How to set up an LTI integration in Canvas (step-by-step)

How LTI integration works in practice in Canvas

From your client’s side, LTI integration gives direct access to your courses inside their Canvas environment. Learners click a link in Canvas, and the content launches without a separate login or download. Progress, scores, and completion data flow back into Canvas, so their learning record stays complete and current.

From your side, LTI lets you publish content centrally and deliver it live to multiple Canvas clients without sending files or requiring re-uploads. This keeps your content management efficient and your updates immediate. You keep control over access, reporting, and licensing, while Canvas acts as the launch platform.

What you control with LTI sharing

• Central content management. Update courses once, and the change is reflected immediately in Canvas without new uploads.
• Access control. Set limits on who can launch your content, per client or user group.
• Grade synchronization. Push scores and completion data back into Canvas gradebooks through Assignment and Grade Services (AGS).
• User and role sync. Keep enrolments and permissions aligned through Names and Roles Provisioning Services (NRPS).
• Reporting. Access detailed usage and completion reports per client or course, independent of Canvas.
• Version compatibility. Canvas supports both LTI 1.1 and LTI 1.3 Advantage, so your content reaches Canvas clients regardless of which version they run.

A step-by-step example of setting up LTI integration in Canvas

Imagine you are a training provider ready to share your SCORM-based courses with clients using Canvas. Instead of sending SCORM packages, you publish your content as an LTI tool. Here is how the process unfolds:

1. Register the tool in Canvas. Canvas requires you to add your LTI tool by entering details such as the launch URL, client ID, and security keys, usually through Developer Keys or External Apps.
2. Configure the tool settings. Define whether the tool appears as an individual activity or a full course, and set launch parameters and privacy options.
3. Assign the tool to courses or modules. Add the LTI tool link within the Canvas courses where learners will access it.
4. Launch and track. When learners launch the tool, Canvas sends user and context data securely. Your system delivers the content live, and scores sync back to Canvas automatically.
5. Manage and update content centrally. You update the course once on your platform. Every Canvas client sees the latest version immediately, without a re-upload.

Setup time depends on your technical resources and how quickly a client tests the connection, typically ranging from a few hours to a couple of days. The advantage shows up afterwards: because content stays centrally managed, an update reaches every Canvas client without a new file transfer.

Frequently asked questions

How much time does it take to set up LTI integration in Canvas?

Setup time varies, but typically ranges from a few hours to a couple of days. Registering the tool in Canvas and configuring the settings is straightforward with clear documentation. Coordinating with client administrators and testing the connection can add time.

What if my clients use different LMS versions or LTI standards?

Canvas supports both LTI 1.1 and LTI 1.3 Advantage. Supporting both standards on your side maximizes compatibility with Canvas clients. Where a vendor tool still runs on the version your platform does not natively speak, the LTI Converter converts between LTI 1.1 and LTI 1.3 Advantage in both directions.

Can I control who accesses my content through Canvas?

Yes. You keep central control over access permissions, licensing, and reporting. That means you can revoke or limit access per client or user without depending on Canvas settings.

When LTI integration beats uploading SCORM packages

LTI integration is the better choice when your clients use a platform like Canvas that supports it. It removes the need for clients to upload SCORM packages, which cuts administrative overhead and versioning errors. Updates happen instantly, so learners always reach the latest content.

If a client’s LMS does not support LTI, or only supports older SCORM versions, uploading SCORM packages remains the practical route. SCORM Proxy delivers SCORM content in that case while keeping content management central.

For organizations managing multiple clients with varying LMS capabilities, combining LTI integration for Canvas clients with SCORM Proxy for others covers the full range without duplicating content.

For more background on LTI itself, see what is Learning Tools Interoperability. To understand the differences between versions, read LTI 1.1 vs LTI 1.3. For practical automation tips, see automate course access with LTI and Magic Link.

Take aways

LTI integration turns content delivery from a one-off file transfer into a centrally managed service that scales with your client base.

• If your clients use Canvas or a similar LMS with full LTI support, switching to LTI can cut your update and support workload.
• When client LMS capabilities vary, combining LTI delivery with SCORM Proxy lets you serve every client without multiplying content versions.
• If you need to control access and revoke licenses quickly, LTI’s centralized management gives you more agility than SCORM uploads.
• Supporting both LTI 1.1 and LTI 1.3 Advantage keeps your content delivery compatible across Canvas clients on either version.

Publish once, launch everywhere

Book a 30-minute LTI walkthrough with one of our engineers to see how it works for your own Canvas clients.