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You can make a Canva graphic without leaving Buffer. In Buffer’s desktop post composer, choose Canva, create a new design or open an existing Canva project, click Return to Buffer to attach the image, then finish the post and schedule, queue, or publish it. Buffer is the place where the post is scheduled and published; Canva is the design tool you open from inside it.
The integration has firm limits. It works on desktop only, transfers PNG images one at a time, and does not give access to Canva’s Brand Kit. The sections below cover setup, sizing, video, and when Canva’s own scheduler is the better route.
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Who this workflow is for
The integration suits Canva users, creators, and small teams who want to make static graphics for social posts and schedule them through Buffer. It is most useful when you want network-specific image dimensions without rebuilding a design in another tool. It is not a mobile workflow: if you usually write and schedule from a phone, plan on working from a computer for any post that needs a Canva design.
The Tool Desk
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Use Buffer on a desktop computer. You will need a Buffer account with at least one connected social channel and a Canva account you can sign in to.
- In Buffer, open the post composer and select the social channel or channels the post will go to.
- Open the integrations menu and choose Canva. If prompted, sign in to Canva and allow the connection.
- Create a new design, or open an existing Canva project and select the design you want to use.
- Click Return to Buffer. The image is attached to the post.
- Finish the post text, customize the copy for each network if needed, and then schedule it, add it to the queue, or publish it.
If the image does not appear in the composer after you return, check that you returned a PNG and that only one image is attached. The integration takes one image per transfer, so a second design needs its own trip through Canva.
What to know before you start
- Desktop only. Buffer’s Canva integration is not available in the iOS or Android apps. Using Canva inside the mobile apps is not a supported path in the integration’s current documentation.
- PNG, one image at a time. The integration accepts PNG files, one at a time. Buffer states that its Canva Brand Kit cannot be accessed through the integration, so brand colors, fonts, and logos saved in the Brand Kit must be applied manually inside the design.
- Square default for multi-channel posts. When you schedule to several channels at once through Buffer’s Omnibox workflow, the integration creates a 1080 × 1080 square image.
- Animated designs may arrive as stills. An animated Canva design can come into Buffer as a single still frame. Buffer’s stated workaround is to export the design as an MP4 from Canva and upload the file manually. Buffer says it supports publishing MP4 video.
- Editing after scheduling. Designs created through the integration can be reopened from queued or sent posts, edited in Canva, and returned to Buffer. Each channel’s queued copy has to be edited separately. An image uploaded to Buffer without the integration does not offer this Canva edit control, so it has to be replaced by hand.
Image sizes for each network
For a single channel, the composer offers that network’s template sizes. Buffer lists the examples below. Template sizes can change, so confirm the current options in the composer before you design.
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| Network or format | Size (width × height) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-channel Omnibox image | 1080 × 1080 | Square default created by Buffer’s Omnibox workflow |
| Instagram Post | 1080 × 1350 | Single-channel template example |
| Instagram Story | 1080 × 1920 | Single-channel template example; Canva’s own Instagram flow does not support scheduled Stories |
| 940 × 788 | Single-channel template example | |
| X | 1600 × 900 | Single-channel template example |
| 1200 × 627 | Single-channel template example | |
| 1000 × 1500 | Single-channel template example |
Canva’s own scheduler as an alternative
Canva has its own Content Planner for scheduling designs. It is a different route with different rules, so do not assume the Buffer steps apply to it.
Canva Content Planner
Canva’s Help Center says scheduling is limited to specified paid, education, and nonprofit account types. Each design can be scheduled to only one platform at a time. Because platform availability changes, check which platforms your account can use in the Canva editor before you plan a campaign.
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Instagram in Canva’s flow
Canva’s documented Instagram scheduling flow requires an Instagram Business account linked to a Facebook Page. Canva states that Creator accounts are not supported in that flow, and that scheduled Stories, Reels, and galleries are not supported. These are Canva’s current constraints and may change with platform updates.
Facebook in Canva’s flow
Canva’s third-party publishing flow for Facebook can schedule posts to Facebook Pages rather than personal profiles. You need appropriate Page access and permissions for the Page you are posting to.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing between Buffer’s integration and Canva Content Planner
Compare the two routes on the points below before you commit a workflow to either one.
| Question | Buffer’s Canva integration | Canva Content Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Where the workflow starts | In Buffer’s desktop composer, which opens Canva | In Canva’s editor, with scheduling from within Canva |
| Where the post is scheduled | Buffer | Canva’s Content Planner |
| Desktop versus mobile | Desktop only | Not stated for mobile in the sources reviewed for this guide; check the editor |
| Account requirements | Buffer account with a connected channel, plus Canva sign-in; Buffer describes the integration as included with its Free plan | Limited to specified paid, education, and nonprofit account types |
| Multi-channel scheduling | Yes, through the Omnibox workflow | One platform per design at a time |
| Static image or video | PNG images, one at a time; MP4 uploaded manually for video | Platform-specific rules apply, including the Instagram limits above |
Buffer’s plan details and feature availability can change, so check Buffer’s live pricing and feature pages before you rely on a plan for this workflow. The same applies to Canva’s account eligibility.
Quick Recap
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