Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser that restricts access to other applications and websites during quizzes and exams in Quercus. It is designed to help maintain a controlled testing environment and works with both Classic Quizzes and New Quizzes.
LockDown Browser does not record or monitor students. It is separate from Respondus Monitor, which provides remote proctoring functionality.
Before You Begin
Respondus LockDown Browser is only available through approved divisions at the University of Toronto. Most divisions do not have access to the tool, and instructors must obtain approval through their division before using it.
Contact your divisional educational technology office to determine whether Respondus LockDown Browser is supported for your course. Only approved divisional sub-accounts in Quercus can enable the integration.
Before requiring students to use LockDown Browser, consider whether the restrictions are appropriate for your assessment and whether students will have access to compatible devices and the necessary permissions to install the software.
Adding Respondus LockDown Browser to Your Course
If your division has approved the use of Respondus LockDown Browser, you can add it to your Quercus course navigation menu:
- In your Quercus course, select Settings.
- Select the Navigation tab.
- Find Respondus LockDown Browser in the list of hidden navigation items.
- Drag Respondus LockDown Browser into the list of visible navigation items and position it where you would like it to appear in your course menu. Alternatively, select the … (ellipsis) menu beside the item and choose + Enable.
- Select Save.
Respondus LockDown Browser will now appear in your course navigation menu.
Note: If the Respondus LockDown Browser option is not available, your course may not belong to an approved divisional sub-account. Contact your divisional educational technology office for assistance.
Configuring LockDown Browser for Quercus Quizzes
Create your quiz in Quercus before configuring it to require LockDown Browser. To configure the quiz:
- In your Quercus course, select LockDown Browser from the course navigation menu.
- Locate the quiz you want to configure and open its Settings.
- Select Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam.
- Review any additional settings and select Save + Close.
Respondus LockDown Browser works with both Classic Quizzes and New Quizzes in Quercus. The configuration differs depending on the quiz type, particularly in how access codes and passwords are handled:
- Classic Quizzes: Use the Respondus LockDown Browser access code option.
- New Quizzes: Use the password option in Quercus.
When configuring an assessment, review the settings that control whether students can exit LockDown Browser before completing the exam:
- Lock until the exam is completed: Students cannot exit the LockDown Browser session through the usual exit process before completing the exam.
- Allow early exit: Students can exit before completing the exam but must confirm their decision and provide a reason.
- Password override: Instructors can configure an override password to allow students to exit. This option may be more practical for supervised, in-person assessments than remote assessments.
Review these settings before administering an assessment, particularly when students may need technical assistance or an alternative arrangement.
Preparing Students for LockDown Browser
One of the most common challenges with Respondus LockDown Browser is ensuring that students can successfully install and use the software before an assessment.
Students must install Respondus LockDown Browser on a compatible device and may need administrator permissions to complete the installation. Instructors should provide sufficient time for students to install the software, test their setup, and resolve technical difficulties before a graded assessment.
To help students prepare:
- Communicate the LockDown Browser requirement well before the assessment.
- Provide students with the University of Toronto-specific download link and installation instructions.
- Create an ungraded practice quiz worth zero marks that requires LockDown Browser.
- Make the practice quiz available well before the assessment and keep it open so students can test their setup.
- Provide instructions for obtaining technical assistance and requesting alternative arrangements if they encounter barriers.
A practice quiz is strongly recommended to help identify installation and compatibility problems before a graded assessment.
Communicating Requirements to Students
Instructors should clearly communicate the use of Respondus LockDown Browser in their syllabus and course announcements. Check with your division about any required wording or communication practices.
The Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering provides the following example syllabus statement. Instructors should confirm any divisional requirements and adapt the statement to their course.
Use of Respondus LockDown Browser for Quercus Quizzes
Some in-person quizzes in this course require the use of Respondus LockDown Browser, a custom web browser that restricts your ability to navigate away from the quiz environment in Quercus. LockDown Browser does not record or monitor you, but you must install the application on a compatible Windows or macOS laptop before completing any quiz that uses it. You must also download Respondus LockDown Browser using the University of Toronto–specific link provided here: U of T Respondus LockDown Browser download link. A practice quiz will be provided to help you test your setup and confirm that LockDown Browser is working correctly.
If you do not have a compatible device, contact the instructor as early as possible.
Additional communication resources, including sample course announcements and student-facing guidance, are available from UTSC and Rotman (“The Faculty Side” tab).
Students should understand the purpose of the software, the device and installation requirements, how to access the assessment, and what to do if they experience technical difficulties.
When preparing communications, consider whether students have access to compatible devices, whether they can install the software, and how students requiring accommodations or alternative arrangements will be supported.
Accessibility and Privacy Considerations
Before using Respondus LockDown Browser, consider its implications for accessibility, student privacy, and assessment participation.
- Accessibility: Review the vendor’s Accessibility with LockDown Browser guidance and consider whether students can use the assistive technologies or accessibility features they require.
- Accommodations: Work with the appropriate divisional and accessibility support services to determine how approved accommodations will be implemented.
- Device access: Consider students who do not have compatible devices, administrator permissions, or reliable access to the required software.
- Privacy: LockDown Browser restricts the testing environment but does not itself record or monitor students. Instructors should distinguish it from Respondus Monitor and follow applicable University policies.
Instructors must have divisional approval before using Respondus LockDown Browser and must provide access through Quercus.
Additional Information and Support
For technical guidance and configuration instructions, consult Respondus LockDown Browser’s instructor resources and support documentation.
Additional guidance is available from local academic units: