What Lockdown Browser is and where to find it
Lockdown Browser is a locked-down web browser made by Respondus, a company that creates testing software. Schools and universities use it to proctor online exams — it prevents you from opening other programs, visiting other websites, or copying text during a test. Your instructor will tell you if you need it, and they will also tell you where to download it from.
The download location matters because Lockdown Browser works differently depending on whether your school uses it standalone or paired with Respondus Monitor (which adds webcam proctoring). Your school's testing portal, learning management system (like Canvas or Blackboard), or exam instructions will include a direct link to the right version. Do not search for it on your own — use the link your school provides.
Lockdown Browser is free to download and use for students. Your school pays the license fee. You will need administrator access on your computer to install it, because the software needs permission to lock down your system during an exam.
Key Takeaways
- Your school provides the download link in your exam instructions, learning management system, or testing portal — use that link, not a general web search.
- You need administrator access on your computer to install Lockdown Browser, so you may need to ask an IT department or device owner for permission.
- The installation process is straightforward: run the installer file, follow the on-screen prompts, and restart your computer when asked.
- Test your setup before exam day by opening Lockdown Browser and checking that it launches without errors.
How to download Lockdown Browser on Windows
Click the download link your school provided. A file named something like LockdownBrowser.exe or respondus-lockdown-browser.exe will appear in your Downloads folder. Double-click the file to start the installer.
Windows may show a security prompt asking whether you want to allow this app to make changes to your device. Click Yes. The installer will then open and walk you through the setup steps. You will see a license agreement — read it if you want to, then click the button to accept and continue. The installer will ask where to put the program files; the default location is fine. Click Next or Install to proceed.
When the installation finishes, you will see a prompt to restart your computer. Restart it. Lockdown Browser needs the restart to fully activate. After your computer comes back on, you can open Lockdown Browser from your Start menu or desktop shortcut.
How to download Lockdown Browser on Mac
Click the download link your school provided. A file named something like LockdownBrowser.dmg will appear in your Downloads folder. Double-click it to open the installer window.
You will see a folder icon labeled "Lockdown Browser" and a folder icon labeled "Applications" with an arrow between them. Drag the Lockdown Browser icon onto the Applications folder. macOS will copy the program to your Applications folder. When the copy is complete, you can close the installer window.
Open your Applications folder (you can search for it using Spotlight, or find it in Finder under the Favorites sidebar). Look for Lockdown Browser and double-click it to launch the program. macOS may ask for your password the first time you run it — this is normal. Enter your password and click OK. After that, Lockdown Browser will open without asking for a password each time.
What to do if you do not have administrator access
Lockdown Browser requires administrator-level permissions to install because it needs to control your system during an exam. If you are using a school computer, a work computer, or a device you do not own, the administrator or IT department may have restricted installations.
Contact your school's IT help desk or the device owner and explain that you need to install Lockdown Browser for an exam. Provide them with the download link your instructor gave you. They can either install it for you or temporarily grant you administrator access so you can install it yourself. Do this well before your exam date — IT departments sometimes need a day or two to process requests.
If you are using a personal device and still cannot install it, restart your computer in Safe Mode (Windows) or Recovery Mode (Mac) and try again. If that does not work, contact your school's IT support with the error message you received.
Testing Lockdown Browser before your exam
After you install Lockdown Browser, open it and let it fully load. You should see a blank browser window with "Lockdown Browser" in the title bar. Try to open a new tab or type a web address — you should not be able to. Try to switch to another program using Alt+Tab (Windows) or Command+Tab (Mac) — you should not be able to. This locked-down behavior is what you will experience during your exam.
Close Lockdown Browser by clicking the X button. It should close normally. If it freezes or will not close, restart your computer.
A few days before your exam, log into your school's testing portal or learning management system and look for a practice exam or system check. Run it using Lockdown Browser. This will tell you whether your computer meets the technical requirements and whether Lockdown Browser is working correctly on your system. If the practice exam fails, contact your instructor or IT support with the error message — do not wait until exam day.
Troubleshooting common installation problems
If the installer will not run, make sure you downloaded it from the link your school provided, not from a general web search. Delete the file from your Downloads folder and download it again using the official link.
If you see an error message during installation, write down the exact text and search for it in your school's IT knowledge base or FAQ. Many schools have a troubleshooting page for Lockdown Browser. If you cannot find an answer, email your instructor or IT support with the error message and the name of your operating system and browser version (you can find this in your browser's settings).
If Lockdown Browser installs but will not launch, try restarting your computer again. If it still will not open, uninstall it completely (use Add/Remove Programs on Windows or drag it to Trash on Mac), restart your computer, and reinstall it using the download link from your school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Lockdown Browser on a tablet or phone?
Lockdown Browser is designed for Windows and Mac computers only. If your school requires it for an exam, you must use a desktop or laptop computer. Check your exam instructions to see whether a tablet or phone is permitted as an alternative.
Do I need to uninstall Lockdown Browser after my exam?
No. You can leave it installed. You may need it again for future exams. If you want to remove it, use Add/Remove Programs (Windows) or drag it to Trash (Mac), then restart your computer.
What if Lockdown Browser will not let me take my exam?
Contact your instructor or IT support immediately. Do not wait until the exam is over. Explain what happened and provide any error messages. Your school may be able to troubleshoot the problem, reschedule your exam, or make other arrangements.
Can I use Lockdown Browser for regular browsing?
Technically yes, but it is designed only for proctored exams. During an exam, it locks down your computer so you cannot cheat. Outside of an exam, it functions as a normal browser but with fewer features than Chrome or Firefox. Most people use it only when they need to take a proctored test.