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Find out whether a Canvas quiz can see your screen

Canvas itself doesn't record your display during a quiz. Whether monitoring happens depends on the tools your instructor turns on, so you can find out before exam day and prepare with practice questions built from your own notes.

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How Canvas quizzes and screen monitoring work

Students often ask whether a Canvas quiz can see your screen before a timed exam, and the honest answer is that it depends on setup. A standard Canvas quiz runs in your browser and records your answers, but it does not record your screen by default.

Standard Canvas quizzes don't record your screen by default.
Lockdown browsers and proctoring add-ons are set by the instructor and can monitor activity.
Ask which tool is used, what it records and how long recordings are kept.
Run the required system check well before the exam and close other apps during the test.

Example Canvas quiz screen-monitoring questions

Does a standard Canvas quiz record your screen by default?No. It records your answers and timing, but screen or webcam monitoring needs a separate lockdown browser or proctoring tool enabled by the instructor.

What does a lockdown browser typically do during a quiz?It blocks access to other apps, websites and some system functions until you submit, which prevents switching windows during the test.

What is the main difference between live and recorded proctoring?Live proctoring has a person watching in real time, while recorded proctoring saves the session for review later. Your syllabus or instructor should say which is used.

Why should you run a proctoring tool's system check early?The check confirms your browser, webcam, microphone and internet connection work, so you can fix problems before the timed exam starts.

What should you ask your instructor before a monitored quiz?Ask which tool is used, what it records, how long recordings are kept, and what is allowed during the quiz, such as scratch paper or breaks.

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Clear answer on monitoring

Learn the difference between a standard Canvas quiz and one that uses a lockdown browser or proctoring add-on.

Practice from your own material

Upload your PDFs, slides or notes and get multiple-choice, true/false or short-answer questions with explanations.

Study in the browser

The free plan lets you run generated quizzes and flashcards in the browser, with no download needed.

How it works

Check your course setup

Read the syllabus and the quiz instructions in Canvas, and note whether a lockdown browser or proctoring tool is listed.

Test the required software early

If a tool is required, install it and run its system check at least a day before the exam, not the morning of.

Practice with your own notes

Generate a quiz from the course material so the question format feels familiar when the timer starts.

Monitoring usually comes from third-party tools that an instructor enables, such as a lockdown browser that blocks other apps and sites or a proctoring service that uses your webcam and screen activity. Check the course page and ask your instructor which tool, if any, is in use, and what it records.

While you wait for those answers, you can prepare with practice questions generated from your notes. DeckOwl creates multiple-choice, true/false and short-answer questions with explanations, so you can review the material in the same format your quiz will use.

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Make your own Kahoot-style quiz

Turn your own slides or notes into a multiple-choice or true/false quiz with explanations.

Frequently asked questions

Does Canvas record your screen during a quiz by default?

No, a standard Canvas quiz records your answers but does not capture your screen. Screen or webcam monitoring only applies when your instructor adds a lockdown browser or proctoring tool to the quiz.

What should I check before a proctored Canvas quiz?

Confirm which tool is required, run its system check on the device you will use, and make sure your webcam, microphone and internet connection work. Close other apps and follow the instructor's rules on breaks and materials.

Can I practice Canvas-style quizzes from my own notes with DeckOwl?

Yes, upload PDFs, slides or notes to generate multiple-choice, true/false or short-answer questions with explanations. The free plan includes browser study, and exporting to QTI or Moodle XML is a paid feature.

Does DeckOwl monitor my screen?

No, DeckOwl is a study tool that generates practice material from your files and does not provide proctoring. Whether a Canvas quiz is monitored depends on the tools your instructor chooses.

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