🚨 CRITICAL: YOU MUST START YOUR EXAM FROM LOCKDOWN BROWSER
- On exam day, you will NOT open Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or any other regular browser.
- You MUST launch the LockDown Browser application first, then navigate to Canvas from within LockDown Browser to start your exam.
- If you try to take the exam in a regular browser, it will not work.
Follow these steps to download, install, and verify that LockDown Browser is working correctly on your computer.
Step 1: Download LockDown Browser
- Open your regular web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge)
- Go to the Respondus LockDown Browser download page: click here
- Click the download link for your operating system (Windows or Mac)
- Save the installer file to your computer (it will likely go to your Downloads folder)
Step 2: Install the Software
- Windows:
- Open your Downloads folder and find the file (it will be named something like “LockDownBrowser.exe”)
- Double-click the file to start the installation
- If Windows asks “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” click “Yes”
- Follow the on-screen instructions, clicking “Next” and “Install”
- When installation is complete, click “Finish”
- Mac:
- Open your Downloads folder and find the file (it will end in .dmg or .pkg)
- Double-click the file to open it
- If you see a window with a LockDown Browser icon, drag it to the Applications folder
- If your Mac shows a security warning, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General
- Click “Open Anyway” next to the message about LockDown Browser
Step 3: Find LockDown Browser on Your Computer
After installation, you need to know where to find LockDown Browser so you can launch it on exam day.
- Windows:
- Click the Start button (Windows icon) in the bottom-left corner of your screen
- Type “LockDown Browser” in the search box
- You should see “LockDown Browser” appear in the search results
- Tip: Right-click on it and select “Pin to taskbar” so it’s easy to find on exam day
- Mac:
- Open Finder (the blue and white smiley face icon in your dock)
- Click “Applications” in the left sidebar
- Scroll down to find “LockDown Browser”
- Tip: Drag LockDown Browser to your Dock so it’s easy to find on exam day
Step 4: Verify LockDown Browser Works
Now let’s make sure LockDown Browser launches correctly and can connect to Canvas.
- Close all other programs on your computer (LockDown Browser may ask you to do this anyway)
- Launch LockDown Browser using the method you just learned (Start menu on Windows, Applications folder on Mac)
- Wait for LockDown Browser to open—it may take a moment
- You should see a browser window that looks similar to a regular browser, but with fewer buttons and options
- In the address bar, type: fncb.instructure.com and press Enter
- You should see the Canvas login page
- Log in with your Canvas credentials (the ones you created in Lesson 2.4)
- Verify that you can see the FNCB exam course on your dashboard
âś… If You See the Canvas Dashboard, LockDown Browser is Working!
You have successfully verified that:
- LockDown Browser is installed correctly
- LockDown Browser can connect to the internet
- LockDown Browser can access Canvas
- Your Canvas login works within LockDown Browser
You do NOT need to start the exam now. Close LockDown Browser by clicking the X in the corner (you may need to confirm you want to close it).
What to Do on Exam Day
When you are ready to take your certification exam, follow these steps:
EXAM DAY CHECKLIST
- Close ALL other programs on your computer
- Make sure you’re connected to stable WiFi
- Launch LockDown Browser (NOT Chrome, Safari, or Firefox!)
- Navigate to fncb.instructure.com
- Log in to Canvas with your credentials
- Click on your FNCB certification exam course
- Find and click on the exam
- Follow the on-screen instructions to begin
⚠️ REMEMBER
You MUST start from LockDown Browser—not from your regular browser.
If you log into Canvas using Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge and try to start the exam, you will get an error message telling you to use LockDown Browser.
Save yourself the stress: Launch LockDown Browser FIRST, then go to Canvas.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Installation blocked | Confirm you have administrator access. Try right-clicking and selecting “Run as administrator.” If on a work computer, switch to a personal computer. |
| Browser won’t launch | Restart your computer and try again. Ensure no conflicting software is running. Check that your operating system is up to date. |
| Firewall blocking connection | Temporarily disable your firewall or add LockDown Browser as an exception. Grant permission when your system prompts you. |
| Webcam not detected | Verify webcam permissions in your system settings. Test the webcam in another application first. Restart the browser. |
| Slow performance | Close all other applications. Check that you have at least 4 GB RAM available. Test on a different network. |
| Mac security warning | Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General. Click “Open Anyway” for LockDown Browser. |
Getting Technical Help
If you encounter issues you cannot resolve, LockDown Browser has a few resources to view:
Additionally, you can also reach out to FNCB by doing the following:
- Take a screenshot of any error message (or write down exactly what it says)
- Note which step you were on when the problem occurred
- Note your operating system (e.g., Windows 11, MacOS 14)
- Email FNCB at [email protected] with these details
- Allow time for response
Important: Test your setup well in advance of your exam date! Don’t wait until the day before to discover a technical issue.