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What is LockDown Browser?
Some Canvas Quizzes may require students to take them using Respondus LockDown Browser, a special web browser designed to prevent cheating on exams. It stops test takers from copying and pasting, printing, and accessing other websites or applications on the computer while taking the test.
Some tests may also require you to use LockDown Browser with a webcam, which will record you while you take the test. This webcam feature is called "Respondus Monitor." Depending on settings set by the instructor, tests which require LockDown Browser with a webcam may also record your screen or require you to use a second device (e.g., your smartphone) to record video of your workspace during the test. These recordings are not viewed live. They are stored securely and may be viewed only by your instructor after you finish the test.
If LockDown Browser is required to take a quiz, the quiz title will include "Requires Respondus LockDown Browser." If you will be required to use a webcam with LockDown Browser to take a quiz, the quiz title will include "Requires Respondus LockDown Browser + Webcam."
The following video provides an overview of LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor for students:
How to Install LockDown Browser
You must install the LockDown Browser application on your computer before taking an exam. The LockDown Browser download link and application are different for each institution. UW-Green Bay students can download LockDown Browser for Windows, Mac, or Chromebook from this link:
Download LockDown Browser
This download link can also be found in Canvas if you navigate to a quiz which requires LockDown Browser prior to installing it on your computer.
Video instructions for installing LockDown Browser are available on the following Respondus Support page: How do I install LockDown Browser? – Respondus Support.
- On Windows and Mac, you will need full local admin access on your computer to complete the install. After downloading the installer, locate it in your downloads folder, run it, and accept the default prompts to install.
- On a Chromebook, the download link will send you to the Chrome Web Store to install the LockDown Browser extension.
- The LockDown Browser app is also available to download for iPad tablets on the Apple App Store, but, depending on exam settings set by your instructor, you may not be allowed to take the exam using a tablet. For the best experience, we recommend taking your exams on a desktop or laptop computer.
If you used LockDown Browser at another institution other than UW-Green Bay or with a textbook publisher's e-learning system, you may need to uninstall LockDown Browser and then re-install using UW-Green Bay's download link.
How to Start a Test
After installing LockDown Browser, instructions for starting your test differ depending on whether your instructor created the test with Canvas's "classic" quizzes or "new" quizzes tool.
Starting a "Classic" Quiz
Follow these steps to take a "classic" quiz with LockDown Browser:
- Open LockDown Browser on your computer.
- You may be prompted to close some applications running on your computer before LockDown Browser loads. Select Close Application & Continue for each application.
- When prompted to select your organization, select UW-Green Bay in the dropdown menu and then select Go.
- Sign in to Canvas with your UWGB username and password.
- Navigate to your Canvas course and open the quiz.
- If your test requires a webcam, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the startup sequence checks and begin the test.
Starting a "New" Quiz
Follow these steps to take a "new" quiz with LockDown Browser:
- Use a standard web browser (for example, Google Chrome) to navigate to your quiz in Canvas.
- When you select the quiz, your browser will prompt you to ask if you want to allow the site to open LockDown Browser. Select Open.
If you get stuck on the "Assessment Loading" page and do not get prompted to open LockDown Browser, you may need to install/reinstall LockDown Browser and then try starting the quiz again.
- You may be prompted to close some applications running on your computer before LockDown Browser loads. Select Close Application & Continue for each application.
- LockDown Browser will open to the quiz page. If your test requires a webcam, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the startup sequence checks and begin the test.
Second Camera
If a second camera is required, you will need to use a mobile device that can scan a QR code as a second camera to record your workspace from the side. Before the exam, you can check whether your mobile device is compatible for use as a second camera by visiting the Respondus Second Camera Device Check website.
Getting Help
To troubleshoot issues and get support for LockDown Browser: