Note for students: If you are a student receiving this error message, please refer to our article on fixing the "You are not authorized to access this resource" error as a student.
When attempting to launch or manage a Turnitin assignment in Moodle, instructors may encounter the following error message:
Error message: You are not authorized to access this resource
Cause
This error occurs when an instructor is enrolled in the Moodle course, but their account has not been enrolled in the Turnitin class associated with the assignment. This typically happens if the LMS fails to transmit the instructor's user role or if user mapping needs to be refreshed.
Resolution
Select your role below for step-by-step instructions on how to resolve this authorization error:
To ensure your account is properly registered with the Turnitin assignment:
- Open the affected Turnitin assignment in Moodle.
- Select the Turnitin Tutor tab in the submission inbox.
- Verify that your account is listed as an active tutor. If you are not listed, add your account to the Turnitin Tutor list.
If you are already listed as a Turnitin Tutor and still receive the error, please contact your Moodle Site Administrator to refresh your account permissions.
If an instructor continues to receive the authorization error after verifying their Turnitin Tutor status, work through the following administrator troubleshooting steps:
Step 1: Refresh user mapping
Use the Turnitin plugin settings in Moodle to unlink and then relink the affected instructor's account details. This forces Moodle to send a fresh role payload to Turnitin.
Step 2: Check Moodle system permissions
Ensure the instructor's Moodle role grants all necessary Turnitin permissions:
- Navigate to Site Admin > Users > Permissions > Check System permissions.
- Select the instructor's account and click Show users permissions.
- Verify that the following core capabilities are set to Yes:
- Add
- Grade
- Read
- View
Supported user roles: Turnitin officially supports the standard Teacher, Teaching Assistant (TA), and Student roles. Custom or administrative roles created in Moodle may fail to transmit valid permissions.
Step 3: Contact support
If the error persists after completing the steps above, please raise a ticket with Turnitin Technical Support. Be sure to include the instructor's full name, registered email address, and a summary of the troubleshooting steps you have already attempted.