🧩 Respondus Functionality Updates in Blackboard Ultra
Summary:
Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor are available in Blackboard Ultra. Students still need to install LockDown Browser on their device, but the launch experience in Ultra is different from what many faculty may remember from Original. After any course copy or migration into Ultra, instructors should review each exam in the LockDown Browser Dashboard before students begin. Respondus 4.0 Test Generator is not officially supported for Blackboard Ultra courses.
🔎 What changed in Blackboard Ultra?
Students still need to have Respondus LockDown Browser installed on their computer or iPad before taking an exam that requires it. That part has not changed. What has changed in Ultra is the launch workflow: students now begin in Blackboard Ultra using a standard browser, open the exam, click Start Attempt, and LockDown Browser launches from there. If LockDown Browser is not installed yet, they are prompted to install it.
✅ What has not changed
- Students still need the LockDown Browser application installed on their device before taking a LockDown Browser exam. If they do not have it installed already, they will automatically be prompted to install it on their device: https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=573738902
- If you use the webcam/video proctoring option, that is still handled through Respondus Monitor.
- Faculty should continue using Respondus only for exams where the added security is truly needed.
🆕 What is different in Ultra
In Blackboard Ultra, the student workflow is now:
- Log in to Blackboard using a standard browser such as Chrome (recommended) FireFox (recommended), Edge or Safari.
- Open the course and navigate to the exam.
- Click "Start Attempt".
- If the exam requires LockDown Browser, it launches from there.
- If LockDown Browser is not already installed, the student is prompted to download and install it.
This means students should not be told that they no longer need LockDown Browser. They still need it installed; Ultra simply changes how the exam is launched.
📢 Instructor Action Required: Migrating Respondus Exams from Original to Ultra
⚠️ Known Respondus- Ultra Access Code Issue:
Tests copied or migrated from Blackboard Original into Ultra may retain unexpected access-related settings that interfere with student exam access. Before students begin, instructors should review both the LockDown Browser Dashboard and the test’s Ultra Assessment Settings to confirm the exam copied over cleanly and does not contain any unintended restrictions.
⚠️ How To Turn Off Access Codes
After copying or migrating exams from Blackboard Original to Blackboard Ultra, instructors should review both the LockDown Browser Dashboard and the test’s Ultra Assessment Settings before students begin. In some copied Respondus exams, a random string of characters may appear in the Access Code field in the Ultra test settings. If this setting remains on, students may be blocked from opening the exam.
Please follow these steps for each copied Respondus exam:
🔄 Open the LockDown Browser Dashboard
After your course copy is complete, go to Books & Tools and open Respondus LockDown Browser. This helps synchronize the copied exam settings in Ultra.
🚫 Check the native Ultra Access Code setting
Open the exam’s Assessment Settings in Blackboard Ultra and confirm that Access Code is turned off unless you intentionally plan to use one. If needed, use the trash can icon to remove any unwanted code.
🛠️ Use “Fix It” if it appears
If the LockDown Browser Dashboard displays a Fix It option for an exam, click it and then recheck the exam settings.
Best practice
After any course copy or migration, always review:
- the LockDown Browser Dashboard
- the exam’s Assessment Settings in Ultra
- any Access Code, availability, or webcam/Monitor settings
Do not assume copied Respondus settings are ready for student use without review.
🎥 Respondus Monitor (webcam/video)
If you plan to use the webcam/video component, make sure Respondus Monitor is enabled for the exam in the LockDown Browser Dashboard. Schools using Blackboard Ultra generally treat Monitor as a separate option faculty enable within the Dashboard, rather than assuming it is automatically part of every LockDown Browser exam.
🔗 Student download link
Students should use CCRI’s Respondus LockDown Browser download link:
https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=573738902
Respondus uses institution-specific download links tied to the school’s ID.
💬 Suggested student messaging
You can paste the following into your syllabus, exam instructions, or course announcements:
Respondus LockDown Browser Requirement
This exam requires Respondus LockDown Browser. You must have LockDown Browser installed on your computer or iPad before taking the exam.
To begin, log in to Blackboard in your regular web browser, open the exam, and click Start Attempt. LockDown Browser will launch from there. If it is not already installed, you will be prompted to download and install it.
Download LockDown Browser here:https://www.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=573738902
If using webcam/video:
This exam also requires Respondus Monitor. Be sure your webcam is working and allow enough time before the exam to complete any startup checks.
📣 Suggested faculty reminder to students
Before an exam, consider posting a brief course announcement such as:
If your upcoming exam uses Respondus LockDown Browser, please make sure it is installed on your device before the exam. In Blackboard Ultra, you will start the exam from within Blackboard by clicking "Start Attempt", and LockDown Browser will launch from there. If it is not installed, you will be prompted to install it.
🛠 Best practices for faculty
- Review every Respondus-enabled exam in the LockDown Browser Dashboard after any course copy or migration.
- Do a quick test of the exam settings before students begin.
- If using Respondus Monitor, verify webcam settings separately.
- Do not rely on Respondus 4.0 Test Generator as a normal Blackboard Ultra workflow.
⚠️Respondus 4.0 Test Generator
Respondus 4.0 is not officially supported for use with Blackboard Ultra courses. Although limited publishing to Ultra may work in some cases, Respondus notes that retrieval is not supported. For that reason, faculty should not plan to use Respondus 4.0 as a regular exam-authoring or management workflow in Ultra. Support for Blackboard Learn Ultra
📚 Related resources
Respondus official articles
Examples from other Blackboard Ultra institutions