I uploaded the wrong paper to Turnitin—how do I fix it?

If you have accidentally uploaded the incorrect file to Turnitin and find that you are blocked from uploading a resubmission, it is usually due to an assignment restriction set by your instructor.

Troubleshooting: Why can't I resubmit my paper?

Review the common scenarios below to determine why your resubmission attempt is failing:

Resubmissions are disabled for this assignment

Instructors have the ability to toggle whether students can resubmit their papers. If this feature is turned off, the system will stop you from submitting any further papers after your first file is sent.

The assignment due date has passed

By design, resubmission attempts are not possible once the assignment due date passes.

⚠️ Important note on late submissions: Even if your instructor has configured the assignment to allow late submissions, this is only available for first-time submissions. You cannot overwrite an existing paper after the due date.

Using a New Standard assignment?

If your course is using the New Standard assignment experience, your instructor has advanced options available. They can grant you an individual deadline extension, which overrides the deadline block and safely allows you to submit your corrected file.

Instructors seeking help can refer to our Individual extensions guide.

💡 Recommended action: Contact your instructor

Since all submission controls are managed at the course level, you must reach out directly to your instructor to explain the error. They have several ways to help you resolve this:

  • They can adjust the settings to enable resubmissions for the class.
  • They can delete your incorrect submission to allow you to resubmit.
  • They can upload the correct document on your behalf.
  • They can issue an individual extension (if using a New Standard assignment).
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