Learn how to take online exams with Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor from experts!
Are you feeling anxious about your upcoming online exams because of Respondus LockDown Browser or Monitor? How do you set up the software, and what should you expect during your test? Then this blog is for you!
With our step-by-step and expert advice, you’ll be fully prepared to tackle your online exams confidently. Thousands of students face the same challenges every semester, and we’re here to make your experience smooth and stress-free.
Read on and discover how to set up, use, and ace your exams with Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor. Let’s get started! 😊
A proctoring software to ensure you do not cheat, Respondus has two online exam proctoring solutions: LockDown Browser and Monitor. While Respondus LockDown Browser locks the testing environment so you cannot leave, Monitor tracks your activity and records you. Together, LockDown Browser and Monitor are designed to uphold academic integrity by preventing cheating and providing verifiable evidence of exam conduct.
How to Take an Online Exam and Quiz with Respondus: A Step-by-Step Guide
1. Prepare Your Environment
Clear your workspace: Remove all unauthorized materials.
Ensure privacy and quiet: Find a quiet, well-lit area where you won’t be interrupted.
Check your equipment: Ensure your computer has a working webcam and microphone (required for Respondus Monitor).
Stable Internet: For optimal results, use a broadband connection.
2. Download and Install LockDown Browser
Download LockDown Browser: Use the link provided by your instructor or institution.
Install the lockdown browser extension: Follow the on-screen instructions by Respondus to complete the installation. You may need administrator rights.
3. Launch LockDown Browser
Close all other programs: Ensure no unauthorized applications are running.
Open LockDown Browser: Double-click the LockDown Browser icon to launch it.
4. Log In to Your Course
Log in to your LMS: LockDown Browser will automatically open your institution’s login page.
Navigate to your course: Go to the course where your exam is.
5. Start the Exam or Quiz
Locate the exam: Click on the exam or quiz you need to take.
Begin the exam: Click the button to start the exam. If Respondus Monitor is required, you’ll see instructions on how to start the webcam and microphone checks.
6. Respondus Monitor Startup Sequence
Agree to terms: Click “AGREE” to the Student Terms of Use.
Allow access: Select “ALLOW” for camera and microphone access.
Webcam check: Adjust your webcam so it is visible in the window, and click “YES.”
Record and review: Record a short video and review it to ensure the audio and video are working properly. If satisfied, click “CONTINUE”; otherwise, click “TRY AGAIN.”
Show ID (if required): Take a photo or record a video showing your ID, then click “Continue.”
Read instructions: Review any additional instructions from your instructor.
Begin the exam: The quiz or exam will begin once the startup sequence is complete.
7. Take the Exam
Stay focused: You cannot access other websites or applications or leave the exam until you submit it.
Monitor records you: Respondus Monitor will record your environment and activity throughout the exam.
Submit your exam: When finished, submit your answers. You will then be able to exit the LockDown Browser.
8. Troubleshooting and Support
Use the Help Center: Within the LockDown Browser, select the Help Center button to run system and webcam checks or get support.
Contact Support: If you encounter persistent issues, please reach out to your instructor or your institution’s help desk for assistance.
How Respondus LockDown Browser Works: Features and Functionality Explained
Most educators and institutes use LockDown Browser Respondus. Therefore, whether you are taking a test on Canvas, Blackboard, or other platforms, knowing the features of the browser is essential:
Full-Screen Assessments: Exams are displayed in full-screen mode within the web browser and cannot be minimized, ensuring that students cannot easily switch tasks or hide the test window.
Restricted Navigation: When using Respondus Browser, you can only use buttons except Back, Forward, Refresh, and Stop. Thus, do check the quick start guide before you begin taking tests.
Block Access to Other Applications: From messaging apps and screen-sharing software to virtual machines and remote desktops, you cannot access other applications.
Disable Printing and Screen Capture: Using Respondus LockDown Browser, teachers secure test browser, which prevents printing and screen capture, and provides additional help.
Disable Right-Click and Keyboard Shortcuts: Once you activate the lockdown browser extension, the right-click is disabled, and all keyboard shortcuts are disallowed, so you cannot copy and paste answers.
