How Long Does Turnitin Take? What Every Student Should Know

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Written by  Raj Patel
2026-06-24 17:59:12 • 6 min read

You submitted your paper to Turnitin, but the Similarity Report still has not appeared. That waiting period can feel stressful when a deadline, resubmission window, or grade release is close. 

So, how long does Turnitin take? In many cases the report appears quickly, but timing depends on assignment settings, file requirements, resubmission rules, LMS queues, and whether AI writing detection is enabled. 

This guide explains the common delays, what you can check before uploading, and when it is better to contact your instructor instead of refreshing the page.

How Long Does Turnitin Take First Screen First Screen

How Long Does a Turnitin Check Take to Generate the Report?

Turnitin Similarity Reports often process in minutes, but the timeline is not fixed. Peak traffic, large files, LMS delays, instructor settings, or Turnitin service interruptions can stretch the wait to several hours. Submit well before your deadline so a slow report does not block your revision plan.

If you are uploading a revised version, remember that resubmission rules can add a 24-hour delay before a new Similarity Report is available. Your course settings decide whether immediate resubmissions are allowed, so check the assignment instructions before replacing a file.

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.

Turnitin Similarity and AI Report

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 Types Doc PDF Rtf Txt

  • 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 are also expecting an AI writing score and it is missing, the submission may not meet Turnitin's AI report requirements.  

For Turnitin to generate an AI writing report and percentage, the file must meet these criteria:

  • Language must be supported: English, Spanish, or Japanese

  • Content requirements:

    • At least 300 words of long-form prose writing

    • No more than 30,000 words of qualifying text

  • File size: Must be under 100 MB

  • Accepted formats:

    • .docx

    • .pdf with selectable text

    • .txt

    • .rtf

If the file is outside those limits, mostly scanned images, mostly lists, or too short for prose analysis, the AI report may not generate even when the Similarity Report does.

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.

Turnitin Queued

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

Tips for Submitting Your Essay to Turnitin

Here are some tips for using Turnitin:

  1. Use Supported File Types Only
    Submit in the format your course accepts. For AI writing reports, Turnitin lists .docx, selectable .pdf, .txt, and .rtf as supported file types.

  2. Make Sure Text Is Selectable
    If you upload a PDF, highlight a sentence before submitting. Scanned pages, screenshots, and photo-based PDFs may upload but still fail processing.

  3. Keep the File Under 100 MB
    Large files can upload slowly or fail during processing. Compress images, remove unnecessary media, or ask your instructor how to handle appendices.

  4. Include Enough Original Writing
    AI writing reports require at least 300 words of prose. A submission made mostly of tables, bullets, citations, or code may not qualify.

  5. Avoid Submitting at the Last Minute
    Reports can slow down during busy academic periods. Upload early enough to handle delays, file mistakes, or a required resubmission wait.

  6. Check File Formatting
    Remove visual effects that make text hard to extract, especially in slides or PDFs. Clean, selectable text gives Turnitin the best chance to process the file.

  7. Double-Check for Errors Before Uploading
    Confirm the file name, version, word count, and assignment before clicking submit. Replacing a file may start a new processing window.

  8. Know Your Resubmission Limits
    Some assignments allow quick early resubmissions, while others delay later reports. Read the course settings instead of assuming every upload works the same way.

  9. Make Sure the Language Is Supported
    For AI writing reports, Turnitin currently lists English, Spanish, and Japanese. Other languages may still receive similarity matching without an AI score.

  10. Contact Your Instructor If You See No Report
    If the report does not appear after a reasonable wait, ask your instructor whether student visibility, due-date settings, or a technical issue is involved.

Submitted the Wrong File on Turnitin? How to Resubmit or Delete It

1. What If You Submit the Wrong Essay to Turnitin?

If you uploaded the wrong document, act quickly and contact your instructor immediately. Do not keep resubmitting random versions while you troubleshoot, because each new upload can affect the report timing and the assignment record. What happens next depends on the assignment settings:

  • Before the due date: If resubmissions are enabled, you may be able to replace the file yourself and wait for the new report.

  • After the due date: Resubmissions are often restricted, even when late work is accepted. Your instructor may need to reopen, reset, or manually manage the submission.

They may also be able to submit the corrected file for you or explain whether the original upload will still be graded.

2. Can You Delete a Submission from Turnitin?

Students cannot usually delete Turnitin submissions themselves. If a file must be permanently removed from the repository for privacy, legal, or administrative reasons, the request normally has to go through your instructor or school administrator.

Here is what to prepare:

  • Share your submission ID, which is usually available through the information icon in Turnitin Feedback Studio.

  • Name the exact class, assignment, upload date, and file that needs attention.

  • Ask your instructor to route the request to the institution's Turnitin administrator if repository deletion is actually needed.

If you are only correcting a mistaken upload, deletion may not be necessary. A newer file can replace the old one if the assignment allows resubmissions.

Final Note

So, how long does Turnitin take? A normal report may be quick, but delays can happen because of resubmission rules, file problems, instructor settings, AI report requirements, Moodle queues, or system downtime.

The best protection is simple: submit early, use a supported file, keep text selectable, and save time for follow-up. If the report still does not appear, your instructor or LMS administrator is the right person to confirm whether the issue is settings, timing, or a technical failure.