BYU Canvas Info Center Internal Links in Canvas, Done Right

In Canvas, when linking from one course element to another within the same course, you may be tempted to use the hyperlink tool:

Hyperlink tool

That will work, but only for so long ... because when you copy this content to another course in the future (say, for next semester), this link in the new course will actually take you to the resource in the old course. That means you, as the teacher, will be taken to an old course when you use that link, and your students will most likely get an access error, because they are being directed to an old course in which they are not enrolled.

Solution:

Use the Content Selector instead! It is found on the right side of your browser window when editing Canvas content:

The Content Selector

There are two methods of linking internally in a Canvas Course:

Type, select and click: After typing the text you wish to become a hyperlink, highlight it, expand the desired content type in the Content Selector, and click on the target resource. Your text will be retained, but will be linked to the resource you chose.
Click and drag: Place your cursor in the location where you would like your link to go. Find the target resource in the Content Selector, click on it, and drag it to the desired location in the text. Canvas will copy the title of the resource as it is listed, and automatically link that text to the target resource.

Content Selector

In the future, when you make copies of your course content, your internal course links will now be automatically updated to point to the current ... correct ... course.

In summary, when linking internally, always use the Content Selector on the right side of your edit screen. Use the hyperlink button (in the Rich Content Editor) only when linking to external content, including other Canvas courses.

Read all about linking internally within a Canvas Course