How to Use ChatGPT on a Locked-Down Mac (LockDown Browser, Examplify)
When your Mac is locked down by Respondus LockDown Browser, Examplify, or another proctor app, you cannot Cmd-Tab to a regular Safari with ChatGPT open. The LDBypass overlay provides the path: an invisible window that loads chat.openai.com alongside the proctor.
The lockdown apps disable Cmd-Tab and Mission Control to prevent app switching. They do not (and cannot) prevent a window that the macOS window-privacy API is hiding from them. LDBypass marks its window private; the lockdown app does not see it in the window list, cannot capture it in screenshots, cannot stream it over screen-share. You sign into ChatGPT once before the exam, leave the session active, and toggle with Ctrl+Cmd+L during the locked session.
Key points
- Install LDBypass before the exam (signing/notarization takes seconds on first launch).
- Configure overlay URL: https://chat.openai.com.
- Sign into ChatGPT before launching the proctor.
- During exam: press Ctrl+Cmd+L to show overlay, again to hide.
- Lockdown apps cannot enumerate, capture, or stream the overlay window.
How it works
Pre-exam: 1. Open LDBypass. 2. Configure URL: https://chat.openai.com 3. Sign in to OpenAI account. During exam (LockDown / Examplify open): Ctrl+Cmd+L -> overlay visible to you, hidden from proctor Type, read response. Ctrl+Cmd+L -> overlay hidden again
Common questions
Will my session log out between toggles?
No. The web session persists. You sign in once and the cookies stay valid through the exam.
What if my exam network blocks chat.openai.com?
Some aggressive proctors do. Use Ollama locally instead - see our Ollama exam guide.
Does ChatGPT work on Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes, perfectly. The overlay is universal binary and Apple Silicon native.