To find out how to know if Respondus LockDown Browser is recording, check three things. First, read your exam instructions for a webcam requirement or the name "Respondus Monitor". Second, watch for the webcam check and startup steps before the exam. Third, look for the "Recording" icon at the top right of the screen once the exam begins. If none of those appear, the browser is only locking down your computer, not recording you.
The confusion is understandable. LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor are two different tools that often get used together, and students tend to blur them. You may see a webcam light, a pop-up asking for permissions, or a request to show your ID, and have no idea which part is watching what. Reddit threads and quick answers online contradict each other, and the stakes feel high when a grade depends on the session going smoothly.
This guide walks you through the checks in order: what Respondus actually is, how to read your exam settings, what the startup sequence tells you, when recording stops, and what gets flagged afterward. We write about proctored exams at takemyproctoredexam.
What Respondus records and what it does not
Respondus LockDown Browser is a locked-down browser, and by itself it does not record you. Recording comes from Respondus Monitor, a separate feature that your instructor switches on for specific exams. Respondus is the company behind both, plus tools such as Respondus 4.0 and StudyMate Campus.
LockDown Browser versus Respondus Monitor
LockDown Browser blocks printing, copying, other applications, and other websites while you test. If you try to open the exam in a regular browser, you get an error and have to switch. That restriction is all it does on its own.
When an instructor adds Respondus Monitor, the webcam and microphone come into play. Recording turns on only for exams where the instructor enabled it.
LockDown Browser restricts your computer, and Respondus Monitor is the part that records you.
| LockDown Browser only | With Respondus Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam video | Not recorded | Recorded |
| Audio | Not recorded | Recorded through the microphone |
| Your screen | Restricted, not a recording tool | Standard setup centers on webcam video |
| Visible sign | Exam starts right away | Startup checks, then a "Recording" icon |
Does it record your screen or audio without a webcam?
No webcam means no Respondus Monitor session, so there is no audio recording either. Audio is captured through the microphone as part of the webcam session. For screen recording, the standard Monitor experience is built around webcam video. Some institutions configure extras, so confirm in your exam instructions rather than assuming.
Step 1. Read your exam instructions first
Your exam listing in the course page and your syllabus usually say what the exam requires. Look for wording such as "Requires Respondus LockDown Browser and a webcam." That phrase means Respondus Monitor is on. If the listing names only LockDown Browser, expect lockdown restrictions and no recording.
Ask your instructor directly
If the wording is vague, email your instructor before exam day. Short and specific works best.
Subject: Question about the [Course Name] exam settings
Hi Professor [Name],
Before the exam on [date], could you confirm whether it requires
Respondus Monitor, or only LockDown Browser? I'd also like to know
whether audio is recorded and whether I need to show ID or scan my room.
Thank you,
[Your name]
Asking is routine. Instructors answer it all the time, and you avoid surprises.
The exam listing and your instructor’s answer settle the question before you ever launch the browser.
Step 2. Watch the startup sequence
If Monitor is on, you are guided through startup screens before the exam, and the first one is a webcam check where you confirm your camera works. Your instructor may also require you to show ID or record a short video of your testing space. These steps appear only when recording is part of the exam.
Signs you are being recorded
A webcam check screen, permission prompts for camera and microphone, and ID or room-scan steps all point to recording. On a Mac, you may need to allow camera and microphone access for LockDown Browser in System Settings under Privacy & Security. Your webcam light turning on is another hint, though it is a hint rather than proof on its own.
Signs you are not
If your instructor doesn’t require a webcam, the exam begins immediately after you open it in LockDown Browser. No startup screens and no camera prompts means no webcam session. You still can’t print, copy, or leave the browser.
If the exam opens with no webcam check, there is no webcam recording.
Step 3. Confirm the recording while you test
Once the exam starts under Monitor, a "Recording" icon appears at the top right of the screen. That is the clearest live signal. It stays visible while the session runs, so you can glance at it any time.
When recording stops
Recording ends when you submit the exam for grading. Respondus says the webcam stops at that point and you can exit LockDown Browser. Don’t leave the browser open and wander off after submitting, because you can’t be sure of what the session still does until you close it.
Use this checklist each time:
- Before launching, confirm the exam says it requires a webcam or Respondus Monitor.
- Complete the webcam check and any ID or room steps when prompted.
- Confirm the "Recording" icon is showing once questions appear.
- Submit the exam, wait for the confirmation, then close LockDown Browser.
The icon is on while you test, and submitting the exam is what ends the recording.
Step 4. Know what gets flagged and who reviews it
After the exam, software analyzes the recording and flags moments that may need a human look. Instructors see the results, often ordered by review priority, and can play back the flagged sections. The software only flags. Your instructor decides whether anything actually matters.
What commonly triggers a flag
Typical triggers include your face leaving the frame, a second person appearing, voices in the room, or long stretches of looking away. A flag is a prompt for review, not a finding of misconduct. Whether an instructor opens the recording depends on the person, and many start with the highest-priority sessions.
How to keep a session clean
Sit in front of a steady light source with your whole face visible. Choose a quiet room and tell people nearby you are testing. Keep your ID within reach for the startup check, and stay in your seat until you submit.
A flag only asks someone to look, and a calm, well-lit, quiet setup gives them little to look at.
Where to go from here
You can tell Respondus is recording you when your exam requires a webcam or Respondus Monitor, startup checks appear, and a "Recording" icon shows once the exam begins. When none of that happens, LockDown Browser is simply restricting your computer. Recording ends when you submit, and anything flagged goes to your instructor for review.
If you have a proctored exam coming up and want to know what to expect, walk through a LockDown Browser example of a real exam from start to finish.