Safe Exam Browser 3.10.2 for Windows

Safe Exam Browser 3.10.2 is a free lockdown browser for Windows that turns a computer into a secure workstation for online exams. Students download Safe Exam Browser when their school or university requires it for a test on an e-learning platform, and educators use it to prevent access to other programs and websites during the exam.

Who needs it

Most people install Safe Exam Browser, often called SEB, because an instructor tells them to. Universities, schools and training companies run quizzes on learning management systems, and SEB makes sure that during the exam the student sees only the test. It opens in full-screen kiosk mode, blocks switching to other applications, disables keyboard shortcuts such as copy and paste or task switching, prevents screen capture and restricts browsing to allowed addresses. Exams are usually started from a special configuration file or link provided by the teacher, which sets exactly what is allowed. Teachers and administrators are the second audience: they prepare the configuration, decide on allowed tools such as a calculator, and check that each student uses a genuine SEB version. If nobody has asked you to use SEB, you do not need it; as an everyday browser it would only get in the way.

How to install and use it

1. Download the Windows version from the official download page; your school may also point to a specific version.
2. Run the installer with administrator rights and restart if asked.
3. Close all other programs before the exam, including chat and screen recording apps.
4. Open the exam configuration file or link from your instructor; SEB starts and locks the screen.
5. At the end, use the quit button or password set by the exam to leave.

Requirements

The current Windows build requires Windows 10 (Version 1803 or newer) or Windows 11. SEB also exists for macOS and iOS, with separate versions. The Windows installer is large, about 363.04 MB according to catalogue data, as it includes the browser engine and runtimes. Virtual machines and remote desktop sessions are usually blocked by the exam settings.

Is it safe?

SEB is an open project run by the Safe Exam Browser organisation, and it only locks the PC while an exam is running. Download it only from safeexambrowser.org or from a link in your school's system; unofficial copies could be modified to cheat or to spy. Read the Windows release notes if your exam requires a specific version.

Price

Safe Exam Browser is free for students and institutions.

Common issues

If SEB refuses to start, it usually detects a forbidden process such as a screen recorder, remote tool or virtual machine. Close those apps, update Windows, and ask your instructor for the correct version if the exam reports a mismatch.

Pros and cons

• Pro: reliable lockdown for online exams.
• Pro: free and widely supported by learning platforms.
• Pro: flexible configuration for teachers.
• Con: large installer.
• Con: can conflict with background apps.
• Con: useless outside exams.

Alternatives

For everyday browsing use a normal browser such as Microsoft Edge, Firefox ESR or Opera from our site. Alternatives to SEB depend on what your school supports, so check with your instructor first.