines through the Calendar. If a due date is near and the item is locked, resolve the prerequisite now or contact the instructor. Quiz-specific locks (availability windows, access codes) are a separate system covered in Canvas quiz settings explained.
How should I work through modules efficiently?
- Front-run view requirements. On day one of a module, click through every "view" item once. Cheap checkmarks now prevent locked doors during crunch.
- Ctrl+click items into tabs from the Modules page to batch readings.
- Watch for "Complete One Item" modules. You may only need one of several paths; read the rule before doing everything.
- Track module progress across courses as part of a weekly sweep; the routine in managing multiple Canvas courses covers it, and the complete Canvas guide places modules in the bigger picture.