Can Canvas See If You Switch Tabs During a Quiz?
Canvas Classic Quizzes can log when you leave the quiz page. Here is what the log records, how New Quizzes and LockDown Browser differ, and what it means.
Unlike many platforms, Canvas has a feature that can actually notice when you leave a quiz page. Here is what it records, what it does not, and how it differs between quiz types.
Classic Quizzes: the quiz log
In Classic Quizzes, teachers can open a quiz log for each student's attempt. Among other events, it can show entries such as:
- The student stopped viewing the Canvas quiz-taking page.
- The student resumed viewing the page.
- Questions answered and when.
So if you switch to another tab or window during a Classic Quiz, the log can show that you left and when you came back. See Canvas quiz logs explained.
What the log does not show
The log does not show where you went. Canvas cannot see the other tab, the website you opened or what you did there. It only knows that the quiz page lost focus.
It is also not perfect. A notification popping up, clicking on another window or your laptop going to sleep can create similar entries. That is why teachers usually look at the log together with timing and answers, not on its own.
New Quizzes
New Quizzes keeps its own records of a student's session, which teachers can see in the moderation area. They capture different events from the Classic log. Do not assume New Quizzes ignores your activity just because the interface is different.
LockDown Browser and proctoring
Many schools pair Canvas with Respondus LockDown Browser, which prevents switching tabs or apps entirely, and sometimes with webcam monitoring. See Respondus LockDown Browser for Canvas.
What else teachers see
Beyond quizzes, Canvas tracks page views and participation in your courses. See what Canvas teachers can see.
The real question
Most students ask this because they want to know whether they can look things up during a quiz.
When it is fine to switch
Open-book quizzes or practice quizzes may allow notes and resources. Read the quiz instructions. For practice quizzes, you can check your answers without switching tabs at all: TrustStudy shows the answer on the same page. Compare with Moodle and Google Forms.
Study with TrustStudy
Try the question yourself, then highlight it and press Alt + X to check your answer right on the page. No tabs, no copy-paste. Start with 3 free credits.
Install extensionFrequently asked questions
Does Canvas know when you leave a quiz?
In Classic Quizzes, the quiz log can record when you stopped viewing the quiz page and when you came back. It does not show which other tab or website you opened.
Can Canvas see what websites I visit?
No. Canvas only sees activity on Canvas itself. It cannot see the content of other tabs or other websites.
Is the Canvas quiz log always accurate?
Not perfectly. Events like notifications, switching windows or a screen lock can also create "stopped viewing" entries, so teachers usually interpret the log alongside other information.