Supported Canvas Video Players and Formats
Canvas shows video through several players. This page records which configurations have been tested, with what result, and where the limits are. A result describes one tested setup, not every school’s Canvas.
Identify your recording source
Play the video and look at its controls: the Studio player, a Kaltura player (often from Media Gallery), a Panopto player, or a plain browser player for an uploaded file. The guide to identifying the player has the details. MP4 and HLS are formats, not players: see MP4 and HLS.
Tested compatibility
| Player / integration | Native option | Tested result | Output | Test date | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canvas Studio | Download command when the uploader enables it | Not yet tested | Video file | — | Uploader-controlled; some Studio videos refuse every client. |
| Kaltura / Media Gallery | Download in the player or Media Gallery when enabled | Not yet tested | Video file (HLS stream assembled) | — | Owner settings apply; protected sources are not supported. |
| Panopto (embedded in Canvas) | Download in the player when enabled | Not yet tested | Video file (HLS stream assembled) | — | A session can have separate camera and screen streams; protected sources are not supported. |
| Direct embedded MP4 | Open the file address and save it | Not yet tested | The original MP4 | — | Signed addresses expire. |
Results use four labels: Tested: works, Tested: partial, Tested: unsupported and Not yet tested. A row stays “Not yet tested” until a test with a retained recording exists.
How we test
Each row is tested in a course we are authorized to use, with a student-role account, a named browser and operating system, and the extension version in use. The saved file is opened and checked for playback, duration and sound before a row is marked as working.
Known limitations
- Videos protected by DRM, or restricted by the source, are not supported.
- You must be signed in and authorized to watch the lecture; an expired session or link stops a download.
- Institutions configure Canvas, Studio, Kaltura and Panopto differently, so behaviour can differ between schools.
- The extension runs in Chrome. Other browsers are not listed as supported until they are tested.
Report a compatibility issue
Tell us the player, your browser and the extension version through the help page. Do not send passwords, cookies, signed media addresses or private course links. Before you do, check whether this player is supported and what to try first.