Turnitin in Microsoft Teams: Similarity Report and Pending Fixes
Microsoft Teams Assignments can run a Turnitin similarity check when you hand in your work. If your teacher has turned this on, you see a similarity report on your assignment, sometimes after a short "pending" stage. Teams does not show a Turnitin AI writing score. Here is how it works and what to do if your report stays pending.
How Turnitin works in Teams
- Your teacher creates an assignment in Teams and switches on the Turnitin similarity check.
- You attach your file and select Hand in.
- Turnitin checks your file and the report appears on your assignment.
- If your teacher allows it, you can open the report to see your similarity percentage and matches.
Turnitin report pending in Teams
A pending report straight after hand-in is normal. Turnitin's guidance is to refresh the pending report to see it. If it stays pending:
- Check your assignment shows as handed in. If hand-in did not complete, nothing was sent to Turnitin.
- Close and reopen the assignment, then refresh.
- Try the Teams web app in a browser if the desktop or mobile app does not update.
- If it is still pending after a day, ask your teacher to check the submission.
More fixes: Turnitin report pending or not available.
Is there an AI score in Teams?
No. Turnitin's own guide states that instructors using Microsoft Teams Assignment similarity cannot access AI writing detection. If your school uses Teams, your teacher sees the similarity score only, unless they also check work through another Turnitin product.
Teams vs Canvas, Moodle and Blackboard
| Teams Assignments | Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard, Brightspace | |
|---|---|---|
| Similarity report | Yes | Yes |
| AI writing report | No | Yes, if licensed (usually instructor-only) |
| Report visible to students | If the teacher allows it | If the instructor allows it |
A full similarity report and AI report
Teams shows the similarity side only. A pre-check returns both reports, like these samples from one 24-page paper.
Screenshots shown for illustration. Your own reports arrive as full PDFs in your dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Turnitin report pending in Teams?
It is normal straight after hand-in. Refresh the pending report. If it stays pending, check the assignment shows as handed in.
Does Teams show a Turnitin AI score?
No. Turnitin states that Microsoft Teams Assignment similarity does not include AI writing detection.