diff --git a/docs/user/canvas.asciidoc b/docs/user/canvas.asciidoc
index 21803b90034ad..e0ae6c0e6a818 100644
--- a/docs/user/canvas.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/user/canvas.asciidoc
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 [partintro]
 --
 
+*Note:* Canvas is only available for upgraded installations with existing workpads.
+
 *Canvas* is a data visualization and presentation tool that allows you to pull live data from {es}, 
 then combine the data with colors, images, text, and your imagination to create dynamic, multi-page, pixel-perfect displays. 
 If you are a little bit creative, a little bit technical, and a whole lot curious, then *Canvas* is for you.
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/feature_catalogue_entry.ts b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/feature_catalogue_entry.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index be9661eb891f7..0000000000000
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/feature_catalogue_entry.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
- * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
- * 2.0; you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License
- * 2.0.
- */
-
-import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
-import type { FeatureCatalogueCategory } from '@kbn/home-plugin/public';
-
-export const featureCatalogueEntry = {
-  id: 'canvas',
-  title: 'Canvas',
-  subtitle: i18n.translate('xpack.canvas.featureCatalogue.canvasSubtitle', {
-    defaultMessage: 'Design pixel-perfect presentations.',
-  }),
-  description: i18n.translate('xpack.canvas.appDescription', {
-    defaultMessage: 'Showcase your data in a pixel-perfect way.',
-  }),
-  icon: 'canvasApp',
-  path: '/app/canvas',
-  showOnHomePage: false,
-  category: 'data' as FeatureCatalogueCategory,
-  solutionId: 'kibana',
-  order: 300,
-};
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/plugin.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/plugin.tsx
index bd4e920a56f7e..37a0ae1388899 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/plugin.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/plugin.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   AppUpdater,
   DEFAULT_APP_CATEGORIES,
   PluginInitializerContext,
+  AppStatus,
 } from '@kbn/core/public';
 import { HomePublicPluginSetup } from '@kbn/home-plugin/public';
 import { SpacesPluginStart } from '@kbn/spaces-plugin/public';
@@ -30,7 +31,6 @@ import { Start as InspectorStart } from '@kbn/inspector-plugin/public';
 import { PresentationUtilPluginStart } from '@kbn/presentation-util-plugin/public';
 import { DataViewsPublicPluginStart } from '@kbn/data-views-plugin/public';
 import { ContentManagementPublicStart } from '@kbn/content-management-plugin/public';
-import { featureCatalogueEntry } from './feature_catalogue_entry';
 import { CanvasAppLocatorDefinition } from '../common/locator';
 import { SESSIONSTORAGE_LASTPATH, CANVAS_APP } from '../common/lib/constants';
 import { getSessionStorage } from './lib/storage';
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import { getPluginApi, CanvasApi } from './plugin_api';
 import { setupExpressions } from './setup_expressions';
 import { addCanvasElementTrigger } from './state/triggers/add_canvas_element_trigger';
 import { setKibanaServices, untilPluginStartServicesReady } from './services/kibana_services';
+import { getHasWorkpads } from './services/get_has_workpads';
 
 export type { CoreStart, CoreSetup };
 
@@ -161,9 +162,11 @@ export class CanvasPlugin
       },
     });
 
-    if (setupPlugins.home) {
-      setupPlugins.home.featureCatalogue.register(featureCatalogueEntry);
-    }
+    getHasWorkpads(coreSetup.http).then((hasWorkpads) => {
+      this.appUpdater.next(() => ({
+        status: hasWorkpads ? AppStatus.accessible : AppStatus.inaccessible,
+      }));
+    });
 
