What Respondus Lockdown Browser is and why ATI uses it

Respondus Lockdown Browser is a specialized web browser that restricts what you can do on your computer during an exam. ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute) uses it for nursing exams, TEAS tests, and other proctored assessments to prevent cheating — it locks down your screen, blocks other programs, and disables copy-paste and printing while you test.

Your school or testing center will tell you whether you need it. If they do, you cannot take the exam without it installed. The software is free to download, but your institution has to provide you with the download link and a license code to activate it.

The installation itself takes about 5 to 10 minutes on most computers. The trickier part is making sure your system meets the requirements and that you have the right credentials from your school before you start.

Key Takeaways

  • Your school or testing center must give you the download link and a license code — you cannot get these from Respondus directly.
  • Respondus Lockdown Browser works on Windows and Mac, but your computer must meet minimum system requirements and have administrator access.
  • Download the installer, run it, and enter your license code during setup to activate the software.
  • Test the browser before exam day by opening it and confirming it launches without errors.

Getting the download link and license code from your institution

Before you download anything, contact your school's testing center, nursing program office, or the person who told you to install Respondus. Ask them for the direct download link and your license code. Do not search for Respondus on the public internet — your institution has a specific version configured for their exams.

Your school may send you an email with both the link and code, post them on a learning management system like Canvas or Blackboard, or direct you to a page where you log in with your student credentials to retrieve them. Keep the license code somewhere you can find it — you will need it during installation.

If you cannot find the link or code, contact your testing center or program coordinator before exam day. Installing the wrong version or without a valid code will not work when you try to take the test.

Checking your computer's system requirements

Respondus Lockdown Browser runs on Windows 10 and newer, or Mac OS 10.13 and newer. Your computer needs at least 500 MB of free disk space and a working internet connection. You must have administrator rights on your computer — if you are using a school or work device, you may need IT to install it for you.

If you are unsure whether your computer meets these requirements, open your system settings. On Windows, go to Settings > System > About and look for the Windows version number. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, and check the macOS version. If your system is older than the versions listed above, you will need to use a different computer or contact your school about alternatives.

Downloading and installing the software

Click the download link your school provided. The file will be named something like "respondus-lockdown-browser-installer.exe" (Windows) or a .dmg file (Mac). Save it to your Downloads folder or Desktop so you can find it easily.

Once the download finishes, double-click the installer file. On Windows, you may see a security prompt asking whether you want to allow this program to make changes to your device — click Yes. On Mac, you may need to drag the Respondus icon into your Applications folder, or the installer will do this automatically.

The installation will take a few minutes. When it finishes, you will see a window asking for your license code. Enter the code your school gave you exactly as written — it is case-sensitive. Click Activate or Next, and the software will confirm that the code is valid.

Launching Respondus for the first time

After installation, Respondus Lockdown Browser will appear in your Applications folder (Mac) or Start menu (Windows). Open it to make sure it launches without errors. You should see a window that says something like "Respondus Lockdown Browser" with a message that you are not currently in an exam.

Do not panic if the browser looks different from Chrome or Firefox — that is normal. It is a stripped-down browser designed only for testing. Close it and open it again to confirm it works consistently. If it crashes or shows an error message, write down the exact error and contact your school's IT support or testing center.

Troubleshooting common installation problems

If the installer will not run, make sure you have administrator rights on your computer. On Windows, right-click the installer file and select Run as Administrator. On Mac, check that you have permission to install programs in your Applications folder.

If the license code is rejected during activation, double-check that you entered it exactly as your school provided it — spaces, dashes, and capitalization all matter. If it still does not work, contact your testing center with the exact error message you see. They may have issued the code to the wrong email address or it may have expired.

If Respondus launches but then crashes when you try to take an exam, restart your computer and try again. Close all other programs first. If the problem continues, contact your school's IT department or testing center before exam day — do not wait until the day of your test to discover the software does not work on your machine.

What to do the day of your exam

Log into Respondus Lockdown Browser using the same credentials your school uses for other systems (usually your student ID and password). The browser will connect to ATI's exam server and load your test. Once the exam starts, the browser will lock down — you will not be able to switch to other programs, access the internet, or use keyboard shortcuts.

If you have technical problems during the exam, raise your hand or contact your proctor immediately. Do not close the browser or restart your computer without instruction — this can cause your exam to be marked incomplete. Your testing center has procedures for technical failures and can usually restart your exam without penalty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Respondus on my phone or tablet?

No. Respondus Lockdown Browser only works on Windows and Mac computers. If your school requires it, you must test on a desktop or laptop. Contact your testing center if you do not have access to a compatible device — they may have computers available for you to use.

What if I already have Respondus installed from a previous class?

You can reuse the same installation. Open it and confirm it launches without errors. If your school gave you a new license code, you may need to update the activation, but usually the old installation works for multiple exams at the same institution.

Will Respondus slow down my computer?

Respondus only runs when you open it and only locks down your system during the actual exam. It does not run in the background or affect your computer's speed when you are not testing. You can uninstall it after your exam if you want to free up space.

What happens if the download link my school sent me is broken?

Contact your testing center or the person who sent the link and ask for a new one. Links can expire or be typed incorrectly in emails. Your school can resend it or direct you to a page where you can retrieve it yourself using your student login.

Do I need internet during the exam?

Yes. Respondus Lockdown Browser requires a stable internet connection throughout your exam. Test your connection before exam day. If your internet is unreliable, contact your testing center about taking the exam in a location with better connectivity, such as your school's testing lab.