The Proctored Exams Portal does not have a direct link to the exam; the portal only schedules exam appointments. Selecting the exam name in the Proctored Exams Portal will not start the exam. When selecting the exam name in the Proctored Exams Portal, a pop-up window with exam details (materials allowed, etc.) appears. 

To start your virtually proctored exam:

1. Open your course ICON site.
2. Select the Quizzes page.
3. Select the name of the exam you wish to take.
4. Select the “Take the Quiz” button.

Access codes are not needed to start an exam. If you get the "Access code needed message" try any of the following solutions: 

1. Be sure you are not using Respondus Lockdown Browser & Honorlock at the same time. If you are, close your browsing window and open the exam using your normal Chrome browser not Respondus Lockdown Browser.
2. Log out of all tabs that have ICON open, then log back in to ICON.
3. Update to the latest version of Chrome.
4. Close Chrome and all associated tabs and then re-open Chrome.
5. Clear the cache in Chrome.
6. Un-install Honorlock and then re-install Honorlock to catch any updates.
7. Restart the computer. 

8. Contact Honorlock's live chat. They can walk you through other possible solutions.

While browsing the internet, Chrome tries to keep some items in its “short-term memory.” This makes it easier to load the next time. This “memory” can get in the way when a page has been updated or changed.

Clearing the cache can solve problems in both ICON and Honorlock:  

1. Open Chrome.
2. In the top right-hand corner, click on the three vertical dots.
3. Select “More tools” and then select “Clear browsing data.”
4. Choose a time range. (Exam Services recommends selecting “All time.”)
5. Check only the boxes next to “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data.”
6. Select “Clear data.”
7. When complete -- and it will only take a few moments -- close Chrome and all associated tabs. Then, re-open Chrome. 

Google has more information about clearing the cache and cookies. 

The Honorlock extension is simple to install.

You may have difficulty installing the Honorlock extension due to interference from another extension. Visit the Honorlock website to learn more about the extensions that can interfere with Honorlock.

Remove other proctoring extensions

If you have used Proctorio, or another virtual proctoring tool which uses an extension, we recommend removing the extension from your machine. Other proctoring extensions can interfere with the use of Honorlock.

1. Select the three vertical dots in the top right hand corner of Chrome.
2. In the menu that appears, look for More Tools.
3. In the More Tools menu, open Extensions.
4. Locate the Proctorio extension and select the Remove button.
5. Restart Chrome and attempt to open the exam again.

You must install the Honorlock desktop application, which works in tandem with the Honorlock Chrome extension, to complete University of Iowa exams using Honorlock. The Honorlock App will block a broader range of desktop applications than the extension alone. 

Step-by-step instructions to install the Honorlock desktop application are available on the Honorlock website. 

When you begin the authentication steps, you will select “Use Honorlock Mobile App” to initiate a secure bridge between your desktop and phone.   

Note: The mobile app works only on phones. The mobile app is not compatible with iPads or tablets.

Step-by-step instructions to install the Honorlock mobile application are available on the Honorlock website. 

The workspace scan is an authentication step you must complete before completing a University of Iowa exam with Honorlock. It requires you to take a single, wide-angle photo of your desk and workspace. This photo provides a clear record of your testing environment for your instructor or exam administrator.

Step-by-step instructions to complete the workspace scan are available on the Honorlock website. 

You will need to set up a side-angle camera, which provides a wider view of the workspace and captures video of your hands, the keyboard, and the surrounding area, to complete University of Iowa exams using Honorlock.

You can use your smartphone as an additional webcam to provide this side-angle view. You can use your iPhone as a webcam on the latest version of MacOS, or you can use your Android Phone in Webcam Mode with the latest version of Android, with either MacOS and Windows. 

Step-by-step instructions to set up a side-angle camera are available on the Honorlock website. 

You can use more than a University of Iowa student ID to start the exam. 

You can use any government-issued ID (e.g. driver's license, passport, etc.). In the rare event that you have no ID of any kind on the day of the exam, please contact your course instructor to make other arrangements.

This type of error is related to permission issues. It typically means that either Google Chrome is unable to access your webcam or your webcam is not working correctly. You can verify whether your webcam is working correctly.

If your webcam is working, then you will need to verify the webcam's access. Webcam access can be restricted at multiple levels: the entire system, your browser, on a specific website, or for a specific Chrome extension. Honorlock support provides hardware troubleshooting steps for both Windows and Mac.

Be sure to use a forward-facing camera in a well-lit room to prevent Honorlock from flagging your session and reporting it to your instructor.

When taking an Honorlock-enabled exam, you will be asked to share the contents of your screen. This occurs after you have successfully launched screen recording. A window will display with a preview of your screen and the option to share or cancel.

Select the preview of the screen first. This will make the share button clickable. Once you have selected your screen, click the blue share button to start screen sharing.

If you are having any trouble with screen recording or sharing, try the suggestions below. You can also visit the Honorlock page for more details.

Troubleshoot on a PC

If you are struggling to share your screen, be sure to check your device's privacy settings. You must allow Google Chrome to access your camera and microphone.

1. Type Microphone Privacy Settings within the Windows search bar.
2. On the settings page, verify that the Allow access to the microphone toggle is on.
3. Type Camera Privacy Settings in the Windows search bar.
4. Verify that the Allow Apps to Access Your Camera toggle is on.
5. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Troubleshoot on a Mac

1. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen.
2. Then, click System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Privacy.
3. Scroll through the apps and devices listed, searching for camera and microphone.
4. Select both.
5. Verify whether Google Chrome has a checkmark in the Camera and Microphone sections. If you are unable to click the box, click the golden lock in the lower left corner of the screen. Then, enter your password. Now, you can put a checkmark in Chrome for both the Camera and Microphone sections.
6. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

If you do not have access to a computer that works with Honorlock, contact us at test-centers@uiowa.edu or 319-467-4628 to schedule a space in a Campus Test Center.

If you have a computer with Honorlock installed but need access to a quiet/private location, you can learn about spaces available for students to use on campus at Learning Spaces. 

To start an exam or a quiz in ICON, select the “Take the Quiz” button that appears underneath the quiz description. There are multiple reasons why the "Take the Quiz" button could be missing: 

1. Exam deadline has passed in ICON. Contact the instructor for an extension.
2. Not using Chrome to open the quiz or exam.
3. Problem with Honorlock installation. Un-install and then re-install Honorlock, and remove any other proctoring extensions. 

If none of the these solutions work, contact Honorlock's live chat or Exam Services. 

To maintain a secure testing environment, hats may only be worn with the brim facing backwards. No other head coverings are allowed during exams, including but not limited to hoods on jackets or coats, unless the head covering is religious in nature.

The Proctored Exams Portal will continue to send reminder emails to unscheduled students until the exam window opens. If you don't wish to receive reminder emails and plan to test with the virtual proctor, visit the Proctored Exams Portal FAQ page to learn how to stop reminder emails.