How Long Does Turnitin Take? What Every Student Should Know
You’ve submitted your paper to Turnitin, but the report hasn’t come back yet.
So, how long does it actually take? Lots of students get worried about timing, especially when deadlines are close.
In this guide, we’ll break down what can slow Turnitin down, why delays happen, and what you can do to avoid issues. Knowing what to expect can help you stay calm and get your work in on time. Let’s jump in!
How Long Does a Turnitin Check Take to Generate the Report?
Turnitin usually processes similarity reports fairly quickly—most students receive results within 15 to 30 minutes. But this isn’t always guaranteed. During high-traffic times, like midterms or finals, it’s not unusual for the report to take several hours or even up to a full day. That’s why it’s smart to submit well before your deadline.
If you’re submitting a revised version of your paper, be aware that Turnitin typically enforces a 24-hour delay between similarity reports for resubmissions. This is to prevent the system from detecting your earlier draft as a match and skewing the results.
As for the Turnitin AI writing report, it usually appears alongside the similarity score. If it doesn’t show up, it might be because your instructor or institution has disabled AI detection. In some cases, the report might not appear if your essay is written in a language that Turnitin’s AI tools don’t yet support.
Why Has the Similarity Report Not Generated?
If you're staring at your Turnitin dashboard waiting for that Similarity Report to appear, you're not alone—and there could be several reasons for the delay. While the system usually works quickly, certain factors may prevent the report from showing up at all.
1. Instructor Settings May Limit Access
In many cases, the issue comes down to how your instructor set up the assignment. Some professors configure Turnitin to delay report generation until the assignment due date has passed. Others may choose to block students from ever seeing their report. If you’ve submitted your work and there’s no feedback after a reasonable wait, it’s worth reaching out to your instructor for clarification.
2. Your File Format Might Not Be Compatible
Even if you’ve uploaded a file successfully, Turnitin may not generate a Similarity Report if the file type or formatting isn't supported. Here are common reasons:
Unsupported file types:
Password-protected documents
Microsoft Works (.wps)
Word macros-enabled (.docm)
OpenOffice files (.odt, .doc) from Google Docs
Apple Pages documents
Spreadsheets not created in Microsoft Excel
Text files with visual or decorative effects
File formatting issues:
PDFs that are scanned images (non-selectable text), forms, or portfolios
PowerPoint files using effects like shadows or 3D text
Use of the “Slate” theme in PowerPoint makes text unselectable and unreadable by Turnitin
If Turnitin can't extract readable, highlightable text from your file, the system won’t be able to process it.
3. You’ve Submitted the Same Paper Multiple Times
Resubmissions come with their own rules. On classic assignments, the first three uploads typically return instant reports. But once you pass that limit, the system enforces a 24-hour delay for any additional submissions. For newer Turnitin setups, students are allowed three resubmissions per day—after that, you’ll have to wait until the next calendar day. Keep in mind that both student and instructor actions count toward this limit.
4. AI Report Not Appearing? File May Not Meet Requirements
If you're also expecting an AI detection score and it's missing, that could be due to file or content issues.
For Turnitin to run its AI writing detection tool, the file must meet specific technical criteria:
Language must be supported: Only English, Spanish, and Japanese are eligible
Content requirements:
At least 300 words of continuous, prose-style writing
No more than 30,000 words total
File size: Must be under 100 MB
Accepted formats:
.docx
.pdf (with selectable text)
.txt
.rtf
If your file falls outside these limits—or if it's a scanned image, list, or short-form content—the AI detector won't generate a report.
5. System Downtime Could Be the Culprit
Sometimes the problem is on Turnitin’s end. Server outages or maintenance windows may delay report processing. If you suspect a system-wide issue, it’s a good idea to check Turnitin’s service status page to confirm whether there’s a disruption.
