NoLock · Floating Overlay

Overlay Setup Instructions

Step-by-step installation and usage guide for the NoLock Floating Overlay (macOS & Windows). Select your operating system below and follow each step in order.

Prefer to keep SIP & AMFI turned ON (in-page Auto Solver only, no floating window)? Use NoLock Precision Autosolver Setup Guide →

Working for latest Respondus version (2.1.6.01)macOS 14.3+ · Apple Silicon (M1–M5) & Intel

NoLock for Mac (Floating Overlay + Chat)

Complete the one-time system setup in Phase 1 (Steps 1–4), then follow Phase 2 before each exam and Phase 3 when you finish.

Read Before You Start · Pre-Flight & Exam Rules

Following these four rules prevents proctor flags and launch errors.

1. Update your exam app & macOS first
Always update your exam browser to the latest release before setting up. For Respondus LockDown Browser, you must be on version 2.1.6.01 (older 2.1.6.00 is not supported). Recommended OS: macOS 27 on Apple Silicon or latest macOS 26 Tahoe on Intel (minimum macOS 14.3+).
2. Never leave the exam window
Once your exam begins, stay inside the exam app. Do not press ⌘ + Tab, do not click desktop windows behind the exam, and do not open Spotlight (⌘ + Space).
3. Turn on Do Not Disturb
Before launching your exam, open Control Center → Focus → Do Not Disturb. System notification banners can appear on proctor screen recordings if left enabled.
4. Remap hotkeys to letter tap sequences
Some proctors log ⌘, ⌥, and ⌃ modifier combos. In NoLock’s Hotkeys tab, remap shortcuts to plain letter taps (e.g. triple-tap G to toggle overlay, double-tap H for screenshot) before arming.
Phase 1 · One-Time Setup

Prepare Your Mac & Install NoLock

You only need to do Steps 1–4 once (or after a major macOS software update).

1

Turn off SIP & AMFI (Required BEFORE Step 3)

Required

Do not skip this step! NoLock needs System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Apple Mobile File Integrity (AMFI) turned off so it can inject its invisible overlay directly inside the exam browser process.

Which Mac processor do you have?

Not sure? Click the Apple menu () → About This Mac. If it says Chip: Apple M1 / M2 / M3 / M4 / M5, pick Apple Silicon (takes 2 quick reboots). If it says Processor: Intel Core, pick Intel Mac (takes 1 reboot).

Before rebooting: Check your macOS username (for the Recovery “Authorized user:” prompt)

When you run csrutil disable in Recovery Mode, your Mac will ask for an Authorized user: before your password. Get your exact username now by running whoami in normal Terminal:

whoami

Already inside Recovery Mode and forgot to check? You do not need to reboot back to normal macOS! Inside Recovery Terminal (-bash-3.2#), press ⌘T to open a new tab (or run this before csrutil disable) and type:

ls "/Volumes/Macintosh HD/Users"

That prints your home folder name (ignoring Shared) — type that exact name at Authorized user:, then enter your normal Mac login password.

Part 1A · Boot into Recovery Mode & disable SIP (Reboot #1):

  1. Click the Apple menu () → Shut Down… and wait ~10 seconds until your Mac is completely off.
  2. Press and keep holding the Power / Touch ID button (do not let go at the Apple logo) until you see Loading startup options…
  3. Click Options (the gear icon) → click Continue → select your admin account and enter your Mac password.
  4. In the very top menu bar, click Utilities → Terminal.
  5. Type csrutil disable and press Return:
csrutil disable
What Recovery Terminal will ask you:
-bash-3.2# csrutil disable
Turning off System Integrity Protection requires modifying system security.
Allow booting unsigned operating systems and any kernel extensions for OS "Macintosh HD"? [y/n]: y
Authorized user: your_mac_username
Password: ••••••••
Turning off System Integrity Protection. Please wait...
System Integrity Protection is off.
-bash-3.2# reboot
  • At [y/n]:, type y and press Return.
  • At Authorized user:, type the username from whoami (or from ls "/Volumes/Macintosh HD/Users") and press Return.
  • At Password:, type your normal Mac login password and press Return (letters/dots will not appear while typing — that is normal).
  • Once it prints System Integrity Protection is off., type reboot and press Return.

Part 1B · Back in normal macOS, disable AMFI (Reboot #2):

After your Mac restarts into normal macOS, press ⌘ + Space, open the normal Terminal app, and run these two commands one by one (enter your Mac login password when prompted):

1. Turn off AMFI (must be =1, NOT =0x1):
sudo nvram boot-args="amfi_get_out_of_my_way=1"
2. Restart your Mac to apply:
sudo reboot

Note: On Apple Silicon, you must complete Part 1A (and reboot) before running Part 1B, otherwise macOS blocks nvram with Error setting variable - 'boot-args': (iokit/common) not permitted.

Part 1C · Verify SIP & AMFI are both off (in normal Terminal):
Expected output: System Integrity Protection status: disabled.
csrutil status
Expected output: boot-args amfi_get_out_of_my_way=1
nvram -p | grep amfi
Apple’s official SIP guide Watch a video walkthrough
2

Install Rosetta 2 (Apple Silicon M1–M5 Macs)

Apple Silicon

Exam browsers like Respondus LockDown Browser, OnVUE, and TestNav are Intel (x86_64) apps. On Apple Silicon Macs (M1 / M2 / M3 / M4 / M5), they require Apple’s Rosetta 2 translator to run and to allow NoLock’s universal loader to inject.

