Connecting Canva to Microsoft Copilot in Teams

Step by step instructions

1. Open a web browser and go to teams.microsoft.com.
2. Sign in with your @umd.edu email if prompted.
3. Select Copilot from the left navigation rail.
4. Click the three dot menu (...) in the top right corner of the Copilot window, then choose Settings.
5. In the Chat settings panel, select Sources from the left menu.
6. In the "Browse sources" search box, type Canva.
7. Click Connect next to the Canva entry.
8. A Canva authentication window will open. Log in and approve the requested permissions.
9. You should be returned to the Sources panel with Canva now listed as a connected source.
10. Close the settings panel. You can now return to using Copilot in either the web client or the desktop app.
11. In either the Teams app or the web browser version, click on the apps icon at the bottom of the menu of the left hand side.
12. Search for Canva and click add to be able to mention Canva directly using @. 

Testing the connection

Once Canva shows as connected, test it directly in a Copilot chat using the @ mention feature to reference the Canva agent by name. This tells Copilot to route your request specifically to Canva rather than searching generally.

Example test prompt:

@Canva create a simple Instagram post design announcing a fall sale

Type @ in the Copilot chat box, select Canva from the list of connected sources or agents that appears, then finish your prompt. If the connection is working, Copilot will return a Canva-generated result or design suggestion in the chat.

Selecting Canva from the "+" icon

You can also reach Canva without typing @ by using the plus (+) icon at the bottom left of the Copilot message box.

1. Click the + icon in the Copilot chat box.
2. From the menu that appears, select More.
3. In the submenu, select All agents and then pick Canva from the full list.
4. Type your prompt as you normally would. Copilot will route the request to Canva the same way it does with an @ mention.

This method is useful if you prefer browsing available agents visually rather than remembering the exact name to type after @.

Choosing the right model for graphic requests

The model selector sits in the top right of the Copilot window, next to the Work/Web toggle (it typically defaults to Auto). For graphic and design related requests through Canva, select the highest available model tier from this dropdown rather than leaving it on Auto.

Higher tier models produce noticeably better results for creative and visual tasks such as flyers, social posts, and signage designs. Since Microsoft periodically updates which model sits at the top of this list, always choose whichever option is currently labeled as the most capable rather than looking for a specific version by name.

Troubleshooting

If the connection still fails after using the web client:

• Sign out of Teams completely and sign back in before retrying.
• Confirm you are using a supported browser (Edge or Chrome recommended).
• Try the connection in an incognito or private browsing window in case cached credentials are interfering.
• If the issue persists, submit a ticket to Athletics IT with a screenshot of where the process fails and whether you were using the web client or desktop app.

Known issue: black screen during connection

If you attempt to connect Canva from inside the Teams desktop app, the OAuth authentication window may appear to succeed (you will see a confirmation screen) but then go to a solid black screen, and the connection will not actually complete.

Workaround: Complete the connection using the Teams web client (teams.microsoft.com) instead of the desktop app. Once connected, the integration carries over to your desktop app automatically since it is tied to your account, not the individual client.

Questions

Reach out to Athletics IT at athleticsit@umd.edu if you run into any issues completing this setup.