English
Lockdown Browser & AI Explainer
What AI Extensions
Can I Use With a Lockdown Browser?
If you are about to take a proctored online exam, you have probably asked this exact question. The short answer is clear, and the longer answer covers what actually works for studying without crossing academic-integrity lines.
Short answer
None. A lockdown browser disables the entire browser-extension architecture, so no AI extension — Grammarly, a ChatGPT sidebar, translation tools, anything — can run during the exam session.
Start with the questions students actually ask
Are there any AI widgets available for LockDown browsers?
No. LockDown Browser runs in kiosk mode and turns off the extension system, so widgets and extensions do not load during the exam.
Does Respondus use AI detection?
Respondus Monitor records your webcam, screen, and audio, and flags behavior that looks suspicious. It is not an AI chatbot detector, but proctors review the flags.
What is the LockDown Browser compatible with?
Windows and Mac computers, and Chromebooks in most setups. Some schools also support iPads for certain assessments.
Do professors actually check Respondus LockDown Browser?
They can see the session recording, flags, and summary. Whether they review it varies, but the data is there and can be used.
This page gives an honest, practical answer — not a list of exam-cheating tools.
Why it happens
Why no AI extension can run inside a lockdown browser
The technical reason is simple: a lockdown browser is a locked-down kiosk. It does not just discourage extensions — it disables the architecture that makes extensions exist.
01
Kiosk mode
The browser window is forced full-screen and pinned to the exam page. New tabs, windows, and sidebars are blocked.
02
Extension system off
The extension API is disabled at the browser level, so third-party add-ons never load, even if they are installed.
03
System-level lockdown
Copy/paste, screenshots, printing, keyboard shortcuts, and access to other applications are restricted while the session is active.
What actually works
Legitimate ways to use AI around a lockdown exam
The useful framing is timing and separation. AI that is part of your study workflow — before the exam and after it — is both allowed and genuinely helpful. What does not work is trying to run AI inside the locked session.
Study with AI to prepare
Use AI to summarize readings, build outlines, generate practice questions, and explain concepts you are stuck on.
Review with AI
After the exam, use AI to review your notes, rework answers, and fill the gaps you want to improve next time.
Standalone desktop apps and local AI
Desktop AI tools and local models (like Ollama or GPT4All) run outside the browser. They do not affect the exam window, but using them during a proctored exam usually still violates policy.
A phone or tablet you own
A second device is not controlled by the exam browser, but most proctored policies forbid it during the exam. Check the rules first — this is where honesty matters most.
The line is simple: use AI to learn before and after the exam, not to answer during it. When in doubt, ask your instructor what is allowed.
Don’t try this
Bypass tools and exam hacks are a bad trade
Search results are full of products that claim to “bypass” lockdown browsers — emulators, hidden overlays, secondary-device streaming, and so on. They can trigger detection, get your exam automatically submitted, and carry serious academic penalties.
Hidden overlay tools
Overlays that try to draw AI answers on top of the exam are exactly what webcam and screen monitoring are designed to catch.
Lockdown browser emulators
Emulators and fake “lockdown” windows do not change the server-side session. The exam platform still records what it sees.
Screen and audio flags
Unexpected windows, unusual typing patterns, repeated gaze away from the screen, and odd audio are classic proctoring flags.
What can happen
- Automatic submission of your exam
- A formal academic-integrity report
- A failing grade or repeat requirement
- Referral to your institution’s honor council
What proctors can see
What a proctored lockdown session can detect
Understanding what is monitored helps you study with confidence and avoid honest mistakes. Here is what a typical setup captures.
01
Webcam video
Your face, gaze direction, and behavior during the session are recorded and can be reviewed.
02
Screen recording
The exam screen is captured, including any attempt to switch windows or load overlays.
03
System events
Keystrokes, mouse activity, and attempts to open other applications or take screenshots are logged.
04
Network activity
Some setups flag traffic to AI services or unusual network patterns during the session.
How Tabbit helps
Tabbit is the AI study browser for the learning that matters
The right time to use AI is while you study — and that is exactly what Tabbit is built for. Tabbit is an AI-native browser for macOS and Windows that helps you read, research, and prepare with context instead of copy-paste.
01
Page summarization
Turn long readings into clear summaries and outlines while you study, so you arrive at the exam with real understanding.
02
Agent mode for research
Ask Tabbit’s agent to gather sources, compare explanations, and build practice questions across multiple pages.
03
Tab groups for study sessions
Organize each subject into its own workspace, keep your sources together, and review with AI whenever you need.
FAQ
Questions students still ask
Can I use Grammarly or a translation extension during the exam?
No. Lockdown browsers disable all extensions, including grammar checkers, translators, and AI sidebars.
Can LockDown Browser see your keyboard?
Proctoring systems log keyboard and mouse events, and the webcam records you while you type, so unusual activity can be flagged.
What if I already have an AI extension installed?
It will not load during the exam. The extension system is disabled by the lockdown browser, so it simply will not appear.
Is it safe to use AI to prepare before the exam?
Yes — that is the best way to use it. Summaries, practice questions, and concept explanations before the exam are legitimate study.
Can I use a second device during the exam?
Usually not. Most proctored policies explicitly forbid secondary devices, and using one can be treated as an integrity violation.
What should I do if I am not sure what is allowed?
Ask your instructor or read your institution’s academic-integrity policy before the exam. A clear answer is worth more than a risky shortcut.
Study with AI the honest way
Use Tabbit to read, summarize, and research before your next exam — and leave the proctoring tools to do their job.