Menu Search

Respondus

Respondus LockDown Browser is a locked browser for taking assessments or quizzes in Canvas. 

Online Proctoring

Respondus prevents you from printing, copying, going to another URL, or accessing other applications during a quiz. If a Canvas quiz requires that LockDown Browser be used, you will not be able to take the assessment or quiz with a standard web browser. You may be required to use LockDown Browser with a webcam (Respondus Monitor), which will record you during an online exam.

The webcam can be built into your computer or can be the type that plugs in with a USB cable. Watch this short video to get a basic understanding of LockDown Browser and the webcam feature. A student Quick Start Student Guide is also available for Classic Quizzes and New Quizzes. 

If virtual machine software is detected on your device, you won't be able to run LockDown Browser, and you'll receive a warning, "The browser can't be used in virtual machine software such as Virtual PC, VMWare, and Parallels." You can find examples of VM software and troubleshooting steps on Respondus's FAQ page for this topic. 

The link for downloading the LockDown browser will be provided by the instructor. If the instructor does not provide a link, please reach out to them. Instructors should either reach out to servicedesk@njit.edu to receive the link if they do not currently have it, or can share this Syllabus Language with students in their courses. 

Download Lockdown Browser and then complete the following steps depending on which quizzing engine is being used in your course:

For “Classic” Quizzes in Canvas

The LockDown Browser integration with Classic Quizzes still requires students to (1) manually start LockDown Browser, (2) log into Canvas, and (3) navigate to the quiz that requires LockDown Browser.

  1. Once your download and installation has finished, locate the “LockDown Browser” shortcut on your desktop and double-click it. (For Mac users, launch “LockDown Browser” from the Applications folder.)
  2. You will be brought to the Webauth Authentication Service page, where you can log in with your NJIT UCID and password.
  3. From your Dashboard or under “Courses”, click on the course in which you have to take the exam that requires LockDown Browser.
  4. After you enter the course, find the exam and click on it.
  5. Click the “Take the Quiz” button. Once a quiz has been started with LockDown Browser, you cannot exit until the “Submit Quiz” button is clicked.
  6. If you are required to use a webcam (Respondus Monitor), you will be prompted to complete a Webcam Check and other Startup Sequence steps.

For “New” Quizzes in Canvas

If a New Quizzes assessment requires the use of LockDown Browser, it will automatically launch from the student’s regular browser session. At the end of the quiz, LockDown Browser will close, allowing the student to continue with their standard browser. To be clear, the LockDown Browser application must first be installed to the computer or device. But once installed, it will automatically launch (and close) as needed with New Quizzes.

  1. Once your download and installation has finished, log into Canvas using your standard browser.
  2. From your Dashboard or under “Courses”, click on the course in which you have to take the exam that requires LockDown Browser.
  3. After you enter the course, find the exam and click on it.
  4. A new tab will open with a message stating “Assessment Loading”. You will also see a pop-up window asking you to open Lockdown Browser. Click “Open Lockdown Browser”.
  5. Lockdown Browser will automatically launch and your quiz will be loaded into Lockdown Browser. Click “Begin” to take the quiz. Once a quiz has been started with LockDown Browser, you cannot exit until the “Submit Quiz” button is clicked.
  6. If you are required to use a webcam (Respondus Monitor), you will be prompted to complete a Webcam Check and other Startup Sequence steps.

Taking Your Exam on an iPad

If you want to take your exam on your iPad, you must ask your instructor to enable this feature from within the course settings and download the LockDown Browser app.

For information about Repondus’s privacy policies, please visit their Privacy Center.

Tips for Ensuring a Smooth Experience while using Lockdown Browser:

  • A Live Chat feature is available to help students while Lockdown Browser is going through the ID verification, webcam/system check process. This Live Chat is only available before the exam begins during the initial startup process.
  • If you experience technical issues during the exam, speak into the webcam and say out loud what the issue is so it is documented.
  • Make sure Lockdown Browser is fully up to date prior to the exam (start up Lockdown Browser and click the small "i" icon at the top left corner and then click "Check for Updates").
  • Access the Help Center while in LockDown Browser so that you can run a Webcam Check and System Check. If you aren't able to pass the system check, you may need to use a different computer or network. You also may want to temporarily disable your antivirus software. Remember to re-enable it after taking the exam.
  • Whenever possible, use an ethernet (wired) connection with Lockdown Browser and Monitor. Intermittent lag, timeouts, and dropped/interrupted connections may occur via wireless connection and can cause issues such as Lockdown Browser freezing-up on users with weak/slow connections, quiz answers not being saved or submitted, and embedded images in the quiz loading very slowly or not at all.
  • For more information and support, please visit the Respondus Knowledge Center.