File Format & Compatibility

Fix Invalid Submission File Type Error in Canvas Office 365

Camila Milosovich Oct 7, 2026 869 views

Question details

Students encounter an Invalid Submission File Type error when attempting to submit assignments via the Canvas Office 365 or OneDrive integration, even when the instructor has disabled file-type restrictions.

Fix Invalid Submission File Type Error in Canvas Office 365

Product: Canvas and Office 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Submitting a school assignment to the Canvas platform using the built-in Microsoft Office 365 or OneDrive cloud integration tabs.
Observed behavior: The Canvas system rejects the document and displays an Invalid Submission File Type error, preventing the student from successfully turning in the assignment.

Before you start

Ensure your document is fully synced to your OneDrive and verify that your instructor hasn't accidentally restricted submissions to standard file uploads only.

Solution 1Recommended

Download as a Local File and Upload Manually

Bypass the cloud integration error by saving your Office 365 document to your local device and uploading it directly using the standard Canvas file upload feature.

Open Document in Office 365

Log into your Office 365 or OneDrive account via a web browser and open the assignment document you are trying to submit.

Download a Copy

Click on 'File' in the top ribbon menu, select 'Save As', and then click 'Download a Copy'. Ensure it saves to your computer as a standard .docx or .pdf file.

Switch to File Upload in Canvas

Navigate back to your Canvas assignment submission page. Instead of clicking the 'Office 365' or 'OneDrive' tab, select the standard 'File Upload' tab.

Submit the Local File

Click 'Choose File', browse your device for the downloaded document, select it, and click the 'Submit Assignment' button.

Download as a Local File and Upload Manually

Reliable Workaround: Uploading a local file completely bypasses the known LTI integration errors and guarantees your submission is successfully recorded on time.

Solution 2

Report the LTI Integration Issue to Administrators

Since this is a backend issue with the Canvas and OneDrive LTI connection, escalating it to your institution's IT team is necessary for a permanent fix.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office for Reliable Canvas Submissions

Avoid frustrating cloud integration errors by managing your assignments locally. WPS Office is a free, lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office that allows you to easily create, edit, and save documents in standard formats perfectly compatible with Canvas standard uploads.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website to download and install the free software on your PC or Mac.
2. Create Your Assignment: Open a new or existing assignment document using WPS Writer, the included word processor.
3. Save as Standard Format: Go to Menu > Save As, and choose .docx or Export to PDF to ensure Canvas accepts the file flawlessly via standard upload.

Save documents locally as standard .docx or .pdf to completely bypass Canvas cloud integration errors.High format compatibility with Microsoft Office ensures your professors see your assignment exactly as you formatted it.Lightweight software that runs smoothly on your computer without strictly requiring cloud reliance.Completely free to use with a familiar user interface, requiring zero learning curve for students.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Canvas saying invalid file type when it is a standard Word document?

This typically occurs due to a communication glitch within the Canvas and OneDrive LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) integration. The backend system fails to read the file's metadata properly, causing Canvas to misread the file extension even if the actual Word document is perfectly normal.

Can I force Canvas to accept my Office 365 file?

If the cloud integration is experiencing errors, the most effective way to force acceptance is to download the file directly to your computer as a .docx or .pdf file, and then submit it using the standard 'File Upload' method instead of the Office 365 submission tab.

Who should I contact to fix the Canvas OneDrive LTI issue permanently?

You should reach out to your school or organization's Canvas Administrator or IT Helpdesk. They manage the LTI backend settings and can escalate the integration outage to official Canvas or Microsoft Support if necessary.

Document & File Issues