If your exam page says it requires Respondus LockDown Browser webcam use, your instructor has turned on Respondus Monitor. LockDown Browser locks down your computer during the quiz, and Monitor adds a webcam and microphone recording of your session. You will complete a short startup sequence before the exam, and the video will be reviewed afterward. You cannot start the exam without a working camera.
This article explains what that requirement means in practice. You will see why instructors use it, how the webcam check works from install to submission, what the recording captures, and how to fix the most common webcam errors before your timer starts.
We write about remote proctoring at takemyproctoredexam.online because most of the stress around these exams is technical and avoidable. A student who knows the sequence in advance rarely loses points to a camera problem.
Why your exam requires LockDown Browser and a webcam
Your instructor requires the webcam because LockDown Browser alone only controls your computer, not your surroundings. Adding Respondus Monitor lets the instructor review a recording of you taking an unproctored exam. Knowing the difference between the two tools explains most of the confusing messages you will see.
What the requirement actually means
LockDown Browser is a custom browser for quizzes in a learning system such as Canvas. While it runs, you cannot print, copy, open other applications, or visit other websites. Once you start, you cannot exit until you submit.
Respondus Monitor is the webcam layer. Depending on your instructor’s settings, it can use your webcam, microphone, screen recording, or a second camera. Not every LockDown Browser exam uses it, and the settings can differ between quizzes in the same course. Read the instructions on each quiz page rather than assuming.
A webcam requirement means Respondus Monitor is on for that exam, and your instructor chose it.
What happens if you don’t have a webcam
LockDown Browser by itself does not need a webcam. If the quiz says Respondus Monitor is required, you cannot begin without one. A laptop with a built-in camera usually works, and so does an external USB camera on a desktop. You also need a microphone and a stable broadband connection.
If you have no camera, tell your instructor before exam day. Ask whether your school lends equipment, offers a testing center, or allows an alternate arrangement. Waiting until the exam opens leaves no time to solve it.
How to complete the webcam check step by step
You complete the webcam check in a startup sequence that runs after you open the quiz and before the first question. The sequence does not use your quiz time, but you still need to prepare your device and room first.
What to prepare before exam day
Work through this list at least a day ahead:
- Install LockDown Browser using the link from your school. Searching for a generic download often gives you the wrong institution’s version.
- Check that your operating system is supported. Current Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS versions are, and some exams allow iPad.
- Take the practice quiz if your instructor provides one. Ask for one if you don’t see it.
- Have a valid photo ID within reach.
- Pick a well-lit, quiet spot, and close every app you don’t need.
For example, if your exam starts at 7:00 p.m., take the practice quiz the day before. On exam night, open the quiz around 6:45 so you have 15 minutes for the startup steps and any update prompts.
The startup sequence, in order
After you log into your course in a regular browser and click the quiz, LockDown Browser launches. If it asks to close blocked programs like screen capture or messaging tools, say yes. Then the Monitor steps begin. Your instructor’s settings decide which ones appear:
- Agree to the Terms of Use.
- Run the webcam and microphone check.
- Show your ID to the camera.
- Scan your testing environment.
- Complete a facial recognition check.
- Allow screen recording or connect a second camera, if required.
A "Recording" icon appears at the top right once the exam begins. You can also run the standalone startup test at respondus.com/webcamcheck, which needs LockDown Browser already installed.
Run the full startup sequence on the practice quiz first, so exam night is a repeat, not a first attempt.
What the webcam recording captures and flags
The recording captures your video, audio, and sometimes your screen for the length of the exam. Software then marks moments that may deserve a look, and your instructor reviews them. Software does not decide whether you broke a rule.
What gets recorded
The session runs from the end of the startup sequence until you submit the exam. Anything the camera sees and the microphone hears in that window is saved, along with the ID and room scan you showed earlier. If a second camera is required, it records your workspace from the side.
Once you submit, the recording stops. If you use a second device, leave its recording page open until Respondus confirms the upload is complete.
What gets flagged and who decides
The system looks for events such as your face leaving the frame, more than one person appearing, or unusual noise. These marks help an instructor skip to the moments worth watching instead of viewing the entire video. A flag is a prompt for human review, not a finding of misconduct.
You can lower the chance of a false flag with simple habits:
- Face the screen and keep your face in view.
- Sit in front of a light source, not with a window behind you.
- Tell housemates not to enter the room.
- Keep notes, phones, and other devices out of reach unless your instructor allows them.
Most flags come from ordinary setup problems like bad lighting or interruptions, so fix those before you start.
How to fix a LockDown Browser webcam that won’t work
Most webcam failures come from another app holding the camera, a blocked permission, or a weak connection. Check those three in order before you do anything drastic.
Quick fixes by symptom
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Black screen in the webcam check | Another app is using the camera | Quit Zoom, Teams, and other tabs or apps, then restart the computer |
| "No camera found" or permission denied | Operating system privacy setting | Windows: Settings > Privacy & security > Camera, allow camera and desktop app access. Mac: System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera, enable LockDown Browser |
| Camera never requests access | Permission glitch | On Windows, right-click LockDown Browser and choose Run as administrator |
| Check stalls or upload fails | Weak connection | Use Ethernet, move near the router, and pause other devices on your network |
| Rosetta prompt on a Mac | Apple chip compatibility | Install Rosetta when prompted, then relaunch |
| Odd errors after a long gap | Outdated browser | Update LockDown Browser using the info icon in its toolbar |
When the fixes fail
If the camera still won’t work, stop and document it. Take a screenshot or write down the exact error message, then contact your instructor right away and explain what happened. For install or launch trouble, contact your school’s tech support, which can see how your campus configured the tool.
Do not wait for a graded attempt to find out. A failed practice quiz costs you nothing, and a failed exam can cost you the attempt.
Troubleshoot on the practice quiz, and escalate with a screenshot the moment a graded attempt fails.
Get ready before the timer starts
When an exam requires LockDown Browser with a webcam, it simply means Respondus Monitor is on. Your job is to install the right version, test your camera and connection, and finish the startup sequence calmly. Most problems trace back to a blocked permission, a busy camera, or a weak network, and each has a quick fix.
Prepare a day early, use the practice quiz, and keep your room quiet and well lit. For more plain-language guides to remote proctoring tools, start with our Respondus LockDown Browser setup guide and browse takemyproctoredexam.online.