Respondus Lockdown Browser
Summary
Respondus Lockdown Browser limits a device’s features and options to allow for someone to take a secure exams in Canvas on virtually any laptop or iPad. Instructors will advise students on if this software is needed for assessments in their classes.
Note that the point of this software is to disallow common computer activities to ensure exam security. As such, it requires as few programs to be running on the computer as possible and will not run properly when certain types of software (especially webcam enhancements, software with screen capture capabilities, software that can pop up over other windows on your screen such as gaming overlays, and software that has the ability to alter functions of the keyboard or other controls) is running. We recommend having a dedicated up-to-date device for your assessments that has these disabled if you need to use this software regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check for the orange icons for actions that may immediately resolve your issues.Getting the Browser for a Laptop
- If you have used the Respondus Lockdown Browser at a previous institution, please uninstall it first.
- To download the Respondus Lockdown Browser, visit .
- The page should automatically detect your browser, but if not, there is a toggle to switch versions in the “Version” section.
- Click Install Now, and follow the prompts to install the software.
Getting the Browser for an iPad
- If you have an iPad, you can download the Lockdown Browser from either Self Service or the .
- Once installed, it will prompt to Select Institution. Type in “North Carolina” in the search bar, and select University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
- Once configured, it will navigate to Canvas. Click Login at the top left to login navigate to your course and quiz.
The way you access your assessment with Lockdown Browser will depend on the type of quiz engine your instructor uses.
Video Demos
Classic Quizzes
When you access a classic quiz, it will look like this:
Classic Quizzes must be launched by first opening the Lockdown Browser and navigating to the quiz within it.
- Open the Lockdown Browser app on your device, and login to Canvas.
- Navigate to your course and the quiz you have been assigned.
- Launch the quiz. It will cue you to force any applications running in the background closed. If the app fails to close, use the Windows Task Manager (CTRL + Shift + Esc) or the Mac Force Quit (Command + Option + Esc) to force the app closed.
- The browser should them prompt you to go into lockdown mode and allow you to take the quiz.
New Quizzes
When you access a new quiz, it will look like this:
New Quizzes must be launched by first opening a regular web browser, navigating to the quiz, and launching it which will in turn prompt to launch the Lockdown Browser.
- Open any traditional web browser on your device, and login to Canvas.
- Navigate to your course and the quiz you have been assigned.
- Launch the quiz. Your web browser will ask permission to launch the Lockdown Browser. cue you to force any applications running in the background closed. If the app fails to close, use the Windows Task Manager (CTRL + Shift + Esc) or the Mac Force Quit (Command + Option + Esc) to force the app closed.
- The browser should them prompt you to go into lockdown mode and allow you to take the quiz.
As with any secure browser, the software will be dependent on the state of your system. It looks for any software or processes that could affect the integrity of the exam content. We have noticed two particular software issues that affect a lot of students.
- Karabiner Elements – Many students use this to program a third party game controller as an Anki remote for their Mac. Because of the nature of what this software is enabled to do on your system, you will need to completely to use the Lockdown Browser — forcing it closed does not work alone.
- Canvas App – Due to some unresolved protocol conflicts, you cannot use the Lockdown Browser iPad app if you have the Canvas App installed. When the Canvas app is installed, it forces all Canvas links systemwide to attempt to launch within it, meaning that quizzes will attempt to open in the app instead of Lockdown Browser.
Accessing Lockdown Browser
Note: Launch Lockdown Browser first for Classic Quizzes and use a regular browser first for New Quizzes.