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Documentation for testing center staff

Respondus LockDown Browser

Setting up LockDown Browser in Testing Centers

Staff at Testing Centers can require Respondus LockDown Browser for a location. When this is enabled, students with reservations in that location take their exams in LockDown Browser, whether they use computers provided by Testing Centers or bring their own devices.

PrairieTest supports LockDown Browser only for exams delivered through PrairieLearn.

For an overview of how computer ownership and exam delivery modes affect security, see Choosing an exam security level.

The setting lives on the location, not on each session. Center-associated sessions inherit the location's LockDown Browser setting automatically — there is no per-session toggle for center sessions.

You can enable LockDown Browser for online locations that are proctored with Zoom. Because LockDown Browser hides the Zoom link on the exam device, students must join the Zoom meeting on a separate device.

Installing LockDown Browser

PrairieTest does not install or verify LockDown Browser. Students cannot start a LockDown Browser exam on a computer that does not have it installed.

PrairieTest exams require the version distributed by PrairieLearn. A copy installed from another service or website may not open when students click Open in LockDown Browser. If a computer already has LockDown Browser installed from somewhere else, install it again using the appropriate installer below. It's safe to have multiple versions of LockDown Browser installed.

Computers provided by Testing Centers

Center managers or proctors must install LockDown Browser on every computer that will be used for these exams.

For shared, managed Windows computers, use the Windows MSI lab installer. Respondus only provides a lab installer for Windows.

Download lab installer (Windows MSI)

For shared, managed Mac computers, use the regular macOS installer. Respondus does not provide a separate macOS lab edition because administrator privileges are required only for installation and updates. Install or update it with an administrator account; restricted users can launch and use the installed application without administrator privileges.

For Windows computers that are not deployed through the lab MSI, use the regular Windows installer.

Download regular installer (macOS) Download regular installer (Windows)

Student-owned computers

At bring-your-own-device locations, students must install LockDown Browser on their own computers before exam day. LockDown Browser runs only on Windows and Mac computers; it is not available for any other system. Send students to the LockDown Browser student documentation for full installation and launch instructions.

Enable LockDown Browser for a location

  1. Determine whether the location provides computers or requires students to bring their own devices.
  2. For computers provided by Testing Centers, install LockDown Browser on every computer that will be used. For student-owned computers, notify students that they must install it before exam day.
  3. Coordinate with course staff so students know that the exam requires LockDown Browser.
  4. Open the location's Settings page, find LockDown Browser, click edit, and turn it on.

Testing before exam day

Before relying on LockDown Browser for exam security, run a practice reservation for each computer setup supported by the location. Confirm that a student can open the reservation from PrairieTest, click Open in LockDown Browser, and reach the exam.