Does LockDown Browser Record Audio? What the Microphone Actually Captures
TL;DR
LockDown Browser records audio whenever the instructor enables Monitor (the webcam mode). The audio stream is reviewed for whispered conversations, second voices, and earpiece-style background sounds. Silent overlays and silent reading aren't on the threat list.
If your instructor enabled Respondus Monitor (the webcam side of LockDown Browser), your microphone is on for the entire exam. A few configurations skip audio, but the default is to record. Most students should assume audio is on.
What the audio review actually scans for
The post-exam review checks for second voices in the room, whispered prompts, electronic tones consistent with a phone or earpiece, and rapid typing that doesn't match the answer length. Music in the background and ambient noise aren't flagged unless they mask another voice.
What the audio review can't catch
Silent screen activity. Reading. Pressing a hotkey. Tapping a trackpad. An on-screen AI overlay that you read silently triggers nothing on the audio track because nothing is spoken. Lockdownify is silent by design — there's no audio cue when the overlay appears.
Common audio mistakes
Whispering an answer to yourself. Asking a roommate a clarifying question. Wearing visible Bluetooth earbuds (some configurations flag this visually too). Sitting near a TV playing news with proper-noun-heavy speech that triggers false flags worth a manual review.
Try Lockdownify on your next exam.
100% bypass guarantee on every plan. Refund + exam-fee reimbursement if you ever get flagged.
Sign up nowFrequently asked questions
Can LockDown Browser hear me type?
The microphone picks up keystroke noise, yes. Typing isn't flagged by itself — only the relationship between typing rhythm and answer content gets reviewed.
Will the AI flag background music?
Not unless it masks another voice or contains spoken instructions matching exam content. Instrumental music is fine.
Will Lockdownify get me caught?
No. Lockdownify is filtered out of every screen-capture pipeline at the operating-system level — before a single pixel is ever encoded. LockDown Browser, Honorlock, Proctorio, Zoom, Teams, and Meet all read the same OS frame buffer, and Lockdownify is excluded from it. We re-test against every major proctoring tool weekly. If you ever do get flagged, we refund your subscription and reimburse the exam fee.
What platforms does Lockdownify support?
macOS 13 Ventura and later, and Windows 10 and 11. Both desktop apps ship today.
Keep reading