How to Exit LockDown Browser Early on Mac (Without Losing Work)

Last updated 2026-05-02 · LDBypass Editorial

The legitimate exit paths

1. Submit and exit (the normal end)

Click Submit in the LMS, confirm submission, click Exit LockDown Browser on the post-submit page. LDB closes and macOS returns to its normal state. No flags, no issues.

2. Red X button in LDB window

Most LDB builds expose a small red X (✕) button in the upper-right corner of the LDB window. Clicking it:

1. Prompts: "Are you sure you want to exit? You will not be able to resume this exam."
2. If you confirm, LDB exits.
3. Your in-progress answers are submitted (or not, depending on LMS - see below).
4. The early exit is logged in the Monitor recording timeline.

This is the documented "early exit" path. Use it for emergencies (illness, family situation, technical failure).

3. Force-quit (⌘+⌥+Esc)

If the X button is unresponsive or LDB has frozen, force-quit:

1. Press ⌘+⌥+Esc.
2. Select LockDown Browser.
3. Click Force Quit.

This works during any state of LDB. The kiosk-mode lock releases; macOS returns to normal. The Monitor recording up to the force-quit is preserved server-side.

For more on force-quit specifically, see the force-quit page.

What happens to your in-progress answers

If you exit via the red X

If you force-quit

Your submitted answers up to the force-quit are saved by the LMS. The current question may or may not be saved depending on auto-save behavior. The exam may show "auto-submitted" or "in-progress" depending on LMS configuration.

What's logged

• The Monitor recording shows the timeline up to the exit.
• The LMS logs the exit timestamp and the questions answered.
• The Respondus Dashboard shows the session as "Incomplete" (vs. "Submitted").
• Your instructor sees both: the recording timeline + the LMS log.

When to use early exit

Legitimate use cases:

• Medical emergency. Family illness, your own sudden illness.
• Technical failure. Webcam died, audio failed, exam interface broken.
• Genuine urgency. Fire alarm, family situation, etc.
• You finished early and want to leave. Submit normally first; the early-exit path is for unusual circumstances.

What NOT to do

• Don't force-quit just to "look up an answer". The Monitor recording shows you exiting; instructors notice patterns.
• Don't exit and re-enter the exam. Even if the LMS allows it, multiple Monitor sessions on the same exam look suspicious.
• Don't use Cmd-Q to "exit". LDB intercepts ⌘+Q during kiosk mode; it doesn't cleanly exit.
• Don't close the laptop lid. macOS sleeps the system mid-exam; on wake, LDB may not recover gracefully and Monitor records suspicious gaps.

After the early exit - what to do

1. Email your instructor immediately. Explain the reason. Most accept genuine emergencies.
2. Document the technical evidence if it was technical (screenshot, error message, system log).
3. Don't open browser tabs to research the exam questions. The Monitor recording timeline shows what you did between the exit and the email.
4. Wait for instructor response. Most institutions have a make-up policy for documented emergencies.