Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor

Last Updated: 2/11/2025

Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within Canvas. Students are unable to copy, print, chat, or access any other applications or websites during an online exam. Respondus Monitor is an optional service enabled through LockDown Browser. Monitor uses webcam and video technology to allow students the opportunity to take quizzes or exams remotely.

Respondus LockDown Browser can be made available for students to download on their own computers (see Using LockDown Browser for more information). It is also available on most Northwestern library computers as part of the standard library software package.

 PLEASE NOTE

  • Review Canvas and Assessment Security for information and instructions on using Respondus LockDown Browser with MFA.
  • Faculty should attend one of the daily webinars offered by Respondus before using the tool. Register for a Webinar. Links to an external site.
  • Faculty should add a description of LockDown Browser (and, if applicable, Monitor) to their syllabus, including links to the student quick start guide and student download link to the browser (see below).
  • Faculty must also offer a short, no-stakes practice exam for students that uses LockDown Browser and Monitor before giving them a real live exam.
  • Please note that Respondus Monitor’s Student Terms of Use were recently updated.  Students are advised to carefully review the Student Terms of Use prior to using the software.
  • Check for outages on the Repsondus status page: https://status.respondus.com/ Links to an external site.

 

How Respondus Works

LockDown Browser only works in conjunction with the Quizzes tool in Canvas. Instructors build a quiz (this can be anything from a final exam with multiple question types to a one question essay exam). Once the quiz has been built, instructors will go to Respondus Lockdown Browser in their course and enable the tool for that quiz. Students will download the custom browser to their computer and take the exam from there. 

While LockDown Browser is ideal for exam proctoring in computer lab or classroom settings, Monitor allows students to take quizzes or exams remotely during a scheduled testing window. Through student webcam authentication and recording, suspicious behavior is flagged and videos are available in Canvas for faculty to review.

Using LockDown Browser

Before you get started, review Respondus’ Online Instructor Resources Links to an external site. (this includes information for your syllabus and a student overview video). Download the instructor and student quick start guides as well. Instructor quick start guides Links to an external site. are available. Student quick start guides Links to an external site. are also available. This includes information for your syllabus. We also recommend watching the Canvas overview and Preparing an exam videos Links to an external site..

  1. Instructors add LockDown Browser to their course clicking on the Learning Apps tab on the left hand navigation of their course (if this tab does not appear on the left hang navigation, click on Settings and then Navigation to move the Learning Apps tab into the active section of the course navigation). Scroll down to Respondus LockDown Browser and select install now. The tool will then appear in the left navigation of the course. PLEASE NOTE: Only those with the Instructor role in a Canvas course will see this tab; students and TAs will not have access.
    • If your course is offered through Feinberg School of Medicine or Northwestern University in Qatar, check the left navigation in your Canvas course, as LockDown Browser may already be available there.
  2. After building a quiz in Canvas, click on the Respondus LockDown Browser tab in the left navigation and select the quizzes that should use LockDown Browser and/or Monitor.
    • Click on Advanced settings to allow specific exceptions such as allowing students to use calculators, access certain web domains, or to take the exam with an iPad or Chromebook. 
  3.  Inform students that the quiz will require the use of LockDown Browser:

Instructors can set Lockdown browser settings in Canvas.

Using Monitor

Monitor is used with LockDown Browser and allows students to take quizzes or exams remotely during a scheduled testing window. Through student webcam authentication and recording, suspicious behavior is flagged and videos are available in Canvas for faculty to review. Monitor also offers a screen recording Links to an external site. option.

Before deploying Monitor, follow the above steps to add LockDown Browser to your course, and then review Respondus’ Online Instructor Resources for Lockdown Browser Links to an external site. and Monitor Links to an external site. (this includes information for your syllabus and a overview videos). You may also download the instructor Links to an external site. and student quick start guides (select either Classic or New Quizzes student quick-start guides Links to an external site.).

Using LockDown Browser with Zoom

If Respondus Monitor is not preferable, or if students need the option to work out questions on scratch paper while still using LockDown Browser in a proctored scenario, instructor live proctoring is an option. This allows students to take the exam through LockDown Browser while in a Zoom meeting (Monitor is not used in this scenario).  

Please review instructions for using Zoom with LockDown Browser Links to an external site.. Review additional resources and a video walk through Links to an external site. of instructor live proctoring with Zoom. 

NEW: Chromebook Final Release

Students

  • Log into the Chromebook start Google Chrome
  • Log into Canvas and navigate to the exam that requires LockDown Browser
  • Select the link for downloading and installing LockDown Browser
  • From the Chrome web store, select “Add to Chrome” to install the LockDown Browser Extension

The following Knowledge Base article provides additional information about LockDown Browser for Chromebook, including feature limitations and known issues: LockDown Browser and Respondus for Chromebook Links to an external site.. 

If you have technical questions, or would like to report bugs/issues, please open a support ticket Links to an external site.. Be sure to indicate you are using LockDown Browser for Chromebook.

Student and Instructor Support Options

Please note that Respondus Monitor’s Student Terms of Use were recently updated.  Students are advised to carefully review the Student Terms of Use prior to using the software.

Respondus offers support and connection testing options before a student begins an exam. They also recommend these troubleshooting tips if you are experiencing technical issues:

Additional tips to consider:

  • Update your computer’s operating system if you have not done so recently.
  • Check for an updated version of LockDown Browser (when you have launched LockDown Browser, click on the “About LockDown Browser” menu item in the top toolbar -- this is an “i” icon on PCs or a globe icon on Macs).
  • If your instructor has made a practice quiz available, take it under the same conditions as the real quiz/exam (same room, same lighting, etc.). You may need to add more lighting to your workspace when using Respondus Monitor to ensure the program can recognize your face during the assessment.
  • Use a wired/ethernet connection to the internet, if possible. If that is not possible, position yourself as close to your wifi router as possible.
  • Restart your computer within 12 hours before your assessment.
  • Close as many programs on your computer as possible before launching LockDown Browser -- the program will try to close any programs not allowed to run while in LockDown Browser, but it may struggle if it has to close several programs. You can improve your chances of successfully launching LockDown Browser by closing other web browsers, any messaging or communication programs (Zoom, Teams, etc.), and any search functions native to your computer (Siri, Cortana, etc.).
  • If the size of text and images in LockDown Browser is too small, students can change their computer's settings:
    • On Windows: Press Ctrl and + to zoom in (Ctrl and – zooms out) -OR- click the small "i" at the top left of the LockDown Browser toolbar. Adjust the Zoom Level in the options window that appears. Make sure to click "Apply" and then "OK".
    • On Mac: Press Command and + to zoom in (Command and – zooms out). Some older keyboards have an icon (⌘) instead of the word command.
  • Issue with the Lockdown Browser not working for students and is accompanied by an error message indicating that the instructor needs to take action. The fix requires instructors or admins who copy or import course content to click on the Lockdown Browser tab in the left navigation at least once to activate the tool and quiz settings for that course.
  • Remember, testing on a Northwestern Library computer may be your best option if you are unable to successfully launch LockDown Browser on your personal computer. Check the location/lab where you plan to test before the exam to ensure LockDown Browser is available there and the testing environment will be suitable.

Be sure to stay in contact with your professor if you encounter issues using LockDown Browser or Respondus Monitor. Professors understand that tech issues happen, and they can work with you to find solutions when problems arise.