Home › Quizzes › Platforms & LMS › Canvas quiz images not showing

When Canvas quiz images won't load, rebuild the quiz from your notes

Canvas quiz images can fail because of file visibility, copied links or permissions. If fixing them takes too long, DeckOwl reads your PDF, DOCX, PPTX, notes or photos of pages and writes multiple-choice, true/false and short-answer questions with explanations.

Create quizzes nowFree · No credit card required

Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

Free · First set needs no signup · Creates quizzes in seconds

Why quiz images disappear in Canvas, and what to do

Broken pictures in a quiz are usually a file problem rather than a question problem. When canvas quiz images not showing is the issue, the most common cause is that the image file is unpublished, hidden or restricted in the course Files area, so students see a broken placeholder while you still see the image.

Check that the image file is published and visible to students in Files.
Test the quiz in a student view or with a test student account.
Reinsert images from the current course's Files after copying a quiz between courses.
Use reasonably sized PNG or JPEG files so uploads and loading stay reliable.

Common causes of missing Canvas quiz images

Why does a Canvas quiz image show as a broken icon for students?The file is often unpublished, hidden or limited to certain sections in Files, so students cannot load it. Check the file's visibility settings.

What should you check when a quiz image appears for you but not for students?Teachers can see more files than students, so test the quiz in a student view or with a test student account to confirm what students see.

Why might an image stop working after you copy a quiz to another course?A copied quiz can keep links to files in the original course, which students in the new course cannot access. Reinsert the image from the new course's Files.

Which image format is safest for quiz questions in Canvas?Reasonably sized PNG or JPEG files, because very large or unusual formats may fail to upload or load slowly.

How can you tell whether a quiz image problem is a browser cache issue?Open the image link in a private window or another browser. If it loads there, clear the cache; if it still fails, the file's permissions in Canvas are the cause.

Generate the full set

Works from your own material

Upload the slides, PDF or notes you already have. Questions come from that content, not from a generic bank.

Explanations for every answer

Each multiple-choice, true/false and short-answer question includes an explanation, so you can see why an answer is right.

Free to start

The free plan gives you 3 generations per month and studying in the browser. No credit card is needed to begin.

How it works

Upload your source

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text file or a photo of the pages.

Choose the question types

Pick multiple choice, true/false or open questions, then generate the set.

Review and study

Check the questions and explanations, then study them in the browser or export them if your plan includes it.

If you would rather not chase permissions, you can rebuild the quiz from the original material. DeckOwl generates a new set of text questions with explanations from your slides or notes, which avoids depending on a picture that may not load for your students.

Explore related topics

Canvas quiz grades not in gradebook

Why Canvas quiz scores are missing from the gradebook, and how to fix it.

Canvas Quiz Not in Gradebook: Causes

Why a Canvas quiz is missing from the gradebook, and how to build your own practice quiz.

Practice quiz from your own notes

Generate quiz questions with explanations when Canvas quiz questions aren't showing.

Canvas Quiz Text Box Not Showing

Fixes for a missing Canvas quiz text box, plus how to generate practice quizzes.

Canvas quiz not submitting: practice instead

Canvas submit errors, and how to keep studying from your own notes while you wait.

Canvas quiz not showing responses

Check quiz result settings, then build a practice quiz from your own notes or PDFs.

Moodle Quiz Not Showing in Gradebook

Checks for a Moodle quiz missing from the gradebook, plus AI quiz question export help.

Moodle quiz results not showing

Why Moodle quiz scores stay hidden, and how to check the review settings.

Frequently asked questions

Why do quiz images in Canvas show as broken for students?

The file is often unpublished, hidden or limited to certain sections in Files, so students cannot load it. Teachers can see the file, which is why the problem may not be obvious to you.

How do I check whether a Canvas quiz image is hidden from students?

Look at the file's visibility settings in the course Files area and confirm it is published. Then open the quiz in a student view to see what students will see.

Can I export a generated quiz for use in Canvas or Moodle?

QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export are available on the Pro plan, and PDF and DOCX exports are included with Plus. Exports are paid features, so the free plan supports studying in the browser only.

Is there a free plan to try the quiz generator?

Yes. The free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, and no credit card is needed to start.

Generate free quizzes

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.