     if (setupPlugins.share) {
       setupPlugins.share.url.locators.create(new CanvasAppLocatorDefinition());
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/services/get_has_workpads.ts b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/services/get_has_workpads.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..84cfdfc8a29f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/services/get_has_workpads.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0; you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License
+ * 2.0.
+ */
+
+import { HttpSetup } from '@kbn/core/public';
+import { API_ROUTE_WORKPAD } from '../../common/lib/constants';
+
+export async function getHasWorkpads(http: HttpSetup): Promise<boolean> {
+  try {
+    const response = await http.get(`${API_ROUTE_WORKPAD}/hasWorkpads`, {
+      version: '1',
+    });
+    return (response as { hasWorkpads: boolean })?.hasWorkpads ?? false;
+  } catch (error) {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/server/routes/workpad/has_workpads.ts b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/server/routes/workpad/has_workpads.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e42c8fe6fb7c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/server/routes/workpad/has_workpads.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0; you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License
+ * 2.0.
+ */
+
+import { SavedObjectAttributes } from '@kbn/core/server';
+import { RouteInitializerDeps } from '..';
+import { CANVAS_TYPE, API_ROUTE_WORKPAD } from '../../../common/lib/constants';
+
+export function initializeHasWorkpadsRoute(deps: RouteInitializerDeps) {
+  const { router } = deps;
+  router.versioned
+    .get({
+      path: `${API_ROUTE_WORKPAD}/hasWorkpads`,
+      access: 'internal',
+    })
+    .addVersion(
+      {
+        version: '1',
+        validate: {
+          request: {},
+        },
+      },
+      async (context, request, response) => {
+        const savedObjectsClient = (await context.core).savedObjects.client;
+
+        try {
+          const workpads = await savedObjectsClient.find<SavedObjectAttributes>({
+            type: CANVAS_TYPE,
+            fields: ['id'],
+            perPage: 1,
+            // search across all spaces
+            namespaces: ['*'],
+          });
+
+          return response.ok({
+            body: {
+              hasWorkpads: workpads.total > 0,
+            },
+          });
+        } catch (error) {
+          return response.ok({
+            body: {
+              hasWorkpads: false,
+            },
+          });
+        }
+      }
+    );
+}
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/server/routes/workpad/index.ts b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/server/routes/workpad/index.ts
index 067b54e7cbebe..fefd1b84fd8a8 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/server/routes/workpad/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/server/routes/workpad/index.ts
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@ import { initializeImportWorkpadRoute } from './import';
 import { initializeUpdateWorkpadRoute, initializeUpdateWorkpadAssetsRoute } from './update';
 import { initializeDeleteWorkpadRoute } from './delete';
 import { initializeResolveWorkpadRoute } from './resolve';
+import { initializeHasWorkpadsRoute } from './has_workpads';
 
