Use the steps below to require students to take a Canvas quiz using Respondus LockDown Browser.
- Ensure the quiz has been published in your Canvas course.
- LockDown Browser settings can only be applied to published quizzes.
Configure LockDown Browser for a Quiz
Step 1: Open the LockDown Browser Dashboard
- In your Canvas course, select LockDown Browser from the Course Navigation menu.
- If LockDown Browser is not visible in the course navigation, enable it in your course settings.
Note for Instructors: Students do not see the LockDown Browser link in the Course Navigation menu.
Step 2: Review Available Resources
When the LockDown Browser dashboard opens, you will see information about the tool, including links to instructor and student guides.
Step 3: Locate Your Quiz
A list of quizzes in the course will be displayed.
- Required: Students must use LockDown Browser to take the quiz.
- Not Required: Students can take the quiz without LockDown Browser.
Step 4: Modify Quiz Settings
- Select the drop-down arrow next to the quiz title.
- Choose Modify Settings.
- Select the desired LockDown Browser options for the quiz.
Step 5: Configure Additional Options (Optional)
You can also:
- Require LockDown Browser to view quiz feedback and results.
- Create an access code that students must enter before starting the quiz.
If an access code is required, LockDown Browser will prompt students to enter the code before they can begin the quiz.
Step 6: Save Your Changes
Select Save + Close to apply the settings.
Important: Copied or Imported Quizzes
If you copy or import a quiz from another Canvas course or section, you must open the LockDown Browser dashboard in the new course and review the quiz settings.
Failure to do so may cause students to receive an error message instructing them to contact their instructor to enable LockDown Browser for the quiz.
Additional Resources
For guides, tutorials, and videos for both instructors and students, visit the https://web.respondus.com/he/lockdownbrowser/resources/.
Respondus also offers demonstration webinars for faculty on using LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor.
Video Tutorial: Preparing a Quiz with Respondus LockDown Browser in Canvas
Students can use the iPad Edition of Respondus LockDown Browser (available from the Apple App Store) to take exams that require LockDown Browser. To allow this option, instructors must enable the iPad setting for each exam individually.
If your exam also uses Respondus Monitor, students can complete the proctored assessment using the iPad Edition of LockDown Browser, as Respondus Monitor is supported on iPads.
Before You Begin
- The LockDown Browser app for iPad must be installed on the student's device.
- The instructor must enable the iPad access setting for each exam.
- This setting is disabled by default.
Enable iPad Access for an Exam
Follow these steps to allow students to take an exam using the iPad Edition of LockDown Browser:
- Log in to your course using an instructor account.
- Open the Respondus LockDown Browser dashboard.
- Locate the exam and select Modify Settings.
- Select Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam.
- Expand Advanced Settings.
- Select Allow students to take this exam with an iPad.
- Select Save and Close to apply your changes.
Student Instructions
After iPad access is enabled, students can take the exam using the LockDown Browser app for iPad.
For step-by-step instructions, students should follow the guidance provided in the Respondus article:
Instructors can choose whether students are required to remain in LockDown Browser until they submit their exam, or whether they may exit the exam early if needed.
By default, the "Lock students into the browser until exam is completed" setting is disabled (off). When this setting is off, students who leave an exam before submitting it must provide a reason for exiting. Instructors can review these responses from the LockDown Browser Dashboard.
Configure the Setting
- Open the LockDown Browser Dashboard.
- Locate the exam and select Modify Settings.
- Under Advanced Settings, find Lock students into the browser until exam is completed.
If the setting is enabled
Students cannot exit LockDown Browser until they submit the exam for grading.
If the setting is disabled (default)
Students may exit the exam before submission if a problem or emergency occurs, such as an internet connection failure.
What is the Students Experience
If a student attempts to exit an exam while the setting is disabled, a prompt appears asking whether they want to close the browser.
If the student selects Close the Browser, they must enter a reason for leaving the exam before it is submitted.
Viewing Early Exit Reports
When a student exits an exam early, LockDown Browser records:
- The date and time of the exit
- The reason provided by the student
This information is available in the LockDown Browser Dashboard.
A numeric notification appears on the exam's context menu when new early exits are reported.
To review the details:
- Open the exam's context menu.
- Select Review Early Exits.
The report displays when the student exited the exam and the explanation they provided.
Important Notes
Version Requirement: The early exit feature is available only in LockDown Browser version 1.0.6 or later. Students using older versions will be locked into the exam regardless of the instructor's settings.
Exam Attempts: If a student exits an exam early and the exam allows only one attempt, the instructor may need to reset the student's attempt before they can resume or retake the exam.
