Respondus Lockdown Browser
This page has the latest links and information about the Respondus Lockdown Browser, which is required for all students when taking assessments within VA courses. Please review each section of informaiton we have below, to familiarize yourself with some of the known issues, best practices, etc. assocaited with Respondus Lockdown Browser. We may periodically add to this information, as we continually troubleshoot issues and help find ways to resolve them for our partner school districts.
Update: Respondus Releases Update for LDB for macOS and Windows (November 2022)
For School District Tech Admins
From Respondus Tech Support
LockDown Browser for Windows, version 2.0.9.05, has been released. This release includes minor bug fixes and security improvements. Existing installs of LockDown Browser will be auto-updated shortly. To obtain the latest version (2.0.9.05) use the "Check for Update" feature by clicking the “i” icon in the top menu bar within the Lockdown Browser, or see below to obtain the latest install file.
LockDown Browser for Mac, version 2.1.0.00, has been released. This release contains an update to the underlying Chromium engine, plus a workaround for a Respondus Monitor webcam issue introduced with macOS 13 Ventura. Existing installs of LockDown Browser will NOT be auto-updated at this time. To obtain the latest version (2.1.0.00) use the "Check for Update" feature by clicking the “globe” icon in the top menu bar within the Lockdown Browser, or or see below to obtain the latest install file.
Installing the Respondus Lockdown Browser for Virtual Arkanas Users
Update: Respondus Releases Update for LDB for Chromebooks (October 2022)
A new update to LockDown Browser for Chromebook has been released by Respondus Support. This update contains improvements to help minimize the "locked state" from occurring.
In some cases, the student may encounter the LockDown Browser banner at the top of their Canvas web page, but this doesn't necessarily mean they're in a locked state. Have the student do the following:
* click the refresh key one time. This should remove the banner.
* log out of Canvas, then log back in.
Note: This update should automatically download and install to a Chromebook that has LockDown Browser already installed, as long as your Chromebook settings don't prohibit updates to extensions.This update does not contain an actual version #. Rather, once the extension updates, it should show the version as "cros". If you don't see "cros" listed under the version for the extension, you may have to restart your Chromebook for the update to download and apply. You can check for this version by clicking the three vertical dots in the upper-right of Chrome > More Tools > Extensions, and then clicking “Details” for the Lockdown Browser extension.
If the above steps do not resolve the “locked state” issue, we have found that district tech admins can use Google Admin Console to do the following while the Chromebook is powered on and connected to wifi:
1. Find the student’s device in Google Admin Console by the serial number
2. On the menu for that device, select “Reset”
3. Choose the option for “Clear User Profiles”
4. Checkmark the “I agree” box
5. Click Reset
The Chromebook will restart, and the user will need to sign-in to it again. Based on our testing and that of partner districts, this works for clearing the “locked state”, even when students are at home or otherwise off-campus.
How It Works After Installation
School Chromebooks:
Students login to the Chromebook, login to Virtual Arkansas, and when they click to take the test, the LDB extension will open for them.
Student Chromebooks:
Students login to the Chromebook, login to Virtual Arkansas, and when they click to take the test, the LDB extension will open for them.
School Windows or Mac Computers:
Installation will place a LDB icon on the desktop. Students double-click and launch the LDB software, login using their VA credentials, and proceed to the exam.
Student Windows or Mac Computers:
Installation will place a LDB icon on the desktop. Students double-click and launch the LDB software, login using their VA credentials, and proceed to the exam.
Before Testing with Lockdown Browser for Chromebooks
There are a few steps that students must take before taking an exam in LDB on a Chromebook. Respondus hopes to issue an update that will negate the need for this, but for now this must be done and is out of our control. Please ensure that students take these steps before they take an exam in LDB.
1. Make sure you're logged out of Virtual Arkansas
2. Top Right Corner > Three vertical dots
3. More Tools
4. Clear browsing data
5. Set "Time Range" to "All Time"
6. Make sure at least the two bottom checkboxes are checked (cookies and cached images) of the three that are available there. You can check all three, if able.
7. Click "Clear Data"
4. Close Google Chrome Then the student can open Chrome, login, and attempt the exam. He/She should be prompted for the start code at the beginning.
Using Zoom while testing in Lockdown Browser for Chromebooks
If you have students that enter a Zoom meeting with the teacher, proctor, etc. but are then kicked out of the session when they click to take the exam and launch the Lockdown Browser, the Chromebook may not have the new “Zoom for Chrome PWA” installed which has replaced the traditional ChomeOS Zoom app. Please refer to our site at https://virtualarkansas.org/zoom for more infromation.
Using Accent Marks in Lockdown Browser for Chromebooks (On-Screen Keyboard)
In collaboration with Respondus Support and one of our partner school districts, we've put together a guide for using accent marks in Lockdown Browser for Chromebook that can avoid the issue of students being kicked out of the session as they press certain keys or key combinations. This method utilizes the "English (US) with International Keyboard" Input Method, and the "On-Screen Keyboard" Accessibility feature. Please review the step-by-step guide, Using Accent Marks In Respondus Lockdown Browser (Chromebooks using On-Screen Keyboard).
School District Filters and Respondus Lockdown Browser
There are some specific domains that may get blocked by your district filter and cause issues with LDB. According to Respondus support, here is the information on that:
*.smc-service-cloud.respondus2.com
Other essential domains are:
Server profiles: server-profiles-respondus-com.s3-external-1.amazonaws.com
Update server: static-public-downloads-cloud.respondus.com
Installs/Downloads: *.respondus.com
Help Center: help-center-respondus-com.s3.amazonaws.com
Contact Virtual Arkansas Tech Support
Phone (870)-637-1011 | Email techsupport@virtualarkansas.org
Monday – Thursday, 8:00am – 4:00pm | Friday, 8:00am – 3:30pm
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