Respondus records video and audio of you during exams, but only when the lockdown browser is running and only if your instructor turned on recording

Respondus Lockdown Browser is proctoring software that schools use to monitor test-taking. When your instructor enables recording, the software captures your webcam video, your microphone audio, and your screen activity — but only during the exam itself. It does not record you between exams, when the browser is closed, or if recording was never turned on for that particular test.

The recording happens on your device first, then uploads to Respondus servers after the exam ends. Your instructor can watch the recording later, or an AI system can flag unusual behavior for human review. What gets recorded depends entirely on what your school configured — some institutions record everything, others record only video, and some use the browser without recording at all.

Key Takeaways

  • Respondus Lockdown Browser only records when an exam is active and only if your instructor enabled recording for that specific test.
  • Recording includes your face, voice, screen, and sometimes your room, depending on your school's settings and whether a proctor is monitoring in real time.
  • The software runs only when you open it — closing the browser stops all recording and monitoring immediately.
  • Your school owns the recordings and can share them with instructors, academic integrity staff, or AI review systems, but cannot legally sell them or use them for purposes unrelated to the exam.

What the software actually captures

Respondus Lockdown Browser captures four things during an active exam: your face through the webcam, your voice through the microphone, everything on your screen, and sometimes your room if your school configured a wider camera angle. Not all schools enable all four. Some institutions record only screen and audio. Others add a live proctor who watches your video in real time instead of recording it for later review.

The software also logs your keyboard and mouse activity — which keys you press, how long you pause between answers, whether you click outside the exam window. This data is stored separately from the video and audio and is used by both human reviewers and automated systems to detect patterns that might suggest cheating, like sudden changes in typing speed or repeated attempts to leave the exam.

Respondus does not access your files, emails, browsing history, or anything outside the exam window. It cannot see your desktop, your other open programs, or anything you do after you close the browser. The lockdown browser is designed to be a walled garden — it blocks you from leaving the exam, but it does not surveil your entire device.

When recording actually happens

Recording begins the moment you start the exam and ends when you submit it. If you close the browser before submitting, recording stops immediately. If you step away from your desk for five minutes, those five minutes are recorded — the software does not pause or skip gaps. If your instructor did not enable recording for that exam, no video or audio is captured at all, though screen activity and keystroke logs may still be stored.

Some schools use Respondus without any recording — they use it only to lock down the browser and prevent you from opening other programs. In those cases, only your screen and keyboard activity are logged. You can ask your instructor before the exam whether recording is enabled. Many schools disclose this in the syllabus or exam instructions.

Where the recordings go and who can see them

After you submit the exam, the recording uploads to Respondus servers. Your instructor can log into the Respondus portal and watch your recording whenever they want. Some schools also send recordings to an automated AI system that flags suspicious behavior — unusual eye movements, multiple faces in frame, hands leaving the desk — and generates a report for your instructor to review.

Your school owns the recordings, not Respondus and not you. Your instructor can share the recording with academic integrity staff, department chairs, or a dean if they suspect cheating. They cannot legally sell the recording, use it for marketing, or share it outside the institution without your written consent. Respondus' privacy policy states that they do not use student recordings for any purpose other than proctoring, but your school's policies may be more or less restrictive.

If you are concerned about how long recordings are kept or who has access to them, check your school's data retention policy or ask your registrar. Some institutions delete recordings after a semester or a year. Others keep them indefinitely.

What happens if the software detects something unusual

If the AI system flags your exam — because you looked away from the screen repeatedly, someone else appeared in the webcam, or your typing pattern changed drastically — your instructor receives a report with timestamps and a severity rating. The report does not automatically mean you cheated. It means the software noticed something that differs from a typical exam session.

Your instructor then decides whether to watch your recording, talk to you about what happened, or take no action at all. If you had a legitimate reason for the flagged behavior — you glanced at a pet, your roommate walked past, you were thinking hard and stared at the ceiling — you can explain that to your instructor. Many schools have a process for contesting a flag or an academic integrity allegation.

How to know what your school actually records

The best way to find out what Respondus records at your school is to ask your instructor directly before the exam. You can say: "Is recording enabled for this exam? If so, what does it capture — video, audio, screen, or all three?" Most instructors will tell you. If they do not know, your school's testing center or IT department can answer.

You can also check your school's exam policies, which are often in the syllabus, on the testing center website, or in the student handbook. Some schools publish their Respondus configuration settings publicly. Others keep them private. If you have privacy concerns, you can also ask whether your school uses the live proctor option instead of recording, or whether you can take the exam in a proctored testing center instead of at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Respondus record me when I'm not taking an exam?

No. The software only runs when you open it to take an exam. Once you close the browser, all recording and monitoring stops. Respondus does not run in the background or monitor your device when you are not actively using it.

Can Respondus see my other open programs or tabs?

No. Respondus locks down the browser so you cannot open other programs or tabs during the exam, but it does not record or monitor what is on your desktop or in other applications. It only sees what is inside the exam window.

Who can watch my exam recording?

Your instructor can watch it anytime. Your school may also share it with academic integrity staff, a dean, or an automated AI system that flags suspicious behavior. Your school owns the recording and can use it for academic purposes, but cannot sell it or share it outside the institution without your consent.

What if I look away from the screen during the exam?

Looking away is normal and usually not flagged. The AI system flags repeated or prolonged looking away, especially if it happens many times or for long periods. A single glance away, or a few seconds of thinking while looking at the ceiling, typically does not trigger a report.

Can I request that my recording be deleted?

That depends on your school's data retention policy. Some schools delete recordings after a set time period. Others keep them indefinitely. Contact your registrar or testing center to ask about your school's policy and whether you can request deletion.