Hi everyone,
I had a teacher reach out with an odd (and concerning) LockDown Browser issue and wanted to see if others have experienced something similar.
A student was taking a quiz using Respondus LockDown Browser on a Chromebook 300e Yoga G4 (8GB), a 2‑in‑1 device that can flip into tablet mode. During the active quiz, when the device was physically flipped into tablet/touchscreen mode, LockDown Browser appeared to disable or lose enforcement, but the student was not removed from the test and remained actively in the assessment.
What concerns us is that LockDown Browser relies heavily on keeping the device in a standard “desktop/laptop” environment to enforce restrictions (blocking system access, task switching, screen capture, etc.). Switching into tablet mode seems to trigger a different OS/UI state, which may interfere with those controls without fully terminating the exam session in Canvas.
I’m curious if anyone else has seen this behavior, especially on:
- Chromebooks with convertible hinges
- Other 2‑in‑1 or touchscreen laptops (Yoga, x360, Surface-style devices)
Specifically:
- Is this a known limitation or documented issue with LockDown Browser on convertible devices?
- Is Respondus actively working on this, or is the recommended approach to restrict or discourage tablet/2‑in‑1 devices for high‑stakes exams?
- Are there mitigation settings or best practices institutions are using to prevent this?
Any insights or similar reports would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
