What Is Respondus LockDown Browser?

Respondus LockDown Browser gives teachers the ability to give students a test that can only be accessed through a special browser that locks students from being able to access other websites and applications on their devices. This can be used for online or face-to-face tests through an LMS (Canvas).

Before using this tool, please note that it may interfere with some students' abilities to access your test successfully due to differences in systems and some extensions used for accessibility purposes. You'll want to make sure all of your students have an appropriate device and programs that support their needs while testing (see Respondus LockDown Browser system requirements and accessibility features). If your students use unsupported devices or programs, you will need to verify they have an alternative (supported) device or program or you have a backup plan for unsupported devices, programs, or technical issues.

Please note that Chapman University does NOT have Respondus Monitor.

Step 1: Adding Respondus LockDown Browser to Course Navigation

The first step is to add LockDown Browser to the navigation menu in your Canvas course(s).

Inside each Canvas course, click Settings at the bottom of the course navigation menu.
Click the Navigation tab.
Find LockDown Browser in the bottom group of items that are currently disabled.
Either hold and drag LockDown Browser up to the top group of items, or click on the three dots on the right, then select Enable.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and Save.

Step 2: Adding Respondus LockDown Browser to a Quiz

Next, you will need to require Respondus LockDown Browser for each Canvas quiz that you would like students to take using Respondus LockDown Browser.

Click LockDown Browser in your Canvas course navigation menu.
Find the quiz in the listing and click on the V to the left of the quiz name.
Select Settings.
Select Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam.
IMPORTANT: If you have students who will be taking the exam using an iPad, be sure to open the Advanced Settings and select Allow students to take this exam with an iPad. We also recommend unchecking Require LockDown Browser to view feedback and results. Canvas will not allow students to view their results "Immediately after completing the quiz" with this setting selected.
Click Save + Close. The LockDown Browser column will now show Required for the quiz.

Advanced Settings in LockDown Browser

Step 3: Setting Students up for Success

Students need to download Respondus LockDown Browser on their devices using a special link for Chapman University. Please share this Student Respondus LockDown Browser information page with your students. This page contains the Chapman-specific link for downloading Respondus LockDown Browser and other information students need to be successful.

Tips for Success

✅ We highly recommend creating a practice quiz with a question or two that allows your students to practice using the LockDown Browser with a Canvas quiz before using it in a high-stakes testing environment. There are multiple reasons why a student might get errors the first time they try to use Respondus. Giving students time to work with Respondus Support to resolve these errors before a high-stakes test is essential. Students can use the Respondus Support website to search for their error or use the button at the top of the screen to submit a ticket directly to Respondus. When you create the practice quiz in your Canvas course, we recommend selecting the setting to Allow Multiple Attempts. This will allow students to take the practice quiz as many times as they need to (for example, if they get a new device).

The Allow Multiple Attempts setting in Canvas Classic Quizzes

✅ After doing a course copy AND each time you copy a quiz into your Canvas course, you will need to click on LockDown Browser in your Canvas course navigation menu to open the LockDown Browser Dashboard. Students will get an error preventing them from taking the quiz with Respondus LockDown Browser until you do this. You will see a message confirming that the settings have been updated.

"Your Settings Have Been Updated!" message in the LockDown Browser Dashboard ✅ Be sure you have not added any special characters or emojis 😊 in the title/name of the Canvas quiz. This will cause an error.

✅ If you make a change to your Canvas quiz, such as changing the password or the title, be sure to click on LockDown Browser in your Canvas course navigation menu to check for any errors. If you see a Fix It button next to the quiz in the LockDown Browser Dashboard, you can click on the Fix It button to clear the error.

Fix It button in the LockDown Browser Dashboard

✅ When your students are ready to take the quiz using Respondus LockDown Browser, remind them to open the quiz from inside your Canvas course (as opposed to clicking on a link to the quiz from their Dashboard or Calendar). This is a common reason students experience errors.

✅ Please ask your students to report any issues with Respondus LockDown Browser to the Service Desk.

Questions? Need Support?

The Educational Technology Services team is here to help! It would be our pleasure to meet with you to get started with Respondus LockDown Browser, set up a practice quiz, or review your settings to make sure everything is good to go for your exam.

Email us at canvas@chapman.edu.
Visit us in the Virtual Tech Hub for drop-in support.
Schedule a 1:1 consultation with an Educational Technology Services team member.