Moodle Course Backup & Migration
Preparing Future Courses: Moodle Backup & Migration
If you have Moodle courses or materials you may want to use in a future term, now is a good time to make a plan for them. Faculty and staff will retain access to Moodle through December 31, 2026.
Depending on when your future Canvas course is available, you can either migrate your Moodle content directly into Canvas or create a backup and store it securely in OneDrive until you’re ready.
Which Option Is Right for Me?
Your Canvas course is available
Migrate your Moodle course into Canvas.
Use the Moodle-to-Canvas migration process to move content into the Canvas course you’ll be teaching.
Your future Canvas course isn't available yet
Back up your Moodle course and save it to OneDrive.
You don’t need to request an additional Canvas sandbox simply to preserve your Moodle content. Create a Moodle backup file and store it in your 鶹Ƶ OneDrive until the Canvas course for that term becomes available. The backup can then be used when you’re ready to move the content into Canvas.
How to Back Up a Moodle Course to OneDrive
Watch this walkthrough to learn how to create a Moodle course backup, organize your backups in OneDrive, and store the file until you’re ready to use it in Canvas.
Step 1: Create your Moodle course backup
Follow the Moodle course backup instructions to create and download your .mbz backup file.
Step 2: Create a place for your backups in OneDrive
Before moving your files, consider creating a “Moodle Course Backups” folder in your 鶹Ƶ OneDrive.
Within that folder, you can create separate folders using the course name and term so they’re easier to find later. You could also consider consistent file naming and optional folder color-coding as additional organizational strategies.
Learn how to use OneDrive:
Step 3: Move the backup file to OneDrive
After downloading the .mbz file:
Windows: Move or drag the file from Downloads into the appropriate course folder in OneDrive.
macOS: Open Finder, locate the file in Downloads, and drag it into the appropriate OneDrive folder.
Step 4: Give the file a name you'll recognize later
Consider including the course name and term in the filename.
For example:1100-2026-ܱ.
Step 5: Keep the backup until you're ready to migrate
Once the Canvas course for that future term is available, you’ll be able to retrieve the backup from OneDrive and use it as part of the migration process.
Why store Moodle backups in OneDrive?
OneDrive is university-approved storage. Moodle backup files may contain university or student information. Store them in your 鶹Ƶ OneDrive rather than a personal cloud-storage account or other unapproved location.
Prefer to Migrate with Support?
When you’re ready to prepare an upcoming course, TLT can walk through the Moodle-to-Canvas migration process and demonstrate how to add the optional 鶹Ƶ course template. You’ll also have time to work on your course, ask questions, and receive individualized support.
Remember: Moodle Access Ends December 31
Before access ends, make sure you’ve backed up any Moodle courses or materials you may want to use in a future term. You don’t need to know exactly when you’ll use a course again to preserve it now.