Yes, Proctorio records video and audio of you during the exam, plus your screen and keystrokes

Proctorio is proctoring software that colleges and testing companies use to monitor students taking exams online. When you use it, the program records your webcam feed, your microphone, everything on your screen, and a log of what keys you press. The recording starts when you begin the exam and stops when you finish or submit your answers. Your school or testing organization stores this recording and can review it later if they suspect cheating.

The software also runs background checks on your computer — it scans for other open programs, browser tabs, and external monitors — and flags anything it thinks looks suspicious. A human proctor may watch you live during the exam, or the school may review the recording afterward, or both. What gets recorded and how long it is kept depends on your school's settings and their agreement with Proctorio.

Key Takeaways

  • Proctorio records your face, voice, screen, and keyboard activity from start to finish of the exam.
  • The software scans your computer for other programs and tabs open at the same time, and flags them as potential violations.
  • Your school decides whether a live proctor watches you in real time, whether they review the recording later, or both.
  • You can see what Proctorio recorded by asking your school for the exam recording, though policies on access vary by institution.
  • Turning off your webcam or microphone, covering your camera, or closing the Proctorio window during the exam will trigger a flag that your instructor sees.

What the recording includes and what it does not

Proctorio captures four separate streams of data. The first is your face and upper body through your webcam — this is the live video feed. The second is audio from your microphone. The third is your screen, showing every window, document, and webpage you view. The fourth is keystroke logging, which records which keys you press and when, though not always the exact characters (this varies by school settings).

What Proctorio does not record is your mouse movements or clicks, though the software does detect when you move your mouse off-screen or switch to a different window. It does not record your room or surroundings beyond what the webcam sees of your face and desk. It does not record other people in your home, only what is in the camera's frame.

The software also does not record your internet traffic or passwords. It cannot see inside password-protected accounts or encrypted messages. However, it can see the names of browser tabs and the URLs of websites you visit, because those appear on your screen.

How Proctorio flags suspicious behavior during the exam

Proctorio's detection system works in two ways: automated flagging and human review. The automated system flags events in real time and logs them for later. These flags include: leaving the exam window, opening another browser tab or process, multiple faces in the camera frame, no face detected for more than a few seconds, unusual eye movement or gaze direction, sound detected when you are not speaking, and a second monitor connected to your computer.

A flag does not mean you cheated — it means the software detected something outside its expected parameters. Your instructor sees a list of all flags when they review the recording. They decide whether each flag represents actual cheating, a technical glitch, or something harmless like a family member walking past your desk. Some schools set Proctorio to alert a live proctor when ready when a flag occurs, so the proctor can intervene during the exam. Others only review flags after the exam is over.

The sensitivity of these flags can be adjusted by your school. A stricter setting flags more events; a looser setting flags fewer. Your school chooses the level of monitoring they want.

Who can see the recording and when

Your school owns the recording, not you and not Proctorio. Your instructor and your school's testing center or academic integrity office can view it. Depending on your school's policy, the recording may also be seen by a dean, a disciplinary committee, or other staff involved in investigating suspected violations.

You may be able to request a copy of your own exam recording from your school, but this is not automatic. Some schools make recordings available to students upon request; others do not. Check your school's testing or academic integrity policy to learn what your institution allows. If you are under investigation for cheating, you may have the right to see the recording as part of that process, but this also varies by school.

Proctorio keeps the recording on its servers for a set period — usually 90 days to one year, depending on your school's contract. After that period, the recording is deleted. Your school may read and store the recording themselves if they want to keep it longer.

What happens if Proctorio detects something during your exam

If you trigger a flag during the exam, nothing stops you from continuing. The exam does not pause or end. The flag is straightforward recorded and timestamped. If a live proctor is watching, they may send you a message asking you to refocus or warning you about the behavior. If no live proctor is present, you will not know a flag was recorded until your instructor reviews it later.

After the exam, your instructor reviews the recording and the flag log. They look at the context: did you leave the window because you needed water, or did you open a search engine? Did a family member walk into the frame, or did you look at a second device? Your instructor uses their judgment to decide whether the flags suggest cheating or are innocent explanations.

If your instructor believes you cheated based on the recording, they will typically contact you to discuss what they saw before taking any action. You have the right to explain the flags and provide context. The next steps — whether that is a warning, a failing grade, or a formal academic integrity hearing — depend on your school's policies and the severity of what was detected.

How to prepare for a Proctored exam

Before you start a Proctorio exam, test your webcam and microphone to make sure they work. Open the exam in a supported browser (usually Chrome or Firefox) and run Proctorio's system check, which tests your camera, microphone, and internet connection. Close all other programs and browser tabs except the one with your exam. If you need to reference course materials, your instructor will tell you whether those are allowed and how to access them within the exam window.

Position your webcam so your face and upper body are clearly visible. Make sure your desk is clear of papers, books, phones, and other devices unless your instructor said they are allowed. If you wear glasses, make sure they are not reflecting light in a way that obscures your eyes. Have water nearby if you think you will need it, because leaving your desk may trigger a flag.

If you have a disability or need accommodations, contact your school's disability services office before the exam. They can work with your instructor and Proctorio to adjust settings — for example, allowing a reader, a scribe, or extra time — without triggering false flags.

Proctorio versus other proctoring software

Proctorio is one of several proctoring tools used by colleges. Respondus LockDown Browser with Respondus Monitor works similarly — it locks down your browser and records video and audio. ProctorU offers both live proctoring (a person watches you in real time) and recorded proctoring (your exam is recorded for later review). Examity also uses live proctors or recorded sessions.

The main difference is whether a live person watches you during the exam or only afterward. Live proctoring means a proctor can stop you if they see something suspicious; recorded proctoring means your instructor reviews the recording later. Some schools use a hybrid model: a live proctor monitors for major violations, and the recording is also saved for later review if needed. All of these tools record video, audio, and screen activity. None of them are invisible — you will know you are being monitored.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Proctorio see my other monitors or devices?

Proctorio can detect if you have a second monitor connected to your computer, and it will flag that as suspicious. It cannot see what is on the second monitor, but the flag itself tells your instructor you had one. The software cannot see your phone, tablet, or other devices unless they are visible in your webcam frame. If you use a phone during the exam and the camera sees it, that will be flagged.

What if my internet cuts out during the exam?

If your connection drops, Proctorio will pause the exam. When you reconnect, you can usually resume where you left off, though this depends on your school's settings. The recording will show the gap in your screen activity. Your instructor will see that your connection was lost, and most schools do not penalize you for technical problems beyond your control. Contact your school's tech support when ready if this happens.

Can I use a virtual background or blur my background?

Most schools do not allow virtual backgrounds or blurred backgrounds during Proctorio exams because the software needs to see your actual environment. Using a virtual background may trigger a flag or cause the exam to not start. If you have privacy concerns about your background, contact your school's testing center before the exam to ask about exceptions.

Does Proctorio work on a Mac or Linux computer?

Proctorio works on Windows and Mac computers. It requires a recent version of Chrome or Firefox. It does not work on Linux, Chromebooks, or tablets. If you do not have a compatible computer, contact your school's testing center — they may have a computer lab where you can take the exam, or they may allow you to use a different proctoring method.

What if I am accused of cheating based on the Proctorio recording?

You have the right to see the recording and the flag log, and to explain what happened. Request the recording from your school's testing center or academic integrity office. Review it yourself and note any context that explains the flags — for example, if you looked away because you were thinking, or if someone entered your room. Ask for a meeting with your instructor to discuss the evidence before any formal action is taken.