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Zoom (Canvas) - "Email is Invalid" error

Some users attempting to access the University of Wisconsin System Zoom service through the Canvas integration receive an "Error Code 2216: The user's email is invalid." One common cause of this error would be that the user has designated a non-UW email address as their "preferred email address" in Canvas.

Canvas course page with the Zoom integration displaying an error stating that the instructor's email is invalid.

Scope

This issue occurs when a user is attempting to access the Zoom integration through the "Zoom" link in Canvas course navigation. 

Canvas course navigation menu with the "Zoom" link highlighted.

This issue is most frequently reported among users who have edited their Canvas preferences to change their default email to an email other than their University of Wisconsin email address (ex: @gmail.com or @wi.gov instead of @uwrf.edu or @uwec.edu).

Workaround

In Canvas, the user should change their default email address back to a UW email address (ex: @uwrf.edu or @uwec.edu). Follow the steps in Instructure's How do I change my default email address in my user account as a student guide or go to Canvas > Account > Settings > Ways to Contact.

The user can keep other email addresses for Canvas notifications, but the UW email address must starred as the default or preferred email address for the Zoom integration to work. 

Long Term Solution 

A long term solution to this issue is difficult.

Zoom uses email addresses as unique identifiers for its users, rather than using NetID or Canvas User ID. When a user attempts to access Zoom through the Canvas integration, the Canvas integration passes the user's default or preferred email address to Zoom. If this default or preferred email doesn't match the UW email address that Zoom has on file for the user, it doesn't connect the Canvas request to a user account, and the error message is generated.