How to Use Blackbird with Pearson VUE OnVUE
OnVUE delivers online certification exams for Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA and many others through a dedicated secure client.
What OnVUE enforces
- —A downloadable secure client that closes other applications
- —A photo room scan and ID check by a live greeter
- —Continuous webcam, microphone and screen recording
- —Process and second-monitor detection at launch
- —Post-exam human review of flagged sessions
How Blackbird fits in
OnVUE is the hardest environment in this list because a human reviews your check-in, the client closes running applications, and a second monitor ends the session outright.
Blackbird is a lightweight native Windows overlay drawn at the system compositor level. It is not a browser tab, an Electron window, or a shared surface, so it does not show up in screen recordings, screen-share streams, or active-window checks. It stays on top, accepts clicks without stealing focus, and disappears instantly with a hotkey. Start it before the client's application check and keep it hidden until the greeter releases you into the exam.
Practical tips
- +Disconnect every extra monitor before check-in — this is an automatic fail.
- +Clear the desk; the room scan is reviewed by a person.
- +Start Blackbird before the OnVUE client's application sweep.
- +Keep the overlay narrow and near your reading line so your gaze stays steady.
Frequently asked questions
Does the OnVUE client close Blackbird?
The client closes applications on its known-software list, aimed at chat, remote-control and recording tools. Blackbird is a small native overlay and is not among them.
Will the proctor see it in the screen recording?
No. It is excluded from screen capture at the compositor level.
Can I use a second monitor?
No — OnVUE ends sessions with a second display. Use the overlay on your single screen instead.
Which certifications does this apply to?
Any exam delivered through OnVUE, including Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA and AWS titles.
You are responsible for following the rules of any exam, employer or institution you use Blackbird with. No tool can account for human observation or behavioural review.