Blackboard does not give students a button to unsubmit or retract an assignment after it has been turned in. Once you click Submit and confirm, the submission is locked on your end. To undo it, you either need your instructor to manually delete the attempt or, if the assignment allows multiple attempts, you can simply submit a new version without removing the old one.
Why There’s No Unsubmit Button
Blackboard Ultra treats every submission as final the moment you confirm it. The platform explicitly states that assignments cannot be edited after they are submitted. This applies to both assignments and tests. The design is intentional: it prevents disputes about what was turned in and when, and it gives instructors a reliable record of each submission.
That means if you uploaded the wrong file, submitted a rough draft by accident, or hit Submit before you were ready, you cannot pull it back on your own. Your next step depends on how your instructor configured the assignment.
Check Whether Multiple Attempts Are Allowed
Before contacting your instructor, check whether the assignment lets you submit again. Open the assignment in your Blackboard Ultra course and look at the Grades/Attempts section near the top. It will tell you whether the assignment allows multiple attempts and, if so, how many you have left.
If multiple attempts are enabled and you haven’t used them all, you can submit a corrected version without needing anyone’s help. Navigate back to the assignment, and in the Grades/Attempts box you’ll see your previously submitted attempt. Click “View instructions” to start a new attempt, then upload your corrected file and submit it. Your instructor will typically see all attempts and can choose which one to grade.
If the assignment is set to a single attempt, or you’ve already used all your allowed attempts, you’ll need your instructor to step in.
How to Ask Your Instructor to Clear Your Submission
Only instructors (and course administrators) can delete a submitted attempt in Blackboard. The process on their end is straightforward: they go to the Gradebook, select the assignment, find your name, and use a delete option to clear the submission. It takes them about 30 seconds once they’re logged in.
Your job is to make the request easy to act on. Contact your instructor as soon as possible after the issue occurs, ideally by email or through Blackboard’s course messaging. Include these details:
- The assignment name exactly as it appears in the course
- The date and time you submitted
- What went wrong, such as uploading the wrong file, submitting an incomplete draft, or experiencing a browser crash that triggered an early submission
Be specific and honest. If you simply attached the wrong document, say so. Instructors deal with this regularly and are far more likely to help when the request is straightforward.
Keep in mind that instructors are not required to reset or delete attempts. The decision is at their discretion, and some professors outline their policies on resubmission in the syllabus. If your instructor has a stated policy, reference it in your message. If the syllabus is silent on the topic, a polite, clear explanation is your best approach.
What Happens After the Attempt Is Cleared
Once your instructor deletes your attempt, the assignment will reappear on your end as if you never submitted. You’ll see the original upload interface and can attach your corrected file and submit fresh. Any grade or feedback attached to the deleted attempt will also be removed, so if the instructor had already started grading, that work is gone for both of you.
After resubmitting, double-check that Blackboard shows your new attempt in the Grades/Attempts section. Open the submission to confirm the correct file is attached. This takes five seconds and saves you from repeating the entire process.
Tests Work the Same Way
If you accidentally submitted a test or quiz rather than an assignment, the same rules apply. Students cannot reset their own test attempts in Blackboard Ultra. You’ll need to contact your instructor with the test name, the time the problem occurred, and a description of what happened. Technical issues like a lost internet connection or browser crash are common reasons instructors grant resets, but the decision is still theirs.
Tips to Avoid Accidental Submissions
Blackboard shows a confirmation panel before finalizing your submission. Read it before clicking the final Submit button. Get in the habit of previewing your attached file by clicking on it after you upload, which lets you verify it’s the right document. If you’re working on a draft and aren’t ready to turn it in yet, use the “Save as Draft” option if your assignment interface offers one, rather than clicking Submit. Drafts are stored on Blackboard’s servers but are not visible to your instructor until you formally submit.