 export function initWorkpadRoutes(deps: RouteInitializerDeps) {
+  initializeHasWorkpadsRoute(deps);
   initializeFindWorkpadsRoute(deps);
   initializeResolveWorkpadRoute(deps);
   initializeGetWorkpadRoute(deps);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/translations/translations/fr-FR.json b/x-pack/plugins/translations/translations/fr-FR.json
index cd6a13e30e014..f55adf3fb5a62 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/translations/translations/fr-FR.json
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/translations/translations/fr-FR.json
@@ -12513,7 +12513,6 @@
     "xpack.banners.settings.textContent.title": "Texte de la bannière",
     "xpack.canvas.addCanvasElementTrigger.description": "Une nouvelle action apparaît dans le menu du panneau d'ajout Canvas",
     "xpack.canvas.addCanvasElementTrigger.title": "Menu Ajouter un panneau",
-    "xpack.canvas.appDescription": "Vos données méritent une présentation irréprochable.",
     "xpack.canvas.argAddPopover.addAriaLabel": "Ajouter un argument",
     "xpack.canvas.argFormAdvancedFailure.applyButtonLabel": "Appliquer",
     "xpack.canvas.argFormAdvancedFailure.resetButtonLabel": "Réinitialiser",
@@ -12702,7 +12701,6 @@
     "xpack.canvas.expressionTypes.argTypes.seriesStyle.styleLabel": "Style",
     "xpack.canvas.expressionTypes.argTypes.seriesStyleLabel": "Définir le style d'une série nommée sélectionnée",
     "xpack.canvas.expressionTypes.argTypes.seriesStyleTitle": "Style de la série",
-    "xpack.canvas.featureCatalogue.canvasSubtitle": "Concevez des présentations irréprochables.",
     "xpack.canvas.features.reporting.pdf": "Générer des rapports PDF",
     "xpack.canvas.features.reporting.pdfFeatureName": "Reporting",
     "xpack.canvas.formatMsg.toaster.errorStatusMessage": "Erreur {errStatus} {errStatusText} : {errMessage}.",
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/translations/translations/ja-JP.json b/x-pack/plugins/translations/translations/ja-JP.json
index 0ed85fcd105e3..8eb8dabb2ef78 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/translations/translations/ja-JP.json
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/translations/translations/ja-JP.json
@@ -12497,7 +12497,6 @@
     "xpack.banners.settings.textContent.title": "バナーテキスト",
     "xpack.canvas.addCanvasElementTrigger.description": "新しいアクションは、キャンバスのパネルの追加メニューに表示されます",
     "xpack.canvas.addCanvasElementTrigger.title": "パネルの追加メニュー",
-    "xpack.canvas.appDescription": "データを完璧に美しく表現します。",
     "xpack.canvas.argAddPopover.addAriaLabel": "引数を追加",
     "xpack.canvas.argFormAdvancedFailure.applyButtonLabel": "適用",
     "xpack.canvas.argFormAdvancedFailure.resetButtonLabel": "リセット",
@@ -12686,7 +12685,6 @@
     "xpack.canvas.expressionTypes.argTypes.seriesStyle.styleLabel": "スタイル",
     "xpack.canvas.expressionTypes.argTypes.seriesStyleLabel": "選択された名前付きの数列のスタイルを設定",
     "xpack.canvas.expressionTypes.argTypes.seriesStyleTitle": "数列スタイル",
-    "xpack.canvas.featureCatalogue.canvasSubtitle": "詳細まで正確な表示を設計します。",
     "xpack.canvas.features.reporting.pdf": "PDFレポートを生成",
     "xpack.canvas.features.reporting.pdfFeatureName": "レポート",
     "xpack.canvas.formatMsg.toaster.errorStatusMessage": "エラー {errStatus} {errStatusText}: {errMessage}",
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/translations/translations/zh-CN.json b/x-pack/plugins/translations/translations/zh-CN.json
index b971c0ffca035..f75b62bbe7892 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/translations/translations/zh-CN.json
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/translations/translations/zh-CN.json
@@ -12258,7 +12258,6 @@
     "xpack.banners.settings.textContent.title": "横幅广告文本",
     "xpack.canvas.addCanvasElementTrigger.description": "一项新操作将在 Canvas 添加面板菜单中显示出来",
     "xpack.canvas.addCanvasElementTrigger.title": "添加面板菜单",
-    "xpack.canvas.appDescription": "以最佳像素展示您的数据。",
     "xpack.canvas.argAddPopover.addAriaLabel": "添加参数",
     "xpack.canvas.argFormAdvancedFailure.applyButtonLabel": "应用",
     "xpack.canvas.argFormAdvancedFailure.resetButtonLabel": "重置",
@@ -12443,7 +12442,6 @@
     "xpack.canvas.expressionTypes.argTypes.seriesStyle.styleLabel": "样式",
     "xpack.canvas.expressionTypes.argTypes.seriesStyleLabel": "设置选定已命名序列的样式",
     "xpack.canvas.expressionTypes.argTypes.seriesStyleTitle": "序列样式",
-    "xpack.canvas.featureCatalogue.canvasSubtitle": "设计像素级完美的演示文稿。",
     "xpack.canvas.features.reporting.pdf": "生成 PDF 报告",
     "xpack.canvas.features.reporting.pdfFeatureName": "Reporting",
     "xpack.canvas.formatMsg.toaster.errorStatusMessage": "错误 {errStatus} {errStatusText}：{errMessage}",
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/canvas/datasource.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/canvas/datasource.ts
index 480510ede4e78..78010fd66f4af 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/canvas/datasource.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/canvas/datasource.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ export default function canvasExpressionTest({ getService, getPageObjects }: Ftr
       await kibanaServer.importExport.load(
         'test/functional/fixtures/kbn_archiver/kibana_sample_data_flights_index_pattern.json'
       );
+      // canvas application is only available when installation contains canvas workpads
+      await kibanaServer.importExport.load(
+        'x-pack/test/functional/fixtures/kbn_archiver/canvas/default'
+      );
 
