How to Install LockDown Browser from Canvas on Mac (2026 Step-by-Step)

Last updated 2026-05-02 · LDBypass Editorial

Step-by-step path on Canvas

1. Sign in to your Canvas instance (typically canvas.[your-school].edu or [your-school].instructure.com).
2. Click the course in the left sidebar or dashboard tile.
3. In the course navigation, click "Quizzes" (or "Assignments" if your instructor uses Assignment-based exams).
4. Click the specific quiz that requires LockDown Browser. The quiz page shows "This quiz requires LockDown Browser" if LDB is enabled.
5. Click "Take the Quiz". A dialog appears: "Open LockDown Browser?" and a "Download LockDown Browser" link below.
6. Click "Download LockDown Browser". Your browser downloads the .dmg from Respondus's servers (the URL is institution-specific - bookmarking another university's URL won't work).
7. When download completes, open the .dmg and proceed with the standard macOS install steps.

If the download link is missing

If your Canvas course doesn't show the LDB download link where this guide says it should be, the most likely causes:

• Your instructor hasn't enabled LDB for that specific assessment yet.
• The assessment is in test/draft mode, not published.
• Your enrollment in the course hasn't fully synced (try signing out and back into the LMS).
• Canvas is in maintenance window (rare).

Email your instructor with: the course name, the specific assessment, and a screenshot of what you see. They can fix the configuration server-side or send you the link directly.

After download - install on macOS

1. Open Finder → Downloads. Double-click the .dmg.
2. macOS verifies the notarisation. ~2-5 seconds.
3. The .dmg mounts. Double-click the installer package.
4. Authenticate with admin password (Sonoma 14.4+ requires this).
5. Installer runs ~10-30 seconds. LockDown Browser.app appears in /Applications.
6. Eject the .dmg from Finder.
7. Return to Canvas, click "Launch LockDown Browser" on the assessment.
8. macOS prompts: "Open LockDown Browser?" → Open.
9. Approve Camera + Microphone + Screen Recording TCC dialogs.
10. The exam begins.

Upgrade path (if LDB is already installed)

If you already have LDB installed from a previous course, you may not need to reinstall. Launch your existing LDB; it auto-checks for updates. Confirm the version matches your university's required minimum (right-click LDB.app → Get Info).

If your installed LDB is older than the Dashboard requires, you'll see error -111 at launch. Reinstall from your Canvas link to get the current build.