How to Use Blackbird with Respondus LockDown Browser
Respondus LockDown Browser is the strictest client-side lockdown in common use — it takes the whole screen and blocks task switching.
What LockDown Browser enforces
- —Full-screen kiosk mode that cannot be minimised
- —A blocklist of running applications checked at launch
- —Disabled copy, paste, print and screen capture
- —Virtual machine and remote-desktop detection
- —Optional Respondus Monitor webcam recording
How Blackbird fits in
LockDown Browser scans running processes at launch against a list of known screen-share, recording and messaging applications, then takes exclusive control of the display. The check happens once, at start, against known names.
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. Because it is drawn above the kiosk surface rather than inside it, the lockdown stays intact and uninterrupted.
Practical tips
- +Start Blackbird before launching LockDown Browser and leave it hidden.
- +Don't run any conventional screen-share or recording app alongside it.
- +Avoid virtual machines — that is the check Respondus is genuinely good at.
- +Use the text-capture hotkey when screenshots come back black.
Frequently asked questions
Does LockDown Browser detect Blackbird as a blocked application?
Respondus checks for known screen-share, streaming and remote-control software by name. Blackbird is a small native overlay and is not one of those applications.
Will the overlay break the kiosk mode?
No. It draws above the locked display without minimising or interrupting the exam.
What if screenshots come back black?
Use Blackbird's text-capture mode, which reads the window's accessibility tree instead of the bitmap.
Does Respondus Monitor's webcam AI see it?
The webcam only sees you. Keep your eyes on the screen and your behaviour normal.
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.