       await kibanaServer.uiSettings.update({
         defaultIndex: 'kibana_sample_data_flights',
@@ -46,6 +50,9 @@ export default function canvasExpressionTest({ getService, getPageObjects }: Ftr
       await kibanaServer.importExport.unload(
         'test/functional/fixtures/kbn_archiver/kibana_sample_data_flights_index_pattern.json'
       );
+      await kibanaServer.importExport.unload(
+        'x-pack/test/functional/fixtures/kbn_archiver/canvas/default'
+      );
     });
 
     describe('esdocs', function () {
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/canvas/embeddables/maps.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/canvas/embeddables/maps.ts
index ac6a861e9796e..bd3b984e91a65 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/canvas/embeddables/maps.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/canvas/embeddables/maps.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
   describe('maps in canvas', function () {
     before(async () => {
       await kibanaServer.savedObjects.cleanStandardList();
+      // canvas application is only available when installation contains canvas workpads
+      await kibanaServer.importExport.load(
+        'x-pack/test/functional/fixtures/kbn_archiver/canvas/default'
+      );
       // open canvas home
       await canvas.goToListingPage();
       // create new workpad
@@ -25,6 +29,10 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await canvas.setWorkpadName('maps tests');
     });
 
+    after(async () => {
+      await kibanaServer.savedObjects.cleanStandardList();
+    });
+
     describe('by-value', () => {
       it('creates new map embeddable', async () => {
         const originalEmbeddableCount = await canvas.getEmbeddableCount();
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/canvas/embeddables/saved_search.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/canvas/embeddables/saved_search.ts
index f89af8b6a15c1..d6fd2fefbaf21 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/canvas/embeddables/saved_search.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/canvas/embeddables/saved_search.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await kibanaServer.importExport.load(
         'test/functional/fixtures/kbn_archiver/dashboard/current/kibana'
       );
+      // canvas application is only available when installation contains canvas workpads
+      await kibanaServer.importExport.load(
+        'x-pack/test/functional/fixtures/kbn_archiver/canvas/default'
+      );
       // open canvas home
       await canvas.goToListingPage();
       // create new workpad
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/spaces/enter_space.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/spaces/enter_space.ts
index 4cff39e05b413..498b636cdce5a 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/spaces/enter_space.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/spaces/enter_space.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ export default function enterSpaceFunctionalTests({
   describe('Enter Space', function () {
     this.tags('includeFirefox');
     before(async () => {
+      // canvas application is only available when installation contains canvas workpads
+      await kibanaServer.importExport.load(
+        'x-pack/test/functional/fixtures/kbn_archiver/canvas/default'
+      );
       await spacesService.create({
         id: 'another-space',
         name: 'Another Space',
@@ -45,6 +49,9 @@ export default function enterSpaceFunctionalTests({
       await PageObjects.security.forceLogout();
     });
     after(async () => {
+      await kibanaServer.importExport.unload(
+        'x-pack/test/functional/fixtures/kbn_archiver/canvas/default'
+      );
       await spacesService.delete('another-space');
       await kibanaServer.savedObjects.cleanStandardList();
     });
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional_search/tests/solution_navigation.ts b/x-pack/test/functional_search/tests/solution_navigation.ts
index 66bf8369b668f..43561efa902f6 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional_search/tests/solution_navigation.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional_search/tests/solution_navigation.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export default function searchSolutionNavigation({
   const { common, solutionNavigation } = getPageObjects(['common', 'solutionNavigation']);
   const spaces = getService('spaces');
   const browser = getService('browser');
+  const kibanaServer = getService('kibanaServer');
 
   describe('Search Solution Navigation', () => {
     let cleanUp: () => Promise<unknown>;
@@ -28,9 +29,18 @@ export default function searchSolutionNavigation({
       // Create a space with the search solution and navigate to its home page
       ({ cleanUp, space: spaceCreated } = await spaces.create({ solution: 'es' }));
       await browser.navigateTo(spaces.getRootUrl(spaceCreated.id));
+
+      // canvas application is only available when installation contains canvas workpads
+      await kibanaServer.importExport.load(
+        'x-pack/test/functional/fixtures/kbn_archiver/canvas/default'
+      );
     });
 
     after(async () => {
+      await kibanaServer.importExport.unload(
+        'x-pack/test/functional/fixtures/kbn_archiver/canvas/default'
+      );
+
       // Clean up space created
       await cleanUp();
     });