Introduction
Panopto is Virginia Tech’s chosen video content management system and video creation tool that allows users to create, share, and manage video content easily.
Panopto is integrated into Virginia Tech’s Canvas platform, allowing instructors to record, upload, and share videos directly within Canvas. Panopto also provides tools for organizing videos, tracking engagement, and enabling students to review content.
Contents
Instructions
Background
To meet the evolving needs of faculty, staff, and students, Virginia Tech has selected Panopto as the university’s new video content management system (VCMS). Panopto provides interactive video, lecture capture, streaming media, mobile compatibility, video storage, and integration with other Virginia Tech tools like Canvas and Zoom. Enhanced features include audio descriptions, a video analytics dashboard, and customizable system settings.
For more information on the transition, see Panopto VCMS Transition.
Roles in Panopto
Creator
Creators can upload, record, edit, and manage videos in a folder. They can also move or copy sessions, adjust settings, view analytics, and share content with others. At Virginia Tech, faculty and staff are creators. Teaching faculty can add people to their Canvas sites in the TA role, which will grant the person creator access as well.
Viewer
Viewers can watch videos in a folder and interact with available features like captions, discussions, notes, and quizzes, but they cannot edit or manage content. At Virginia Tech, students are viewers.
Virginia Tech Panopto Resources
Additional recourses for Panopto are linked below by role. Click on each topic to learn more. For a quick guide to common questions about Panopto, see: What Are the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Panopto?
Creator Resources
- Managing Videos in Panopto as a Creator
- Editing and Collaborating in Panopto as a Creator
- Captioning in Panopto
- Using Audio Descriptions in Panopto
- Publishing and Sharing Panopto Videos as a Creator
- Recording with Panopto Software as a Creator
- Teaching with Panopto Videos as a Creator
- Viewing Statistics in Panopto as a Creator
Viewer Resources
- Getting Started with Panopto as a Viewer
- Using the Panopto Video Player as a Viewer
- Using Panopto in Canvas as a Viewer
- Using Audio Descriptions in Panopto
Accessing Panopto
From Canvas
- Log into Canvas with your Virginia Tech PID and PID passphrase.
- Click Panopto Video in the global navigation menu.
You can also access Panopto in Canvas sites as well to go directly to the Panopto course folder for your Canvas site. Videos added here are directly associated with the course.
- Go to a Canvas site.
- On the Course Navigation Menu, click Panopto Course Folder to view or manage videos.
- For instructors: If Panopto Course Folder is not enabled in the course navigation menu, see How do I manage Course Navigation links?
- For students: If Panopto Course Folder is not enabled in the course navigation menu, check with your instructor; they may not have enabled it yet or have chosen not to use it. Many instructors choose to embed their videos in Canvas pages, modules, and assignments instead.
From https://virginiatech.hosted.panopto.com (faculty/staff only)
- Go to https://virginiatech.hosted.panopto.com and sign in with your Virginia Tech PID and PID passphrase.
- If you receive a “You are not authorized to access the requested application” message, this means that you need to access Panopto via Canvas.
From the Panopto mobile app (faculty/staff only)
- Search for and download the Panopto app from the Google Play or Apple App Store.
- See How to Use the Panopto Mobile App for instructions on logging in and using Panopto via the mobile app.
- When prompted to choose a site, select virginiatech.hosted.panopto.com and log in with your Virginia Tech PID and PID passphrase.
Migration
Panopto is available for use as of February 9, 2026. All video content stored in Kaltura up to April 2025 were converted and moved to Panopto during the Spring 2026 semester. On May 18, 2026, migration of Kaltura videos created from April 1 through May 17, 2026 began. As of July 1, 2026, all Kaltura content has been migrated to Panopto.
To stay within contractual storage limits:
- A small number of unplayed videos from 2022 or earlier, that have not been published to a Canvas course or a video.vt.edu channel or collection, will be retained outside of Panopto until June 30, 2027. These videos will not be migrated, but can be added to your Panopto account upon request. Submit a form at Locate Missing Kaltura Videos.
- Videos created on or before June 30, 2022, have been moved from active to archived status in Panopto as of June 22, 2026. These videos are in your archive, and you can restore them if needed. See Archiving FAQs for more information on restoring archived content.
Please see the Panopto VCMS Transition website for the latest implementation updates.
Retention Policy
Zoom Video Retention Policy
Zoom cloud recordings will not automatically transfer to your Panopto account unless Zoom meetings are scheduled through the Zoom tool within a Canvas site.
To learn how to schedule meetings in Canvas, refer to Using Zoom in Canvas.
This is a change from the current Zoom-Kaltura integration, where all Zoom cloud recordings were automatically added to your My Media folder in Kaltura. In order to support this updated workflow, the Zoom cloud recording retention policy has been extended to two years, allowing you to share Zoom videos directly without the links expiring after a few months.
General Video Retention Policy
The Virginia Tech Content Retention Standard is under development. Once finalized, information pertaining to the retention policy for videos will be updated here.
FERPA & Class Recordings
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits the release of personally identifiable information of a student. Lecture recordings can be tricky because faculty members must ensure that a student(s) personally identifiable information isn't released outside of what FERPA allows. To help ensure adherence to FERPA requirements when using lecture recording:
- Faculty should not upload recordings of a class session where the students are the focus in any way in the recording, either by name or by image, to a public site.
- Faculty who wish to record lectures for use in later semesters may do so by recording the course in such a way that the students' identity in the course is never revealed.
- Faculty may use recorded lectures that identify a student(s), such as names viewable in a zoom session or student's presenting for a portion of the course, only if they are shared through Canvas ONLY with that course section.
Please visit the Registrar's website on Student Privacy (FERPA) for more information.
Getting Help
If you need help with Panopto in general:
- Check Panopto System Status
- Review Panopto documentation
- Email support@panopto.com
If you still have questions:
- For questions about Panopto in Canvas or at https://virginiatech.hosted.panopto.com, go to the 4Help Portal, log in, and click Get Help. Specify where you are having the issue and include the video name, ID, and/or URL if applicable.
- For questions about intellectual property, contact your department chair or the University Council.