Tech Tip: When Students Use the Wrong LockDown Browser Link

Each institution that licenses Respondus LockDown Browser receives a unique download link. That’s because the LockDown Browser application differs slightly for each institution.

When LockDown Browser is started by a user, it automatically goes to the login page for their institution’s learning management system. So it’s important that students install the version of LockDown Browser intended for their own institution.

Occasionally, a student will use a search engine to locate a download link for LockDown Browser. They don’t know that if they attend ABC University and find the LockDown Browser installation program intended for XYZ State College, it won’t work for them.

Students who make this mistake don’t often realize why LockDown Browser doesn’t seem to be working properly. They might describe the problem as being unable to log into their online course using LockDown Browser (which is true because they are trying to log into the LMS at another institution). Or, students might simply report that LockDown Browser is bringing them to the login page for the wrong institution (and again, they are entirely correct). What complicates the matter is that LockDown Browser, by design, never displays the URL on the screen.

While the above scenario doesn’t happen frequently, here are some ways to deal with it if it does:

  1. Train your support staff to recognize the symptoms reported by students (e.g. “the browser brings me to the wrong school” or “I can’t log into my online course with this browser”).
  2. Make the download link for LockDown Browser available from multiple locations. For example, if an instructor plans to use LockDown Browser in their course, have them include the download link in their syllabus.
  3. The LockDown Browser integration with most learning management systems allows the administrator to display a download link for LockDown Browser. This link appears in the online course if a student tries to use a standard browser to access an assessment that requires LockDown Browser. It’s possible for the administrator to turn off this option, but we recommend that it be left on so students will have easy access to the download link at the moment they actually need it.

For additional details on the student experience with LockDown Browser, read this article.

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