Minimum Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat Reader Versions

[AlishaStearman]

I am unable to find exact wording for the minimum Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat Reader version specifications that students need for Canvas. I had a faculty ask and I am only able to find the computer browser/app guidelines. Would someone send over a direct link to this specific information from the guidelines so that I am able to guide an instructor to the most current information? 

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hi @AlishaStearman ...

The Canvas LMS (Learning Management System) is different than Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat Reader.  Yes, there are minimum requirements for using Canvas...which you can find here: What are the browser and computer requirements for Instructure products?.  However, I'm not aware of any requirements that Canvas has for Microsoft and Adobe products.  I would recommend that you reach out to your instructor(s) in case you are concerned about any software version requirements that are needed for your course work.

I hope this will be of some help to you.  Sing out if you have any other questions about this...thanks!

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hi @AlishaStearman ...

The Canvas LMS (Learning Management System) is different than Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat Reader.  Yes, there are minimum requirements for using Canvas...which you can find here: What are the browser and computer requirements for Instructure products?.  However, I'm not aware of any requirements that Canvas has for Microsoft and Adobe products.  I would recommend that you reach out to your instructor(s) in case you are concerned about any software version requirements that are needed for your course work.

I hope this will be of some help to you.  Sing out if you have any other questions about this...thanks!

[AlishaStearman]

Thank you, Chris, for the reply to my question. So, in other words, if a student was using an old version of Word 2010 would they encounter any issues with uploading or downloading documents to and from Canvas? Our old Distance Ed. Director was told many moons ago that the min. requirement was Word 2016 version or higher and I had an instructor reach out to verify if this is still correct to state in their syllabi. I was looking for specific Word version requirements within the Canvas guides. I was not able to find this specific information to give to the instructor and figured I would ask the community to see if anyone could point me somewhere other than the browser/computer requirements link above. It did not have anything listed that I could see about minimum versions of Word or Adobe that are required to work within Canvas. Again, I really appreciate your reply 🙂 

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hi @AlishaStearman ...

I'm really not sure, to be honest.  Just doing a quick Google search for information on support for Microsoft Word 2010, I came up with these links:

• End of support for Office 2010 - Microsoft Support
• Office 2010 End of Support | Microsoft 365
• Microsoft ends support for Office 2010: What you can do | PCWorld

Again, Canvas and Microsoft are different things.  Some schools are Microsoft schools (some are Google), so they are able to offer Microsoft Office 365 on the cloud to their students.  (I don't really know if there is a "version" of that, though...since it's online.)  Some schools may have their own Microsoft Office requirements, but that would vary per school, I would think.

Sorry this doesn't seem like an exact answer, but hopefully this additional information will be helpful to you in some way.

[AlishaStearman]

Well- no worries, Chris. I guess with everything going to the cloud and running off of browsers- it isn't such a big deal as it used to be. I know that Word converts older version documents to whatever current version the person is working with. I guess I am still old school "insert your disk" and install type of gal ＞﹏＜ 

Thanks for your replies, though.