Respondus Monitor Integration: When used with Respondus Monitor, the system also records you via webcam during the exam. This adds an extra layer of remote proctoring, flagging suspicious behavior (such as unusual movement or sounds) for instructor review. The use of webcam and audio monitoring is optional and determined by the instructor.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Full-Screen Mode | Exam cannot be minimized or resized |
| Restricted Navigation | Only basic browser controls available |
| Application Blocking | Prevents access to other software and system functions |
| Printing/Screen Capture Disabled | Stops printing and screenshot attempts |
| Copy/Paste Disabled | Prevents copying to/from the assessment |
| Keyboard/Mouse Restrictions | Disables shortcuts, right-click, and task switching |
| Mandatory Submission | Cannot exit exam until submitted |
| Exclusive Browser Access | Assessment only accessible via LockDown Browser |
| Secure Web Links | Linked sites open in restricted, secure windows |
| Optional Webcam Monitoring | Records student during exam if enabled (Respondus Monitor) |
Can Respondus LockDown Browser be Downloaded on a Chromebook?
Yes! You can download the browser on a Chromebook. Most Learning Management Systems, like Canvas, Blackboard, D2L Brightspace, Schoology, and Moodle, use the browser to lock down the testing environment. You can easily download and install Respondus LockDown Browser from the Chrome browser.
How to Launch Respondus LockDown Browser on MAC?
To launch Respondus LockDown Browser on a Mac, follow these steps:
- Download the Lockdown browser and install it.
- Open the Applications folder in Finder.
- Find and locate the LockDown Browser application in the list.
- Double-click the LockDown Browser icon to start the browser.
- You can also use Spotlight Search (press Cmd ⌘ + Space, then type “LockDown Browser”) to quickly find and open the application.
What Triggers the Respondus Monitor?
Respondus Monitor is a proctoring software. Here’s what triggers it:
The pre-exam startup sequence includes:
- Perform a webcam functionality check to ensure the camera is working correctly.
- Optional identity verification steps may include taking a photo of the student or their ID.
- Environment check requires students to show their surroundings to ensure no unauthorized materials are present.
- Facial detection to confirm the student’s face is visible and positioned adequately before starting the exam
During the exam, the Respondus Monitor continuously records video to detect suspicious behavior, such as frequent looking away, multiple faces in the frame, or leaving the seat, which may trigger alerts or flags for instructor review.
How to Cheat on Respondus Lockdown Browser?
One of the most common curiosities of students who have exams on the Respondus Lockdown Browser is how to cheat. Here are a few ways to go around the Respondus Lockdown Browser:
Use A Smartphone Or Another Device
The easiest option would be to have a backup device to access your resources, such as notes and e-books. Make sure you set up your devices correctly, as the Respondus Lockdown Browser can detect phones.
Use A Virtual Machine (VM)
A Virtual Machine (VM) is software that allows you to create a separate computer environment within your computer. To cheat on Respondus Lockdown Browser, install the lockdown browser on your VM (not your computer). You can now access other browsers and applications on your computer while the exam is in your Virtual Machine. You can imagine it as a computer inside your computer, which lets you run multiple operating systems.
Also, you can use a remote desktop and ask others to work on your exam. Ensure you don’t make any suspicious moves to avoid detection or flagging. To learn more about getting answers from experts using a remote desktop, consider take my online class service.
Traditional Or Use Cheat Sheets
You may use your hands to write notes or place sticky notes where the camera cannot detect them. If calculators are allowed during the exam, you may also slip your notes on the back of your calculator. Ensure that your eye movements do not look suspicious while looking at your notes.
Weak Internet Connection
Wondering how to answer the LockDown Browser questions? Simply cut your internet connection and ask your friends or relatives for answers. You can search for answers online. Because when the internet is off, you can still view the questions, but it cannot flag you. Yet, you must know that only your teacher can allow you to restart the exam after a hindrance. Also, this is a hack for all Respondus LockDown Browser Canvas exams. However, if you wish to learn more such hacks, you should turn to ‘Can Canvas Detect Cheating?’
Technologies
Improvising how you can cheat on your exams can be done through technology. One example is connecting an HDMI to your computer and setting up your projector in the opposite direction of your camera. If you have a friend or any trustworthy person with you, you may seek help from them for your exam, as your webcam mainly detects the direction of the student. Another example would be setting up a recorded audio of your notes. You can use your wireless earbuds to listen to the recordings you’ve made. Just make sure that your earbuds will not be noticeable on your webcam.
How Does Respondus LockDown Browser Detect Cheating?
