A list of students' most frequently asked questions about D2L Brightspace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I log in to my D2L Brightspace account?
I get a "disactivated user" or "disabled account" message when I try to log in to D2L Brightspace. Reseting your Star ID password will fix most log in issues.
How do I sign up for notifications in D2L Brightspace?
My instructor says I should sign up for notifications on D2L so I can keep organized and up to date on their class. Learn how to sign up for email or text notifications.
How do I start a thread in Discussions in D2L Brightspace?
I don't know how to start a thread in the Discussions area, I can't reply to anyone till I start my own thread. Learn how to start a Discussions thread.
How do I submit a file to Assignments in D2L Brightspace?
My teacher wants me to turn in my homework into the Assignments folder, where is that? How do I do that? Learn how to submit a file to Assignments.
I am unable to see my D2L Brightspace courses for this semester.
First, assure you are officially registered. Note: It takes up to 24 hours for courses to appear in your account after officially registering. Learn more about how to locate and pin your current semester courses.
Why can't I upload an Assignments file to D2L Brightspace?
First, check the Assignments Start and End date, if you are trying to submit a file outside of these dates you need to contact your instructor.
The other most common issue with file upload errors is the file name or extension. Assure your file name avoids special characters. Assure your file extension is displayed, for example:
- filename.pdf
- filename.docx
Special characters to avoid in file titles:
- Slashes ("/")
- Ampersands ("&")
- Colons (":")
- Question marks ("?")
- Quotation marks ("''")
- Pound signs or hashtags ("#")
- Asterisks ("*")
Why can't I access a Quiz in D2L Brightspace?
Watch the video fo some common issues you can troubleshoot before contacting your instructor.
Student troubleshooting tips
If you need to learn how to use D2L Brightspace...
If you miss your assignment or quiz deadline...
Talk to your instructor or teacher's assistant.
If you cannot log in or your course doesn't appear when you log in...
- Verify that you are officially registered for the course and your instructor is using D2L Brightspace for this course.
- Check course start date.
- If you just registered, it may take up to an hour before you can log into your D2L Brightspace course.
- Try re-setting your StarID password.
If D2L Brightspace does not work properly...
If you have technical problems with your Internet connection or device...
Contact the IT Solutions Center.
If you want to find or register for a class...
Where can Students get assistance with D2L Brightspace?
There are many self-paced resources as well individualized support and training for students:
- From Minnesota State University, Mankato:
- From D2L Brightspace:
- From Minnesota State: