LockDown Browser User Guide for Students

LockDown Browser is a proctoring tool, made by the company Respondus, that your instructor can add to a quiz in Canvas to lock down your computer environment and monitor your activities during the exam.

LockDown Browser can be used in a classroom setting, or when you're taking an exam remotely. It maintains your focus on a Canvas quiz by temporarily preventing you from opening other apps, browsers, etc, on your computer.

Your instructor may use an additional feature of LockDown Browser called Respondus Monitor to proctor the exam. Respondus Monitor creates a recording of your webcam and screen for later review. It's designed to be used when you're not in a classroom setting. If this feature is in use you'll see a "Recording" indication while you're taking the exam in Canvas with the LockDown Browser app.

LockDown Browser Instructions

  1. Your instructor will include specific instructions for you within the Canvas course on how to download and use LockDown Browser. If you can't find these instructions in the Canvas course please ask your instructor to tell you where they are posted.
  2. When a quiz requires LockDown Browser that information is included in the quiz title.

Download LockDown Browser

The instructions provided by your instructor include a link for downloading the LockDown Browser app.

Be sure to use that link because it's a Tufts-specific version of LockDown Browser.

Here's the link: https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=694543449

Security and Privacy with LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor

  • Like all Tufts-approved software, LockDown Browser has been rigorously screened and approved by Tufts' information security team.  
  • LockDown Browser has an optional feature called Respondus Monitor which records your webcam and screen during an exam. This feature performs face detection in that it looks for a face (any face) in the video frame during the exam, but it does not do identity recognition (e.g. matching a face to information about that person), and does not capture or store any biometric data.
  • Please see: Respondus Monitor's Data Privacy Overview for a list of what the software does and does not do.

Good Internet Connection

A reliable internet connection is essential for you to have a good online test experience. Be sure to read through this guide from Respondus before your actual exam:

LockDown Browser: Ensure a Smooth Test-Taking Experience

Secure Wi-Fi

If you are accessing a Canvas exam while on campus you must use Tufts_Secure or Tufts_Secure_6e and not use any other wi-fi network. Other wi-fi connections may be unstable or not secure, causing you to lose connectivity and lose work in the middle of an exam.

See: AccessTufts: WiFi - Choose a WiFi Network

Internet Connection During an Exam

If you are taking an exam in Canvas (with or without LockDown Browser) and you see an onscreen alert saying there's a problem with your internet connection, it's important that you pause taking the test and do the following to avoid losing any work:

  1. Let your instructor know there's an issue and show them the onscreen alert
  2. Use your phone to take a picture of the alert, so you can send it later to [email protected]
  3. Exit out of LockDown Browser / Canvas temporarily
  4. Change your location in the room. If possible move closer to one of the wi-fi antennas.
  5. Re-open Canvas and re-launch the exam

Tech Support

Several resources are available if you encounter problems with LockDown Browser —

During Installation and Practice with LockDown Browser:

During an Actual Exam:

  • The LockDown Browser app has a "Help Center" button located on the toolbar to access help 24/7 via chat. Use the "System & Network Check" to troubleshoot issues. If an exam requires you to use a webcam, also run the "Webcam Check" from this area.
  • If your screen is frozen during an exam with LockDown Browser, or you get a "failed to load" or "timed out" error message, Canvas has saved your work, so do the following:
    • Quit out of all apps
    • Shut your computer down all the way
    • Re-start your computer
    • Go back into Canvas and re-launch the exam
  • If you need help urgently call the TTS help desk at 617-627-3376. NOTE: when you call you will be advised to restart your computer as described above.