Install Course Downloader
It's free, and it runs in the browser on your laptop or desktop. Pick your browser; it takes a few seconds.
Edge
Edge installs it from the Chrome Web Store too. Choose "Allow extensions from other stores" when Edge asks, then Add to Chrome.
Firefox
A Firefox version is coming. Follow the releases on GitHub to hear when it's out.
After installing
- Open a course in Canvas. A Download course button appears next to its name.
- Press it. A new tab shows the course saving; you can keep using Canvas or close it.
- When it's done, press Show in folder. On Windows, right-click the ZIP and choose Extract All; on a Mac, double-click it. Start with the Open me page.
To save several courses, open your Canvas dashboard and press Download courses.
Chrome says it can "read and change all your data"
That line is there because schools run Canvas on their own web addresses, so the extension has to look at a page to know whether it's Canvas. The privacy page lists every permission and why it's needed. On every other site it stops right away and reads nothing.
A specific version, or the code
Every release is on GitHub with the source code and ready-made packages. Use the store if you can: a copy loaded by hand doesn't update itself, and your settings and download history don't carry over between the two.