Does Proctorio Track Tabs? What Proctorio Can and Cannot See

Key takeaways

• Proctorio says institutions select the service and settings used for each assessment. [1]
• Open tabs or sites visited can be recorded during an active exam when the applicable recording option is enabled. [2]
• Audio, video, and screen recording are configuration-dependent and stop when the exam is submitted or closed. [3]
• Technical events and flags are reviewed by institution-approved people; they are not an automatic finding about academic conduct. [3]

What Proctorio can record

Proctorio does not have one universal monitoring profile. Its privacy notice says the service and settings selected by an institution determine what information can be collected, and that only an institution can request automated or live proctoring. The notice says an administrator may direct monitoring through a webcam, microphone, browser, and/or desktop, which may include a scan of surroundings, screen, and computer display. It also says test takers receive notice before the exam begins.

For the browser extension, Proctorio explains that open tabs or sites visited can be recorded during an active exam only when the applicable recording options have been enabled by the exam administrator. It also states that its screen-capture permission is used only when screen recording is enabled and a test taker manually grants permission for that attempt. [1]

Does Proctorio track tabs, record screens, or see other devices?

The precise answer is configuration-dependent. Proctorio’s FAQ says it records audio, video, and screen content only during an exam and only if the exam administrator has enabled those settings; it says recording stops when the test taker submits or closes the exam. That is different from a claim that a Proctorio-labelled course automatically records all tabs, all screens, or every device near the test taker.

Proctorio’s explanation of browser permissions says it monitors web traffic only during the designated exam period and says it does not have access to browser history before the exam starts or after it ends. The same explanation describes a setting for identifying connected storage devices without access to personal files. [4] These statements should be read as defined product capabilities, not as a complete explanation of a particular institution’s assessment setup.

Why institution settings change the answer

Institutions choose whether to use automated or live proctoring and which recording or lockdown settings apply. Proctorio states that the configuration can differ from exam to exam, and that institution-approved representatives review recordings and decide whether a flag matters under their own process. [2] A flag or technical event is therefore not the same thing as a final conclusion about a student’s intent or an academic outcome.

Before an assessment, identify the exact Proctorio requirements named in the course notice. Confirm whether the assessment requests browser access, screen sharing, webcam or microphone permissions, an environment check, or another institution-managed component. Use the institution’s privacy notice and assessment policy as the controlling explanation of the particular exam.

How to read a Proctorio record fairly

Start with the exact feature, time, exam attempt, and notice that applied. A browser event, screen recording, or review flag may provide evidence about a defined system event. It does not independently determine why an event occurred, who used another device, or whether an assessment rule was breached. Proctorio’s own materials say that the institution or exam administrator decides what behaviour to monitor and reviews whether a flagged event matters. [2]

Where a student is asked about an event, the constructive route is to request the specific record, describe relevant technical context truthfully, and use the institution’s published review or accessibility process. This guide explains documented records; it does not instruct readers how to defeat assessment controls.

Student checklist before a Proctorio assessment

1. Read the assessment notice. Confirm the permitted materials, timing, assessment rules, and every required product.
2. Check the named settings. Look for an instruction about screen sharing, camera, microphone, browser access, environment checks, or live review.
3. Complete official pre-checks. Run an institution-provided compatibility or practice check early enough to use support if needed.
4. Prepare the permitted workspace. Follow the course policy for resources, screens, devices, and accessibility arrangements rather than relying on generic claims.
5. Keep legitimate technical evidence. Retain relevant support-case details or error messages and report a genuine problem through the approved channel.

Frequently asked questions

Can Proctorio see which tab I open?

Proctorio says enabled recording options can record open tabs or sites visited during an active exam. That does not mean every course uses that option or that it provides browser history outside the designated exam period. Review the particular assessment notice. [1]

Does Proctorio record my screen?

Screen recording is conditional on the administrator enabling it and the test taker granting the requested capture permission. Proctorio says recording ends when the exam is submitted or closed. [2]

Can Proctorio tell if I have a second monitor, phone, or another device on the network?

A particular exam can use institution-selected monitoring, including a computer-display scan described in Proctorio’s privacy notice. The accessible first-party sources used here do not support a blanket claim that every Proctorio exam identifies every connected display, phone, or networked device. The assessment instructions and privacy notice are the appropriate source for the individual setup. [3]

Do Proctorio flags decide an academic-integrity case by themselves?

No. Proctorio says administrators or institution-approved representatives review attempts and determine whether a flagged event matters under the institution’s process. [2]

Sources and further reading

1. Proctorio: Privacy Notice
2. Proctorio: Frequently asked questions
3. Proctorio: Secure Exam Proctor Extension
4. Proctorio: Why Proctorio requests certain browser permissions