Canvas

Canvas MCP is a collection of Canvas LMS tools for the model context protocol.

CommunityOnlineAPI key requiredGlobalFreeRead-only

What it can do

  • Get Courses: Retrieve all available Canvas courses for the current user. Returns a dictionary mapping course names to their corresponding IDs.
  • Get Modules: Retrieve all modules within a specific Canvas course.
  • Get Module Items: Retrieve all items within a specific module in a Canvas course.

What data it sees

Do you need an account

An API key from the service settings is required

Canvas MCP is a collection of Canvas LMS tools for the model context protocol. This allows you to query your courses and get help for your assignments in the AI app of your choice!

How to connect

How to connect Canvas to Claude

The server address to paste into Claude settings:

https://canvas-mcp--aryankeluskar.run.tools

  1. Open Claude (claude.ai or the desktop app).
  2. Go to Settings → Connectors.
  3. Click Add custom connector.
  4. Paste the server address copied below into Remote MCP server URL and click Add.
  5. In a chat, click + → Connectors and switch the new connector on.

Custom connectors are available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans (Free is limited to one). On Team and Enterprise an organization Owner adds the connector first under Organization settings → Connectors.

Authorization

After you click Add, a sign-in window for the service opens. Sign in with your own account and approve access. Claude never sees your password.

How to connect Canvas to ChatGPT

The server address to paste into ChatGPT settings:

https://canvas-mcp--aryankeluskar.run.tools

  1. Open ChatGPT in a browser (chatgpt.com). A Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise or Edu plan is required.
  2. Turn on developer mode once: Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → Developer mode.
  3. Open Settings → Connectors and click Create.
  4. Fill in the form: Name (anything), Description (one line about what the service does), MCP server URL (copy it below).
  5. Under Authentication choose OAuth if the service requires sign-in, otherwise None. Click Create.
  6. In a new chat open + → Apps/Connectors and enable the connector.

OpenAI has renamed this section before (Connectors → Apps/Plugins). If the label differs, search settings for "developer mode". On Business/Enterprise workspaces an admin must allow custom connectors first.

Authorization

On first use ChatGPT opens the service's sign-in window. Sign in and approve access.

How to connect Canvas to Cursor

The server address to paste into Cursor settings:

https://canvas-mcp--aryankeluskar.run.tools

Fastest: click Open in Cursor below and confirm the prompt.

Manually:

  1. In Cursor open Settings → Cursor Settings → MCP and click Add new global MCP server.
  2. Paste the JSON copied below into ~/.cursor/mcp.json (per project: .cursor/mcp.json in the repo root).
  3. Save the file. The server appears in the MCP list; authorize it there if asked.

Authorization

If the service needs sign-in, an authorize button appears next to the server in the MCP list.

Server tool list (13)

Raw names from tools/list. Only developers need these.

get_coursesRetrieve all available Canvas courses for the current user. Returns a dictionary mapping course names to their corresponding IDs.
get_modulesRetrieve all modules within a specific Canvas course.
get_module_itemsRetrieve all items within a specific module in a Canvas course.
get_file_urlGet the direct download URL for a file stored in Canvas.
get_course_assignmentsRetrieve all assignments for a specific Canvas course.
get_assignments_by_course_nameRetrieve all assignments for a Canvas course using its name.
get_canvas_coursesAlias for get_courses - retrieve all Canvas courses.
get_gradescope_coursesRetrieve all Gradescope courses for the current user.
get_gradescope_course_by_nameFind a Gradescope course by name.
get_gradescope_assignmentsRetrieve all assignments for a Gradescope course.
get_gradescope_assignment_by_nameFind a Gradescope assignment by name.
get_cache_statsGet cache statistics for debugging purposes. Returns hit/miss counts and cache size.
clear_cacheClear all cached data. Use this if you need fresh data from Canvas or Gradescope.