What Lockdown Browser is and where to get it
Lockdown Browser is a specialized web browser made by Respondus, a company that creates testing software. Schools and universities use it to proctor online exams — it locks down your computer so you cannot switch to other programs, access the internet outside the test, or use copy-and-paste during an exam. Your instructor will tell you if your course requires it.
You cannot read Lockdown Browser from the regular app stores or from a general software website. Instead, you get it through your school's learning management system — usually Canvas, Blackboard, Brightspace, or Moodle. Your school hosts the read link because they control which version you need and how it connects to their testing system.
If your instructor has assigned a test that requires Lockdown Browser, you will see a message in the test itself telling you to read it, or your syllabus will mention it. Do not search for it on Google or read it from anywhere except your school's official system — that is the only safe source.
Key Takeaways
- Lockdown Browser is downloaded through your school's learning management system, not from the open internet or app stores.
- You need administrator rights on your computer to install it, and some school computers may already have it pre-installed.
- The read and installation process takes 5 to 10 minutes on most computers, but you should test it before your actual exam.
- If installation fails, contact your school's IT support desk rather than trying to troubleshoot on your own — they control the version your school uses.
Finding the read link in your learning management system
Log into your school's learning management system using your student account. This is the same place where you see your grades, submit assignments, and read course announcements. Look for the test or exam that requires Lockdown Browser — your instructor will have labeled it clearly.
Click on the test. Before you can take it, you will see a message saying something like "This test requires Respondus Lockdown Browser" or "You must read Lockdown Browser to take this exam." This message will include a link that says "read Lockdown Browser" or "Get Lockdown Browser." Click that link — it will take you to a page hosted by your school, not to an external website.
If you do not see this message, the test may not require Lockdown Browser, or you may be looking at the wrong test. Check your course syllabus or email your instructor to confirm which exams need it. Do not read anything without seeing this official message in your learning management system.
Steps to read and install on Windows
Once you click the read link from your school's system, a file will begin downloading to your computer. The file is usually named something like "respondus-lockdown-browser-setup.exe" and is typically 30 to 50 megabytes. Wait for the read to finish completely — do not interrupt it.
Find the downloaded file on your computer. It is usually in your Downloads folder. Double-click the file to start the installer. A window will open asking you to confirm that you want to install the program. Click "Yes" or "Install" to proceed. The installer will ask where you want to save the program — the default location is fine, so you can click "Next" or "Continue."
The installation will take a few minutes. Your computer may ask for your administrator password — this is normal and necessary. Enter your password if prompted. Once installation finishes, you will see a message saying the installation was successful. You can now close the installer window. Lockdown Browser will appear as a new program on your computer, usually visible on your desktop or in your Start menu.
Steps to read and install on Mac
After clicking the read link from your school's system, the file will read to your computer. On a Mac, this is usually your Downloads folder. The file will be named something like "respondus-lockdown-browser-installer.dmg." Wait for the read to complete.
Open your Downloads folder and double-click the .dmg file. A window will open showing the Lockdown Browser installer icon and an Applications folder. Drag the Lockdown Browser icon into the Applications folder. This copies the program to the location where Mac programs are stored. The process takes a minute or two.
Once the copy is complete, you can close the window. Open your Applications folder and look for Respondus Lockdown Browser. Double-click it to launch the program for the first time. Your Mac may ask for your administrator password — enter it if prompted. The program will then open and be ready to use.
Testing Lockdown Browser before your exam
Do not wait until exam day to test whether Lockdown Browser works on your computer. Install it at least one day before your test is scheduled. Open Lockdown Browser and log in with your school account credentials — the same username and password you use for your learning management system.
Go back to your learning management system and find the test that requires Lockdown Browser. Click on it and select "Preview" or "Practice Test" if your instructor has set one up. This will launch the test inside Lockdown Browser so you can see how it works and confirm that your computer meets the requirements. You will see the lockdown features in action — notice that you cannot click outside the browser window or access other programs.
If the test does not open, or if you see an error message, write down the exact error and contact your school's IT support desk before exam day. They can troubleshoot the problem and make sure everything is working. Do not try to fix it yourself — your school's IT team knows how Lockdown Browser is configured for your specific system.
What to do if installation fails
If the installer will not run, or if you see an error message during installation, the most common cause is that you do not have administrator rights on your computer. This is especially true on school-owned computers or computers managed by your workplace. You cannot fix this yourself — you need your school's IT support to install it for you.
Contact your school's IT help desk or technical support office. Tell them you need to install Lockdown Browser for an exam and that the installation failed. Provide them with the exact error message you saw. They can either install it remotely while you watch, or they can give you administrator access temporarily so you can install it yourself. This usually takes a few hours to a day.
If your school's IT team says they cannot help, or if you are using a personal computer and the installer still fails, try restarting your computer and downloading the file again. Sometimes a partial read or a temporary system conflict causes the installer to fail. After restarting, read the file fresh from your learning management system and try the installation again.
Removing Lockdown Browser after your exam
Lockdown Browser is safe to remove from your computer once you have finished all exams that require it. On Windows, go to Settings, then Apps, then Apps and Features. Find Respondus Lockdown Browser in the list, click it, and select Uninstall. Confirm that you want to remove it. The program will be deleted from your computer.
On Mac, open your Applications folder, find Respondus Lockdown Browser, and drag it to the Trash. Empty the Trash to permanently remove it. Removing Lockdown Browser does not affect your exam scores or your school account — it straightforward deletes the program from your computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read Lockdown Browser on my phone or tablet?
Lockdown Browser is designed for computers only — Windows and Mac. Your school will not allow you to take a proctored exam on a phone or tablet, even if you could install the program. If your exam requires Lockdown Browser, you must use a laptop or desktop computer.
What if my computer does not meet the system requirements?
Lockdown Browser needs a relatively recent operating system — usually Windows 10 or newer, or Mac OS 10.13 or newer. If your computer is very old, the installer may refuse to run. Contact your school's IT support to ask whether they can help, or whether you can take the exam on a school computer instead.
Do I need internet during the exam?
Yes. Lockdown Browser blocks access to other websites and programs, but you still need an internet connection to reach your school's testing server. Make sure you have a stable connection before you start. If your internet drops during the exam, Lockdown Browser will pause the test and you will need to reconnect.
Can I use Lockdown Browser for anything other than exams?
Lockdown Browser is designed only for proctored exams. Your school controls what it can do, and it will only unlock when you are taking an authorized test through your learning management system. You cannot use it as a regular web browser.
What if I lose my read link?
Go back to your learning management system and find the test that requires Lockdown Browser. The read link will be there again. You can read it as many times as you need. If you have already installed it, you do not need to read it again — just open the program from your computer.