Respondus LockDown Browser Monitor: Key Methods to Detect and Prevent Cheating
Restricting Access: The browser prevents students from opening other applications, accessing websites, or using features like printing, copying, or taking screenshots during the exam.
Monitoring Actions: It monitors student actions, such as mouse movements, and attempts to detect attempts to copy and paste or leave the testing environment. It also flags unusual or suspicious activity (like rapid mouse movements or repeated copy-paste attempts) for review.
Assessing Computer Configuration: The software checks the computer’s setup to ensure that no unauthorized software or tools are running, which could facilitate cheating.
Webcam Monitoring (with Respondus Monitor): Enabling Respondus Monitor means using a webcam and microphone to record the exam session. Furthermore, it uses advanced video analytics to detect behaviors such as looking away from the screen frequently or the presence of unauthorized persons, which may be flagged as suspicious.
Automated Flagging: Respondus Monitor generates automated reports and assigns a “Review Priority” (LOW, MED, HIGH) based on detected anomalies. However, flags do not necessarily mean cheating occurred—there can be false positives.
Limitations
No Eye Tracking: LockDown Browser itself does not track eye movement or monitor behavior unless Respondus Monitor is enabled. Therefore, most students use this as a Respondus Lockdown Browser Bypass.
Physical Cheating: The browser cannot prevent the use of physical notes, other devices, or consulting with others in the room unless webcam monitoring (Respondus Monitor) is active. As a result, you can use this Respondus Lockdown Browser Hack to cheat on lockdown browser and not get flagged!
Manual Review: Flagged activities require manual review by instructors to determine if cheating actually occurred.
Thus, if you have ever wondered, Does Respondus LockDown Browser use camera to detect cheating? NO! It is a custom browser that locks the online testing environment.
Does the LockDown Browser Tell You if You’re Flagged?
If you are taking a LockDown Browser exam, be cautious, as it does not notify or prompt you about flagging. So, even if you are flagged, you receive no direct notification. Furthermore, Respondus LockDown Browser test flags are generated for suspicious behavior or anomalies, but do not automatically mean cheating. It is your instructor who reviews the flags and then declares them as cheating or not.
Similarly, you can get answer to all your can Socrative detect cheating questions, just by reading it!
What Happens If You Get Caught Cheating On Respondus?
The Final Verdict!
Respondus LockDown Browser extension helps maintain academic integrity during exams. Therefore, most institutions use LockDown browsers because using them means students are locked in the tests, and if they try to leave the testing environment within the time, students are prompted to close the test. So, you can only leave when the exam is completed. While cheating is possible here, it is not advised!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Respondus LockDown Browser Flag?
LockDown Browser flags suspicious activity by restricting access to other programs, websites, and functions. When paired with Respondus Monitor, it uses AI to analyze webcam video for behaviors like leaving the frame, multiple faces, or unauthorized devices, generating flags for instructor review.
How to Download Respondus LockDown Browser?
Download the browser from your institution’s recommended link or the official Respondus website. Follow the on-screen instructions for installation.
How Can Respondus LockDown Browser Record You?
Respondus LockDown Browser itself does not record you. Only when Respondus Monitor is enabled does it record via your webcam and microphone, capturing your exam environment and activity.
Can Respondus LockDown Browser Be Used On iPad?
Yes, LockDown Browser iPad app is available, but features may differ from desktop versions. Always check your institution’s compatibility and requirements.
How Can Respondus LockDown Browser See Your Screen?
LockDown Browser does not see your screen unless Respondus Monitor is used, in which case it may record your screen as part of the proctoring process—but this is not standard for LockDown Browser alone. Standard LockDown Browser only restricts access and does not actively view your screen.
How Can Respondus LockDown Browser See Your Location?
LockDown Browser does not track or record your physical location. It may, however, log your IP address for exam security, but this is not the same as real-time location tracking.
Can Respondus LockDown Browser Detect Screen Mirroring?
LockDown Browser is designed to block screen-sharing, virtual machines, and remote desktop access. While it may detect screen mirroring if it uses these methods, it does not detect screen mirroring via hardware (like casting to a TV) unless Respondus Monitor is used and unusual activity is flagged.
Can Respondus LockDown Browser Hear You Without Webcam?
No, LockDown Browser does not record audio unless Respondus Monitor is active. Thus, without a webcam, Monitor cannot record audio, and LockDown Browser alone does not record sound.
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