LockDown Browser + Zoom / Teams / Discord Conflict on Mac

Last updated 2026-05-02 · LDBypass Editorial

Zoom (in an active meeting), Microsoft Teams (in an active call), and Discord (screen-sharing) all conflict with LockDown Browser on Mac. Each holds the camera/microphone/screen and is on LDB's default blacklist. Quit completely (not just close the call window) before launching LDB.

The symptom

"Close these applications" dialog from LDB naming Zoom / Teams / Discord. LDB refuses to proceed until each is fully quit. Camera not detected by Monitor (Zoom is holding it). Audio failures during system check (Teams/Zoom is using the mic).

Why it conflicts with LDB

Each of these apps installs a launch-agent that runs in the background even when no meeting is active. When in a meeting/call/screen-share, they hold camera + microphone + sometimes screen capture. LDB's blacklist explicitly names them; in-meeting state is the strongest trigger.

The fix - pre-exam procedure

Zoom: Status menu icon → Quit Zoom (not just close the meeting window). Verify in Activity Monitor that zoom.us and zoom.us-helper are gone.
Microsoft Teams: Status menu icon → Quit. Verify Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Teams Helper processes are gone.
Discord: Discord menu → Quit Discord. Verify Discord Helper processes are gone.
Slack with active call: Quit Slack entirely (not just leave the huddle). Slack's Huddles uses the same camera/mic acquisition path.
WebEx, GoTo Meeting, BlueJeans, Google Meet desktop apps: Same pattern - quit entirely.

Alternative configurations

If you need Zoom available immediately after the exam (e.g. office hours starting right after):

Quit Zoom desktop, but keep the Zoom join URL bookmarked. Re-join post-exam takes 10 seconds.
Use Zoom in Safari (zoom.us/wc) instead of the desktop app - Safari's Zoom doesn't install a launch-agent.

What NOT to do

Don't try to bypass the conflict mid-exam - LDB's blacklist scan happens before exam launch and re-runs at intervals.
Don't restart the conflicting app DURING the exam - LDB will detect the new process and may flag.
Don't leave the conflicting app paused/disabled long-term outside exam windows; that's overkill for non-LDB use.

Frequently asked questions

I'm in a Zoom call but with camera off - does that count?

Yes - Zoom is on the blacklist regardless of camera state. The blacklist match is the running app, not the call mode.

Does Zoom's background launch-agent count as "running"?

It depends on Respondus's blacklist version. The default blacklist matches against active in-meeting state. Background-only Zoom helper usually does not block; in-meeting always does.

Can I leave Slack open if I'm not in a huddle?

Generally yes - Slack alone (no huddle) doesn't hold camera/mic. But Slack's notifications during the exam can break concentration. Consider quitting anyway.