Canowindridae was named by Young et al. (1992) [Osteolepiforms in which the skull is very broad across the extratemporals (El), the parietal, intertemporal, and supratemporal may be fused (E2), and the lateral extrascapular extends close to the midline. The median extrascapular has a broad posterior and narrow anterior margin. The main postorbital bone is excluded from the orbital margin by one or more small bones in a postorbital position. The jugal is at least twice as long as high (E3). ].

It was assigned to Osteolepiformes by Young et al. (1992); to Tetrapodomorpha by Swartz (2012); to Osteolepidiformes by Nelson et al. (2016); and to Parapodoidea by Borgen and Nakrem (2016).