---
title: "Fix an assignment a student cannot open, start, or submit"
description: "Check the link, sign-in, class, status, timing, and attempt limit in a useful order."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/help/teachers/assignments/fix-student-access"
type: "teacher-help"
lastUpdated: "2026-09-03"
---

# Fix an assignment a student cannot open, start, or submit

## Quick answer

First copy the link again from the correct assignment. Then confirm the student is signed in, has joined the right class, and sees Start assignment. If the page opens but submission is blocked, check whether the assignment is Closed, past due with Late work off, or out of attempts.

## What to do

1. **Send a fresh copy of the link**: Open [Assignments](/assignments) and use Copy student link on the correct row.

   ![Published assignment header with Copy link and other sharing actions.](/img/teachers/assignment-header-actions.jpg)

   *Copy a fresh link from the assignment itself so you know it belongs to the right activity.*

2. **Confirm the student's account**: Ask the student to sign in to the account they use for Fiveable. The assignment cannot save anonymous work.

3. **Check class access**: For a class assignment, confirm the student sees the correct Join [class] prompt and selects Join class.

4. **Check the assignment status**: Open the assignment. If its status is Closed, change it to Collecting responses when you want to accept more work.

5. **Check dates and attempts**: Open Settings. Confirm Late work, due-date, Retakes, and New attempts choices fit what you want this student to do.

6. **Collect details if it still fails**: Ask for the exact on-screen message, assignment link, browser and device, and the account email. Do not ask the student to send a password or full response by email.

## If something is not working

### The link says the assignment is closed.

Change the assignment status to Collecting responses, or tell the student the assignment is no longer accepting work.

### The page keeps returning to sign-in.

Have the student allow cookies for fiveable.me, turn off strict tracking protection for the page, and try again in a current Chrome or Safari window.

## Related guides

- [Close or reopen an assignment](/help/teachers/assignments/close-reopen-assignment): Stop new submissions without changing the student link, or begin accepting work again.
- [Contact a person at Fiveable](/help/teachers/troubleshooting/contact-support): Send a support request with enough detail for someone to act on it.

## About This Document

Canonical Fiveable pages are available as Markdown at the same path plus `.md`.

- [llms.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms.txt): index of Fiveable's sections and URL patterns
- [llms-full.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms-full.txt): complete subject and unit listing
- [MCP server](https://fiveable.me/mcp): call Fiveable as tools instead of fetching pages (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp`)