Respondus Lockdown Browser

This page will provide information about the Respondus Lockdown Browser integrated within all Canvas courses. It can be used with New Quizzes and Classic Quizzes.

What is Respondus Lockdown Browser?

The lockdown browser option in Canvas provides a more secure setting for in-person invigilated computer based assessments by allowing the instructor to:

  • restrict the students' ability to navigate away from the quiz
  • restrict students from opening a new window or tab
  • restrict students running programmes associated with communication (whatsapp, Teams) or recording (screenrecording, Studio)
  • restrict right clicking
  • restrict printing
  • restrict screenshotting
  • restrict any browser add-on
  • restrict copying/pasting

The Lockdown Browser is not intended for use or considered secure for any assessment taken by students outside an in-person invigilated environment (i.e. at home).

Introduction to Respondus Lockdown Browser

Respondus LockDown Browser is an item in the course navigation menu.

This links with any quizzes currently in your course - or any that you create later - and allows you to require students to take the quiz only within the LockDown browser setting. The LockDown browser has been added to PC Suites and can also be downloaded to students' personal devices (e.g. laptops).

There is no monitoring software associated with our version of the LockDown browser. The intended use for the LockDown browser is within in-person, proctored settings.

How do I require a Quiz to be taken using the LockDown browser?

Navigate to the LockDown Browser item on the course menu. Select the relevant quiz, choose 'settings' and set it to require the LockDown Browser. You can additionally review the optional settings and add or remove any of these, including adding a password.

Watch the video below for a full guide on this process.

Allow yourself and your students to practice using the Lockdown Browser by creating a practice quiz with the same requirements and settings. The practice quiz can be as simple as one question, but doing so ensures your students have practiced the process (and downloaded the software to their device, if relevant).

How do students take a LockDown browser required Quiz from a PC Suite?

Students log into the computer and navigate to the LockDown browser icon. This will open and prompt them to log into Canvas. Students navigate to the relevant course and quiz - and then take the quiz within this LockDown browser. Upon submitting, they exit out of the LockDown browser.

Watch the video below for a full demonstration of this process for both New Quizzes and Classic Quizzes.

How do students take a LockDown brower required Quiz from their own device?

Students can navigate to the relevant quiz - upon clicking on it, a tab will open that prompts them to download the LockDown browser. Once they have installed this programme, they can return to Canvas and click into the quiz again. This time, it will open within the LockDown browser.

Find additional support from Respondus directly at the following links:

Note also that there is built-in support in the Lockdown Browser item in Canvas.