Turnitin Queued or Stuck in Moodle? Here's What It Means and How to Fix It
If your Turnitin submission shows as “Queued” in Moodle, it means the file hasn’t reached Turnitin yet. This delay is typically due to a background process in Moodle called the "cron job," which is responsible for sending submissions to Turnitin. If the cron hasn’t run recently or is misconfigured, your file may stay stuck in the queue.
To resolve this, your Moodle administrator should:
Check the cron task status under Site Administration > Server > Scheduled Tasks and ensure it’s running correctly.
Test Turnitin connectivity under Plugins > Plagiarism > Turnitin Plugin > Test Turnitin Connection.
Refresh submissions manually in the Moodle assignment inbox using the refresh icon next to the queued file(s).
If refreshing doesn’t help, your admin may need to check API logs or open a support ticket with Turnitin using error data and submission details.
Tips for Submitting Your Essay to Turnitin
Here are some tips for using Turnitin:
Use Supported File Types Only
Submit your essay as a .docx, .pdf, .txt, or .rtf file. Avoid formats like .pages, .wps, or Google Docs downloads unless saved properly as a supported format.Make Sure Text Is Selectable
If you’re submitting a PDF, it must contain highlightable text. Scanned images or photos of text won’t be processed by Turnitin.Keep the File Under 100 MB
Large files may fail to upload or process. Compress images or split large appendices if needed.Include Enough Original Writing
Turnitin requires at least 300 words of prose to generate an AI report. Bullet points or tables alone won’t qualify.Avoid Submitting at the Last Minute
Similarity Reports can take up to 24 hours during peak times. Submit early to allow time for revisions or resubmissions.Check File Formatting
Avoid using visual text effects like shadows or 3D text in Word or PowerPoint, as these may block text extraction.Double-Check for Errors Before Uploading
Once submitted, changing a file may trigger a delay in generating a new report. Always review your work before clicking submit.Know Your Resubmission Limits
You usually get 3 immediate resubmissions. After that, you’ll wait 24 hours for a new Similarity Report. Plan accordingly.Make Sure the Language Is Supported
AI detection only works for English, Spanish, and Japanese. Other languages won’t produce an AI score.Contact Your Instructor If You See No Report
If your Similarity Report doesn’t generate, it might be due to assignment settings. Ask your instructor before assuming it’s a tech issue.
Submitted the Wrong File on Turnitin? How to Resubmit or Delete It
1. What If You Submit the Wrong Essay to Turnitin?
Mistakes happen — and submitting the wrong file is more common than you think. If you've uploaded the incorrect document, the first step is to reach out to your instructor immediately. Whether or not you can upload a corrected version depends on how the assignment is set up:
Before the due date: If your instructor enabled resubmissions, you can upload the correct version yourself.
After the due date: Resubmissions are usually blocked, even if late submissions are allowed. You’ll need your instructor’s help to reset or extend the assignment.
They may also be able to resubmit the correct file on your behalf or give you special access to try again.
2. Can You Delete a Submission from Turnitin?
Students can’t delete submissions themselves. If you need a file permanently removed from Turnitin's database (such as for privacy, legal, or administrative reasons), your instructor must handle the request.
Here’s what to do:
Provide your submission ID (you can find it by clicking the “i” icon in Turnitin Feedback Studio).
Let your instructor know which assignment and class it was submitted to.
They will forward the request to your school’s Turnitin administrator, who has the authority to request deletion from the Turnitin repository.
If you're simply trying to fix a mistake by resubmitting, deletion isn’t required — a new file will overwrite the old one if resubmissions are allowed.
Final Note
That’s all for how long Turnitin takes. We discussed typical wait times, reasons reports might be delayed, and practical tips to ensure smooth submissions. Understanding these factors helps you plan better and avoid last-minute stress.
Remember, submitting early and following guidelines is key to getting your similarity and AI reports on time. If issues arise, communicating with your instructor or admin can make all the difference. Stay ahead, and your Turnitin experience will be much smoother.