Does Respondus LockDown Browser Record You? What Students Need to Know

If you've been assigned an online exam that requires Respondus LockDown Browser, you've probably wondered exactly what the software can and can't see. The short answer is: it depends on whether your instructor has also enabled Respondus Monitor — and those two tools work very differently.

What Respondus LockDown Browser Actually Does

LockDown Browser is a specialized, restricted web browser built specifically for taking online exams. When you launch it, it does the following:

• Locks your screen to the exam window so you can't switch tabs or open other applications
• Disables copy/paste functionality and right-click menus
• Blocks screen capture and most screen-sharing tools
• Prevents access to other browsers, messaging apps, or system shortcuts

Critically, LockDown Browser on its own does not record you. It doesn't activate your webcam, capture your audio, or take screenshots of your face. Its job is purely to restrict your computing environment during the exam — think of it as putting your browser in lockdown mode, not putting you under surveillance.

Where the Recording Actually Comes In: Respondus Monitor 🎥

Respondus Monitor is a separate add-on layer that works on top of LockDown Browser. This is the component that introduces recording. When Monitor is enabled by an instructor, it can:

• Record video and audio through your webcam for the duration of the exam
• Capture your screen periodically or continuously, depending on settings
• Run a pre-exam environment check that scans your room and requires you to show your ID
• Use AI-based flagging to detect behaviors like looking away from the screen, leaving the frame, or unusual audio activity
• Generate a review report that instructors can examine after the exam

The key distinction: Monitor is not automatically active just because LockDown Browser is required. Your instructor or institution must specifically configure and enable it. If your exam only lists LockDown Browser in the requirements — and makes no mention of a webcam check or proctoring session — Monitor is likely not in use.

How to Know Which Tools Are Active for Your Exam

There are a few reliable ways to tell what's actually running during your exam:

When in doubt, check your course syllabus, the exam instructions page, or contact your instructor directly. Most institutions are required to disclose proctoring methods to students ahead of time.

What Data Is Collected and Where It Goes

When Respondus Monitor is active, the recorded data — video, audio, and flagged behavioral events — is stored on Respondus's cloud servers and made accessible to authorized instructors or academic integrity reviewers at your institution. Students generally do not have direct access to view their own recordings, though institutional policies vary.

The AI flagging system doesn't make final decisions about cheating. It generates a suspicion score and highlights moments for human review. An instructor or administrator then decides whether to act on any flags. False positives do happen — things like poor lighting, glasses glare, or looking slightly off-camera can trigger flags without any actual misconduct.

Variables That Affect Your Experience 🔍

Even when both tools are active, your experience can vary significantly based on:

• Your hardware: Older webcams with low resolution or poor low-light performance can affect recording quality and increase false flags
• Your internet connection: Monitor streams or uploads video, so a slow or unstable connection can cause session issues
• Your operating system: LockDown Browser has different feature sets on Windows vs. macOS, and has limited or no support on Linux
• Your institution's configuration: Schools can customize what Monitor tracks — some enable full-session video, others only capture specific moments
• Exam platform integration: LockDown Browser integrates primarily with LMS platforms like Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, and D2L — how it behaves can differ slightly across these

The Spectrum of Proctoring Setups

Not every school uses Respondus the same way. Some institutions use LockDown Browser alone — purely as an environment lockdown tool — and rely on in-person proctors or honor systems for integrity. Others deploy Monitor in full, with mandatory ID verification and continuous recording. Many fall somewhere in between, enabling Monitor only for high-stakes exams while skipping it for low-weight quizzes.

Some schools have also moved toward alternative proctoring systems entirely — tools like Proctorio, ProctorU, or Honorlock — each with their own recording behaviors and data practices. If your school uses one of these instead of or alongside Respondus, the rules change accordingly.

Whether LockDown Browser's restrictions affect your workflow, and whether Monitor's recording feels intrusive or manageable, depends heavily on what your specific institution has enabled, how your device handles the software, and the nature of the exams you're taking.