Note: Upgrading to macOS 27 removes Rosetta 2 automatically — always run this command again after any macOS update. (Intel Mac users can skip to Step 3.)

1. Install Rosetta 2:
softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license
2. Verify Rosetta 2 is installed (must print “Rosetta installed”):
[ -f /Library/Apple/usr/libexec/oah/libRosettaRuntime ] && echo "Rosetta installed" || echo "Rosetta NOT installed"
3

Run the 1-line NoLock installer in Terminal

Open Terminal (⌘ + Space → type Terminal), click Copy below, paste it into Terminal, and press Return:

curl -fsSL https://getnolock.com/install/mac | sh

The installer verifies that SIP & AMFI are disabled, downloads NoLock.app into /Applications, removes macOS quarantine flags (xattr -cr), and launches NoLock.app automatically.

4

Sign in with Google & grant macOS permissions

  1. In NoLock, click Sign in with Google and sign in with the exact Google account you used to purchase your NoLock subscription.
  2. In NoLock’s System Readiness checklist (or System Settings → Privacy & Security), enable both Screen Recording and Accessibility for NoLock.
  3. Open the Hotkeys tab in NoLock and customize your shortcuts (we strongly recommend setting plain letter tap sequences like triple-tap G or double-tap H so you never press ⌘ modifier combos during an exam).
Phase 2 · Before Every Exam

Arm NoLock & Launch Your Exam

Follow Steps 5–7 every time you sit down for a quiz or proctored exam.

5

Restart your Mac, select your exam app & click Arm

  1. Restart your Mac right before your exam for a clean slate, turn on Do Not Disturb, and open NoLock.app from /Applications.
  2. Keep NoLock open throughout your entire exam — never quit NoLock.app while armed.
  3. Select your exam proctor (LockDown Browser, Safe Exam Browser, Examplify, OnVUE, TestNav, Honorlock, Guardian / ProctorU, or Custom App) and verify all System Readiness indicators are green.
  4. Click Arm (enter your Mac password if prompted) and wait for the status badge to turn green (Armed).
  5. Launch your exam application normally (from /Applications or from your course’s “Launch LockDown Browser / SEB” link in Safari/Chrome).
Expected: Your exam app will say “Application Not Responding” for 1–2 minutes on launch

When you launch LockDown Browser (or any armed exam app), it will freeze on startup and macOS Activity Monitor / Dock will show “Application Not Responding” for 1 to 2 minutes.

Do NOT force quit or click repeatedly! NoLock is injecting its stealth hooks and setting up the in-process overlay. Just wait 1–2 minutes without touching anything — the exam window will unfreeze and open with the invisible NoLock bar ready at the top of your screen.

Proctor-Specific Notes (Select your exam app):

Respondus LockDown Browser (with or without Respondus Monitor webcam):

  • Make sure LockDown Browser is updated to version 2.1.6.01 (older 2.1.6.00 is unsupported).
  • Requires SIP OFF + AMFI OFF + Rosetta 2 (Steps 1 & 2 above).
  • Click Arm in NoLock first, then open LockDown Browser (or click your Canvas/Blackboard exam launch button). Wait 1–2 minutes through the initial launch freeze.
6

Using the floating overlay & keyboard shortcuts

Use the overlay during your exam to open AI Chat, capture instant screenshots into Chat, or hide and reposition the bar at any time. Your exam window never loses focus when you interact with the overlay:

Default KeyAction
⌘H or ⌘BShow or hide the floating overlayRecommended remap: Triple-tap G
⌘⇧SOpen AI Chat drawerRecommended remap: Double-tap C
⌘SCapture screen straight into AI ChatRecommended remap: Double-tap H
⌘ + ArrowsMove / nudge the overlay on screen
3-sec Left ClickTrigger Auto Solver on the hovered question
⌘QQuit NoLock

Tip: Customize any shortcut inside NoLock’s Hotkeys tab before arming.

7

Using the built-in Auto Solver

Toggle Auto Solver ON inside the overlay pane, then press and hold the left mouse button on a question for 3 seconds. NoLock captures the screen, sends it to the AI model, and either selects the answer (Click mode) or displays the answer discreetly inside the overlay (Show only mode).

Always test on a practice quiz before your real exam.

Phase 3 · After Every Exam

Disarm & Clean Reboot

Always disarm NoLock and restart your Mac after submitting your exam.

8

Disarm NoLock & restart your Mac (Required after every exam)

Required
  1. Submit your exam first and close the exam browser completely.
  2. Switch back to NoLock and click the Disarm button (enter your Mac password when prompted). Wait for the status indicator to return to Disarmed.
  3. Restart your Mac (Apple menu → Restart…) before using your Mac normally.

Alternative: If you prefer not to click Disarm, you can hold down the physical Power / Touch ID button for 5–10 seconds to force-shutdown your Mac — NoLock automatically cleans up and disarms on the next boot.