Lock a Module Until a Certain Date and Time

Last updated on June 8, 2026

In your online course, you may have modules set up for students to progress through sequentially. If you don’t want students to work ahead of your scheduled content, you can lock modules until certain dates, such as the start of each week. You could also simply leave all future modules unpublished and publish them as you go, but locking them will automate this process so you won’t have to worry about forgetting to publish modules on time.

This locking process works similarly to the prerequisites, but they achieve different objectives. Prerequisites will require students to complete certain content before gaining access to a module, while locking will provide access on a certain date and time, regardless of whether a student has completed any work in the previous module. These can also be used together, if you like. A student would have to complete all prerequisite content and wait until the unlock time to get to a particular module. Check out the CTLD tutorial on Prerequisites, Requirements, and Locking a Module until a Certain Date to learn more.

Directions

1. Go to MSU Denver’s Faculty and Staff Hub.
2. Click Quick Links on the top right of the page.
3. Click Canvas from the menu options that appear.
4. Log in to your Canvas Account.
5. Select the Course you’d like to work in.
6. Click Modules on the left-hand course navigation menu.
7. Find the Module that you would like to lock until a certain time.
8. Click the More Options Menu (Three Vertical Dots)  to the right of the module title.
9. Click Edit in the drop-down menu.
10. Click the checkbox next to Lock Until.
11. Click the Calendar icon in the Date field to select the date that the module will unlock for students.
12. Click the Time field next to the date to select the time of day the module with unlock.
    • You may also type a time in the text box.
13. Click Save in the bottom right-hand corner.
14. Click the Publish icon to the right of the module to publish the module.
15. Select Publish module and all items from the dropdown menu.
    • Note: A module must be both published and unlocked to be accessible to students. Once you publish the module, students will be able to view the module and item names, but they won’t be able to open any items until the unlock date.

Have questions?

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