Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment for a Canvas Quiz item. Students are unable to copy, print, access other applications, or visit other websites during an online exam.
The use of LockDown Browser is not a guarantee to prevent academic dishonesty—students who have access to other internet-enabled devices could still potentially access the internet.
Please note that Yale does not use the Respondus Monitor service.
Some older computers may display a “Detected Insecure Environment” or “SIP Disabled” error when attempting to open and use Respondus LockDown Browser for a Canvas Quiz activity. This issue will affect Macs that are not running at least macOS 26.0 (Tahoe) and Windows computers that are not running at least Windows 11.
If you are getting this error when trying to open Respondus LockDown Browser on older operating system computers and you do not want to update / cannot update to at least macOS 26 / Windows 11, you must make setting adjustments through your computer's Terminal window. We recommend you schedule an in-person appointment at the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning with the Educational & Engagement Technology Team for assistance because the process of using your computer's terminal must be done in person and cannot be completed over Zoom or remotely. To schedule an appointment with us, please email [email protected].
Please advise your student about using an iPad to take a quiz with Lockdown Browser, please be aware of a known issue:
- Lockdown Browser will not work if the Canvas app is installed on your iPad.
- To proceed, you must uninstall the Canvas app before launching Lockdown Browser.
For a smoother experience, we do not recommend using an iPad with Lockdown Browser. Instead, we strongly advise using a Windows or Mac computer, as these platforms provide full compatibility and a more reliable testing experience.
- In your course, navigate to the "Settings" section of your Course Navigation.
- Click "Navigation" tab across the top.
- Scroll down to the disabled tools list until you see the "LockDown Browser" option.
- Click on the three dot icon for the "LockDown Browser" option.
- In the menu that opens, click the "Enable" option, which will move the LockDown Browser up to the enabled tools list.
- Once enabled, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the "Save" button to finish enabling Respondus LockDown Browser for your course.
Additional Resources
Instructor Guides:
- Respondus LockDown Browser: Adding Respondus to a Canvas Quiz
- How to set up your Canvas quizzes with Respond LockDown Browser (Vendor)
- Instructor Quick Start Guide (Vendor)
Student Guides:
For more help, please contact [email protected].