By default, if a quiz or exam contains a link to an external website, students can view the initial page, but any additional links or navigation from that page are blocked.
To allow students to access content within a specific website during an assessment, use the Allow access to specific external web domains setting in Respondus LockDown Browser.
Enable Access To External Domains
- Open the LockDown Browser Dashboard.
- Select the exam or quiz.
- Click Modify Settings.
- Expand Advanced Settings.
- Enable Allow access to specific external web domains.
This setting allows students to navigate within approved websites during the assessment. For example, you may want students to access an online e-book or reference resource while taking an exam.
Before Adding an External Domain
To ensure the external website can be accessed:
- Add the website link directly within a quiz question (typically the first question).
- Do not place the link only in quiz instructions or other content outside the active assessment.
- Configure the link to open in a new tab or window.
- Do not configure the link to open in the same browser window.
Entering Approved Domains
Examples
Domain
respondus.com
URL (Do Not Enter)
https://www.respondus.comGuidelines
- Enter multiple domains separated by commas.
- Do not include:
http://https://- URL parameters beginning with
?
- You can allow domains and specific paths, but not complete URLs entered as web links.
Important Canvas Restrictions
Do not add:
- Your institution's Learning Management System (LMS) domain.
- Another LMS domain.
Attempting to allow access to an LMS within LockDown Browser, or allowing students to sign in to one LMS and launch an exam in another LMS, is unsupported and can result in errors.
Example: Amazon Kindle Cloud Reader
To provide access to Kindle Cloud Reader during an exam, add the following domains:
read.amazon.com
www.amazon.com/ap/signin
Separate each entry with a comma in the Allow access to specific external web domains field.
You must also include a link to the Kindle site within a quiz question. Simply adding the domain to the approved list is not enough. Without a clickable link in the assessment, students will not be able to access the site.
Student Experience
When a student selects an approved link:
- The website opens in a separate browser tab.
- The tab remains available throughout the assessment unless the student closes it.
- If the link is placed in the first question, students can keep the resource open for the duration of the exam.
Troubleshooting: "Link is Blocked"
If a student receives a "Link is Blocked" message:
- Click the ? icon displayed in the message.
- Review the blocked URL shown in the pop-up window.
- Identify the domain associated with that URL.
- Add the domain to the Allow access to specific external web domains list.
- Republish or update the exam settings as needed.
Many websites load content from multiple domains, so additional domains may need to be added before students can access all required resources.
Unsupported E-Texbook Platforms
Some digital textbooks use Digital Rights Management (DRM) and require content to be downloaded and viewed in a separate application. These platforms are not supported within LockDown Browser.
Examples include:
- Kindle (offline app access)
- Adobe Digital Editions
- Kobo
- OverDrive
If the required resource depends on an unsupported application, students will need an alternate supported device (such as a tablet or e-reader) or access to a printed version of the material.
Known Limitation
The Allow access to specific external web domains option is not available when using:
- McGraw-Hill ALEKS integrations
- Pearson MyLab integrations
with the OEM Edition of LockDown Browser.
Quick Checklist for Instructors
Before testing your exam, verify that:
☐ The external link is included in a quiz question.
☐ The link opens in a new tab or window.
☐ The required domains are added to the approved list.
☐ No protocol (http:// or https://) is included.
☐ Students have tested access to the resource.
☐ Any additional domains identified through "Link is Blocked" messages have been added.
By default, Respondus LockDown Browser prevents students from opening other applications while taking an assessment, including the built-in Windows Calculator or Mac Calculator. If an instructor wants students to have access to a calculator during an exam, a calculator can be enabled directly within LockDown Browser.
Enable the Calculator for an Assessment
- Open the LockDown Browser Dashboard in Canvas.
- Locate the exam and select Settings.
- Choose Advanced Settings.
- Select Enable Calculator on the toolbar.
- Choose one of the following options:
- Standard Calculator for basic calculations
- Scientific Calculator for advanced mathematical functions
- Save your changes.
Student Experience:
Once the calculator is enabled, students will see a calculator icon on the LockDown Browser toolbar during the exam. Selecting the icon opens the calculator within LockDown Browser without allowing access to any external applications.
- Standard Calculator: Supports basic arithmetic operations.
- Scientific Calculator: Includes advanced functions such as exponents, trigonometric calculations, and logarithms.
The standard calculator:
The scientific calculator:
Troubleshooting
If the calculator icon does not appear during an exam:
- Verify that the calculator has been enabled in the LockDown Browser Dashboard.
- Ensure that LockDown Browser can connect to the Respondus service:
smc-service-cloud.respondus2.com
- If the computer, firewall, antivirus software, or network is blocking access to this server, the calculator icon may not appear.
