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Atomic Search 1.3 in Canvas

Atomic Search 1.3 in Canvas

Atomic Search 1.3 is a course search feature within Canvas that helps users quickly locate content inside a Canvas course. Instead of scrolling through modules or navigating through menus, users can search for keywords, phrases, or questions and receive relevant results from course content.

The audience for this article are Faculty and Staff.

Last Updated: 6/25/2026

Atomic Search 1.3 helps you search for:

Atomic Search 1.3 can search:

  • Pages

  • Assignments

  • Discussions

  • Announcements

  • Quizzes and Exams

  • Modules and module content

  • Files stored in Canvas

  • Other published course content available to the user

Search results are filtered based on the permissions of the person performing the search. Students only see content available to them, while instructors can see both published and unpublished course content.

How to Enable/Disable Atomic Search 1.3 in your Canvas Course

To Enable Atomic Search 1.3 (Instructor View)

  1. Go to Course Settings: Navigate to your course in Canvas and click Settings in the course navigation menu.

  2. Find Feature Options: Click the Feature Options tab at the top.

  3. Enable Atomic Search 1.3: Find "Atomic Search 1.3" and click the red 'X' icon (disabled) to change it to a green checkmark (enabled).

  4. Manage Navigation: Go to the Navigation tab in Settings.

  5. Add to Menu: Drag "Search" from the bottom (disabled) section to the top (enabled) section.

  6. Save: Click the Save button at the bottom.

  7. Refresh: Refresh your browser to see the new "Search" link appear in the course menu. 

To Disable Atomic Search 1.3 (Instructor View) 

  1. Go to Course Settings: Navigate to your course and click Settings.

  2. Find Navigation: Click the Navigation tab.

  3. Disable Link: Find "Search" and either drag it to the bottom section or click the three dots next to it and select Disable.

  4. Save: Click Save. 

How to Use Atomic Search 1.3

  • Click the Search link in the course navigation.

  • Enter keywords, phrases, or natural language questions (for example, "photosynthesis steps" or "where is the final project rubric?").

  • Search results may take a short time to appear when course content has recently changed. Search indexes are updated automatically by Canvas.

Faculty FAQ

Q: How is Atomic Search 1.3 different from the regular course navigation?
A: Regular navigation requires you to manually open modules, files, or assignments to find what you’re looking for. Atomic Search 1.3 saves time by allowing you to jump directly to the item, no matter where it lives in your course.

Q: Does Atomic Search 1.3 show me results from all my courses or just one?
A: Atomic Search 1.3 only searches within the course you are currently viewing.

Q: How does Atomic Search 1.3 benefit faculty?
A: Atomic Search 1.3 can:

  • Atomic Search can:

  • Quickly locate course materials without navigating through modules

  • Find content while teaching or supporting students

    Locate quiz, assignment, or discussion instructions

  • Search across large courses with extensive content

  • Verify whether specific information exists in a course before responding to student questions

Q: Will students also have Atomic Search 1.3?
A: Yes. Students can search for course content that is available to them within the course. Students will not see unpublished content, hidden content, or instructor-only materials.

Q: Do I need to enable Atomic Search 1.3 in my course?
A: Yes.

Q: Are there any limitations I should know about?
A: A few things to keep in mind:

  • Search quality depends on the wording used in course content. Different keywords may produce different results.—if the wording differs, the item may not appear.

  • Search results respect Canvas permissions:

    • Students only see content available to them.

    • Instructors and course designers may see unpublished content and instructor-accessible materials.

    • Search coverage may vary by content type. Some file formats and external tool content may not be fully searchable.

Q: Can students find unpublished assignments, quizzes, or exams using Atomic Search?

A: No. Students can only search and view content that is available to them in the course. Unpublished assignments, unpublished quizzes, unpublished pages, and instructor-only content do not appear in student search results.

Q: Can instructors search unpublished content?

A: Yes. Instructors may see unpublished course content when searching within their courses, allowing them to locate and manage content before it is released to students.

Q: Does Atomic Search use AI?

A: Atomic Search uses Canvas search technology to locate relevant course content. Search capabilities may evolve over time as Canvas continues integrating AI-powered search experiences through IgniteAI.