The Top Hat iOS mobile app lets students access courses, submit answers, view grades, and join classes from their iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. With full support for assigned homework, interactive questions, eTextbooks, and live classroom engagement, the app provides a convenient way to stay on top of your studies anytime, anywhere.
This guide covers how to install the app, sign in, join a course using a six-digit Join Code, access My Library, navigate the Classroom and Gradebook tabs, and troubleshoot common technical issues directly from your mobile device.
Table of Contents
- Installing the Top Hat App
- Signing In
- Home
- Enrolling in a Course
- My Library
- App Layout
- Submitting Responses
- Technical Support
Installing the Top Hat App
To install the Top Hat app on your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, search for and download "Top Hat" from the App Store on your iOS device.
Download Top Hat on your iOS device (App Store)
Image: Top Hat Application as shown in the App Store
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Signing In
Open the Top Hat App and select "Log-In". Search for your school/organization and proceed to log in with your existing Top Hat credentials.
If you have not created an account previously, please visit: Creating your account
Note: Accounts cannot be created using the app. Please use a web browser to create your account.
Image: Three images of an iPhone, each depicting the Welcome page, Find Your School, and Log Into Your Account screens
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Home
If you are logging into the mobile app for the first time, please set your preferences for the app notifications.
You will be taken to the Home screen. If you have previously enrolled in any courses, they will be listed here.
You will also have the option to view "My Library", which contains any eTextbooks on your account.
Image: Three images of an iPhone, each depicting the Reminder Prompts, Push Notification, and Course Lobby screens
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Enrolling in a Course
To enroll in a Top Hat course, select either the "+" icon or "Join Course".
Enter the six-digit course Join Code provided to you by your course instructor. Confirm the course details and select "Enroll".
Note: If you have been invited to your course through a Learning Management System (LMS) such as Canvas, Blackboard, D2L, or Sakai, please follow the course launch link directly in your LMS course to enroll fully.
Please Visit: Course Enrollment Instructions (LMS Connected Courses)
Image: Three images of an iPhone, each depicting the Course Lobby, Course Results, and Enrollment Confirmation screens
Note: If your course requires any purchases, such as a "Bundle" (Top Hat + Top Hat Interactive Text), to access it and your account does not already have it, you will receive the message "Account not active" when attempting to enroll in the course via the app.
First, enroll using a web browser to make the required course purchases or redeem a Top Hat Access Key.
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My Library
The "My Library" contains all the eTextbooks you own on your Top Hat account.
My Library eTextbooks are read-only. Question submissions made within the My Library version do not count toward your course grade.
Image: Three images of an iPhone, each depicting the "My Library", Book Contents, and eTextbook Chapter screens
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App Layout
In your Top Hat App, there are three main spaces: Classroom, Assigned, and Gradebook.
Classroom
All live content is shown here. This includes presentations hosted by your instructor, as well as in-class questions, polls, discussions, and attendance.
Image: Three images of an iPhone, each depicting the "Classroom", Presented Classroom Content, and the Slide Deck Presentation screens
Assigned
Course content assigned to you by your instructor. This can include Interactive eText chapters, discussions, slides, and various question types including tests, exams, and quizzes.
Content can be assigned in either two modes (controlled by the course instructor):
- Homework mode (HW): Typically has a due date and is graded.
- Review mode (RV): Is not graded or saved.
Image: Three images of an iPhone, each depicting the "Homework", assigned homework chapter/questions, and content folders assigned in "Review" screens
Gradebook
The Gradebook contains your course responses, awarded grades, and submission feedback from your instructor (if provided) after they have been made available.
How it works:
- Grades may appear immediately after you've made a submission (if live gradebook is enabled by your course instructor).
- Submissions awaiting to be graded: Will either grade automatically after the Homework due date has passed or be manually graded by the instructor (e.g., long answer questions require manual grading).
- Your "Total Grade" displayed is based on the total items assigned and presented to you while your account is enrolled in the course.
Image: Two images of an iPhone, each depicting an empty gradebook and a gradebook with graded submissions screens
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Submitting Responses
Submitting responses in Top Hat requires you to "Submit" for your choices/responses to be recorded.
Instructors may present and close questions at any time and assign time windows for responses to be submitted (keep the app open to avoid missing questions!).
There are various question types, including multiple choice, word or numeric answer, fill in the blank, matching, and click on target.
Image: Three images of an iPhone, each depicting a true/false, matching, and file upload question
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Technical Support
FAQ and Top Hat Support
My response wasn't recorded:
- The "Submit" button wasn't pressed.
- The question timer ran out/instructor closed the submission window (keep Top Hat open in class to avoid missing impromptu questions!).
My grades are not showing in the Top Hat Gradebook:
- The content is still assigned in Homework mode.
- The Instructor is required to manually grade the submission.
My homework submissions didn't save:
- The content is in "Review" mode. Only content assigned in Homework mode is saved.
My attendance prompt didn't appear:
- Attendance was already taken - confirm the start time of your class.
- You left class early - instructors can initiate an attendance session at any time.
App says "Not Active" or "Additional Materials Required" when enrolling into my course:
- Course purchases cannot be made on the mobile app. First enroll using a web browser and then continue to the mobile app after purchasing the required content.
I have been marked as absent:
- Your location is too far from the classroom (Secure Attendance Only).
My Top Hat Access Key isn't working:
- You are entering a bookstore redemption code or an Access Key for the incorrect product.
Some Top Tips if you're reaching out to us!
- Provide your Top Hat account email address (or email us directly from the email address associated with your Top Hat account!).
- Provide Top Hat with the following information where possible:
- Six-digit course Join Code
- Instructor name
- Question details, links/URLs, screenshots
- Submission method (e.g., Top Hat App, Web Browser, or SMS)
Contact Top Hat Support:
Image: Three images of an iPhone, each depicting the Report, Support, and Support Chat menus