Accessbility Note
The built-in LockDown Browser calculator allows students to perform calculations without leaving the testing environment. Students who require additional accommodations should contact their instructor or the appropriate accessibility services office before the exam to discuss approved testing accommodations.
Important: Students cannot access the Windows or Mac calculator applications while using LockDown Browser. Only the calculator enabled by the instructor within LockDown Browser will be available during the assessment.
LockDown Browser includes a basic spreadsheet tool that enables .xls/.xlsx spreadsheets to be viewed and manipulated during an exam session. This functionality is available for Windows, Mac, and iPad editions of LockDown Browser.
Within the quiz tool of the learning system, an instructor should add a link to the spreadsheet in the question wording. Exactly how this link is determined and then added to the question differs with each LMS. In most cases, you should:
* Upload the spreadsheet to a content area in the course.
* In the content area, right click on the spreadsheet title and choose "copy link location" (wording will vary depending on the browser used).
* Paste that link directly into the quiz question.
The .csv file type is not supported. Please convert this file type to .xls/.xlsx before attempting to use it with LockDown Browser.
When a student selects the link within LockDown Browser, a spreadsheet tool will open. The spreadsheet can be pre-populated with content, or it can be a blank spreadsheet created in another spreadsheet app, which students use to prepare their answers.
As an example, the spreadsheet tool might be used with a multiple choice question. As shown below, a link provides access to a pre-populated spreadsheet. The student calculates the answer and then selects one of the answer choices.
The image below shows the spreadsheet that was used for this exam question.
Alternatively, an instructor can require students to create or modify a spreadsheet and submit it for grading. The example below shows how a short answer or essay question can be used for this purpose.
The question wording itself should provide guidance on the steps a student should follow. As shown above, students are instructed to 1) select the link that opens a pre-populated spreadsheet, 2) create the required formula or calculation, 3) select the button “Click here to save your work”, and 4) paste the resulting URL into the answer field for the essay or short answer question.
After the spreadsheet file has been saved, a dialog will remind students to copy the resulting URL to the answer field using CTRL + V.
Following the exam, the instructor will see a unique URL within the LMS for each student who provided an answer for the essay or short answer question. Upon selecting the URL with a standard browser (not LockDown Browser), the spreadsheet tool will open and the student’s work will be shown for that question.
Note: the spreadsheet tool is not available for the McGraw-Hill ALEKS or Pearson MyLab integrations.
• LockDown Browser is a custom browser prevents cheating during online tests, that locks the student into their Canvas exam, and disables their ability to print, copy, visit other websites or access other applications while the exam is in progress.
• It is strongly recommended that you have a low-stakes or practice quiz that uses LockDown Browser prior to using it for a graded test. This will give students the opportunity to download the browser, work through any technical difficulties, and get comfortable with it.
• LockDown Browser settings are controlled via the dashboard in your Canvas course.
Please note:
• Allow specific students to access this exam with screen readers – Students with disabilities will have a better experience with this setting enabled.
• Allow students to take this exam with an iPad – Students who have downloaded the LockDown Browser app on their iPad can take quizzes on their tablet, but ONLY if this option is enabled for the quiz. Student instructions for using this option are available on the Respondus support website.
Office Hours with Respondus Trainers
Instructors can schedule a free, 15-minute screen share with a Respondus trainer. This “office hours” appointment is a great way to ask general questions about online proctoring with Respondus Monitor.
Using an instructor login for the LMS, go to the LockDown Browser tool and select the LockDown Browser setting for a quiz. Then select the “Questions?” button to schedule a session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How can I help my students understand how to download and use LockDown Browser?
A. Share the companion "Tips for Students" document in your course(s). We recommend informing your students early in your course that you will be using LockDown Browser, especially if you are using Monitor and they need a webcam. Also, remind and re-share the "Tips for Students" document with them before each assessment that requires LockDown Browser.
Q. If my students have technical difficulties, who can they contact?
A. Their first resource is the college or district helpdesk. Phone numbers are listed on the IT Help Desk. Students should not contact Canvas Support – Since LockDown Browser is a third-party integration, Canvas usually cannot help when issues arise. Please help your students plan accordingly as help desks are not available 24/7.
Q. Can I download LockDown Browser and try it to see what the student experience is like?
A. Sure! Go to the download site and install LockDown Browser on your computer (you may need IT to assist you if you are installing it on your work computer). Then open the LockDown Browser, log in, and go to the course. Go to Settings Student View, and once you are in the student view, take the quiz.
Q. Where do I register for free training webinars?
Register for a free training webinar on LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor at the following link: https://web.respondus.com/webinars/ (https://web.respondus.com/webinars/).