What “No Repository” Means in Turnitin: Definition, Differences & When to Use It

Intro: What Students Really Want to Know

 I was roughly the same age as when I first started writing papers to advise students in Turnitin workflows, and one setting that confused them kept appearing: “No Repository.“ Some students think it means your paper will never be checked for similarities, or perhaps it will be hidden away forever. In truth, it only prevents one thing: whether or not your submitted file is saved in Turnitin’s repository of papers for matching with future submissions, everything else works the same.

This article will describe how No Repository works, how it differs from normal repository settings, and when it will really save you when it comes to how Turnitin is actually configured.

If you’re trying to understand how similarity reports work before submission, this guide (how to check your Turnitin score before submitting) walks through the full pre-check process step by step.

1. What is a “Repository” In Turnitin Terms

 To understand what No Repository is, it is good to understand what a repository is in Turnitin terms.

A repository in Turnitin is a set of papers that Turnitin compares against when a similarity report is generated. When you submit a paper, Turnitin compares your paper against:

● Turnitin’s global internet index

● Academic journals and publications

● Papers that have been previously stored in one or more Turnitin repositories as student paper

Those student papers are the documents against which are matched to determine plagiarism during future paper submissions. Many assignments by default store papers in a repository to facilitate long-term academic integrity.

See Mary Immaculate College – Understanding Turnitin originality report options
https://lead.mic.ul.ie/understanding-turnitin-settings/turnitin-originality-report-options/

2. What “No Repository” Actually Means

“No Repository” is one of the options instructors can select in the Turnitin setting called Submit papers to（see Turnitin’s optional assignment settings）.

What it does is:

Turnitin performs the exact same similarity scan against internet content, journals, and existing student submissions, except your submitted file itself is not stored in the Turnitin repository afterward.

This means:

● You still get a full similarity report.

● The similarity check still compares your text to all supported sources.

● Your document does not become part of the stored database used for future comparisons.

Importantly, “No Repository” does not mean the similarity check stops working or becomes less thorough. It’s just about storage, not the checking process itself.

3. Key Differences: Standard Repository vs. No Repository

To make this real, it helps to clarify what changes when No Repository is selected.

In a standard repository scenario, if you submit Draft 1 and then Draft 2 of the same document, Draft 2 can match Draft 1 because Draft 1 was added to the repository. With No Repository, because your document isn’t stored, it can’t match itself later.

 See why resubmitted drafts can match earlier versions.

4. What “No Repository” Means, And What It Meant Not Mean

 What It Meant To Do

● The paper the student submits instead of saving somewhere in Turnitin’s global , or institutional , repository.

● Will not be used to match new papers a student submits later for the institution.

What It Meant Not To Do

● Turnitin may still run a complete similarity check against all indexed sources – internet content, periodicals, and papers already saved in the system.

● Turnitin produces a similarity report normally , still showing matched text and percentages.

● Whether your teacher or unit sees the report depends on the class settings, not the repository setting.

So if you look at a report that says No Repository , it doesn’t mean Turnitin didn’t check your work , it just means that Turnitin checked your work but didn’t save the paper for the institution afterward

5. When to Use “No Repository”

 1) Checking multiple drafts or iterations

One of my most common recommendations is when students are working on multiple iterations.

By submitting one draft to the standard repository, and then checking another draft later. Turnitin will register as Draft 2 matching Draft 1 , even though they’re from the same author. This will skew the similarity score.

No Repository treats each check as a one-off.

2) Private or Independent Similarity Checks

If you’re checking work that is not ready for formal submission, (e.g., an early draft of a personal essay, a chapter of a thesis, or even a manuscript for a yet unpublished research paper) No Repository guarantees that it will not be sent to your institution’s repository, or else trigger false matches in the future.

3) Preventing false “self-match” risk

Especially if it’s a document that will be submitted to the same class or overlapping coursework, not storing in the repository will prevent the document from showing 100% self-match when checked in the future. Very useful for multiple check sessions before final submission.

6. Common Misconceptions About “No Repository”

Many students Google things like “Does 'No Repository' mean Turnitin doesn’t check similarity?” The answer is always the same:

Myth: No Repository means Turnitin won’t check your paper.

Truth: Turnitin still runs the full similarity check against internet and published sources. It just doesn’t store your paper afterward.

Myth: No Repository hides your work from instructors.

Truth: Whether your instructor sees your similarity report depends on assignment settings — not repository storage.

7. Can Students Tell if No Repository is Turned on

 You don’t have access to this setting via your dashboard, so Turnitin doesn't make this setting visible to students. No repository was selected, and Turnitin stores the assignment if that setting is used, behind the scenes.

The only real way to know is to ask your instructor or admin. Generally, this setting is not visible to students.

8. Practical Tips (From Real Advising Experience)

Here are a few rules I share with students who want clarity on this setting:

● Ask first: If you plan to use Turnitin for multiple drafts, check with your instructor if No Repository can be enabled for those practice submissions.

● Use it for drafts: No Repository is ideal for iterative editing phases — but final submissions are typically stored to support integrity checks.

● Understand your instructor’s policy: Some institutions require standard repository storage for final assignments — No Repository is usually for practice or privacy purposes.

FAQ: Quick Answers to Common Questions

Q: Does choosing No Repository affect the similarity score?

A: No — the similarity check itself is unaffected. Turnitin still compares your text against all indexed content.

Q: Could two students submitting identical papers in a No Repository assignment show a match?

A: In some configurations where neither student’s paper is stored, Turnitin won’t match them against each other. This depends on the assignment’s repository settings and options selected by the instructor.

Q: Is No Repository suitable for final submissions?

A: That depends on your institution. Many schools require final submissions to be stored to uphold academic policies — this setting is more about drafts and privacy.