General Technical Requirements at a Glance
Canvas, Penn State’s Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems.
To determine if your operating system is supported, please review the Canvas Computer Specifications.
Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. We highly recommend updating to the newest version of whatever browser you are using.
To determine if your browser is supported, please review the list of Canvas-Supported Browsers. Please note that Canvas does not support the use of Internet Explorer. Students and instructors should choose a different browser to use.
Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites.
For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas’ computer specifications.
All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Students will need a PDF reader, such as Adobe Reader.
Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution.
Audio: Microphone, speakers.
Camera (optional, recommended): Standard webcam. Many courses may require a webcam for assignments or exam proctoring software.
The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements.
Not sure if your computer is set up correctly? You can use the links below to test your settings: