--- title: SmartBrowser - Help Guide for Candidates description: smartbrowser --- [Skip to content](https://help.hackerearth.com/smartbrowser-help-guide-for-candidates#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![HE logo.png\]](https://help.hackerearth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HE%20logo.png?height=40&name=HE%20logo.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center](https://help.hackerearth.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Assessments: Candidates](https://help.hackerearth.com/assessments-candidates?hsLang=en) 3. [Getting started](https://help.hackerearth.com/assessments-candidates?hsLang=en#getting-started) # SmartBrowser - Help Guide for Candidates ## SmartBrowser is a secure desktop application that you use to take HackerEarth tests and interviews. It creates a safe, distraction-free environment and runs a few checks to make sure your system is ready before your session begins. This guide walks you through everything from installing SmartBrowser to finishing your session, and helps you fix the most common issues along the way. **1. Before you begin: system requirements** Make sure your computer meets these minimum requirements before your session: | **Requirement** | **Minimum** | | --- | --- | | Operating system | Windows (10, 11), Ubuntu (20.04, 22.04, 24.04), MacOS (13.5 Ventura and above. Compatible with Intel-based Macs and Apple Silicon) | | Processor | At least 2 CPU cores | | Memory (RAM) | At least 2 GB total, with at least 1 GB free | | Free disk space | At least 1 GB free | | Internet speed | At least 512 kbps download (a stable connection is strongly recommended) | | Webcam | A working, built-in or external camera | | Microphone & speakers | Working audio input and output | | Displays | A **single** monitor (additional monitors must be disconnected) | **A few important notes:** - **Use physical hardware.** SmartBrowser does not run inside virtual machines. If a virtual environment is detected, you will be blocked from continuing. - **No virtual cameras.** Virtual or software cameras (for example, OBS Virtual Camera or similar tools) are not allowed and must be disabled. - **One screen only.** Disconnect any extra monitors, projectors, or TVs before you start. - **Good lighting.** Make sure your face is well lit so the camera feed is clear. **2. Installing SmartBrowser** 1. Download SmartBrowser for your operating system from the link provided by HackerEarth or your test invitation. 2. Run the installer: 1. **Windows:** Run the downloaded installer and follow the prompts. On first launch, Windows may ask you to install a required component (Visual C++ Redistributable). Installing this component requires **administrator permissions**, so make sure you can approve the prompt (or have an admin available). - *Enterprise / managed setups:* If your computers are managed by an IT team and individual users don't have admin rights, your administrator can download the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable separately and pre-install it on all users' systems (for example, via your software deployment tool). Once it's installed, SmartBrowser will detect it and skip this step. ![image (7)-1](https://help.hackerearth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image%20(7)-1.png?width=670&height=617&name=image%20(7)-1.png) 2. **macOS:** Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag SmartBrowser into your Applications folder. 3. Launch SmartBrowser at least once before your test to confirm it opens correctly. *Tip: Install SmartBrowser well ahead of your scheduled session so you have time to fix any issues.* **3. Launching your session** There are two ways to start your session: ### **Option A — Launch from your invitation (recommended)** 1. Open the test or interview invitation link in your regular web browser. 2. Click **Start** in the invitation. 3. Your browser will ask for permission to open SmartBrowser — allow it. 4. SmartBrowser opens and automatically loads your session. When checks pass, you'll see **"All System Checks Passed"** and a **Continue** button. ![image (9)-2](https://help.hackerearth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image%20(9)-2.png?width=670&height=383&name=image%20(9)-2.png) ### **Option B — Enter a session link manually** If the **Start** button doesn't work: 1. Open SmartBrowser directly. You'll see the **Welcome to SmartBrowser** screen. 2. Click **"Enter it manually"** under *Have a direct session link?* 3. Paste your full session URL (it should start with https://) and click **Launch session**. ![image (8)-1](https://help.hackerearth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image%20(8)-1.png?width=670&height=608&name=image%20(8)-1.png) *Note: If you see "Please enter a valid URL", double-check that you copied the complete link, including the https:// prefix.* **4. Step-by-step: what happens after launch** After you launch, SmartBrowser guides you through a short, automated sequence: 1. **Checking for updates** — SmartBrowser makes sure you're on the latest version. 2. **System Check** — verifies permissions, camera, display, network, and more. 3. **Checks completed** — confirmation that your system is ready. 4. **Open Applications Check** — confirms no restricted apps are running. ![image (5)-1](https://help.hackerearth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image%20(5)-1.png?width=670&height=521&name=image%20(5)-1.png) 5. **Microphone & Speaker Check** (for interview sessions) — verifies your audio. 6. **Screen sharing** — begins sharing your screen for proctoring. 7. **Your session begins** — the test or interview loads. You don't need to do anything special between steps — SmartBrowser moves forward automatically as each check passes. If a check fails, it will stop and show you exactly what to fix, along with a **Retry** button. **5. Understanding the System Check** The **System Check** screen runs each of the following checks in order. A green check mark means it passed; a red icon means it needs attention. | **Check** | **What it verifies** | **What to do if it fails** | | --- | --- | --- | | **Permissions** | Camera, microphone, and screen-recording access are granted (plus Full Disk Access on macOS) | Grant the missing permission in your system settings, then click **Retry**. See permission help below. | | **Camera** | Your camera works and is a real (non-virtual) device | Connect/enable your camera, close other apps using it, disable any virtual camera, then **Retry**. | | **Display** | Only one monitor is connected | Disconnect extra monitors, projectors, or TVs, then **Retry**. | | **Domain resolution** | Your network can reach the required HackerEarth services | Switch networks (e.g. avoid restrictive office/VPN networks), disable blocking firewalls/DLP, then **Retry**. | | **Network speed** | Your download speed is at least 512 kbps | Move closer to your router, switch to a faster/wired connection, then **Retry**. | | **Minimum requirements** | Your CPU, RAM, and disk meet the minimums | Close other programs to free resources. This check is optional — you may see a **Continue Anyway** option. | | **Virtual machine** | You're running on physical hardware | Run SmartBrowser on a real computer, not a VM. |   ### **Granting permissions** If the permissions check fails, you'll see a message telling you which permission is missing. Here's how to grant them: **macOS** — Open **System Settings → Privacy & Security**, then enable SmartBrowser under: - Camera - Microphone - Screen Recording - Full Disk Access (this lets SmartBrowser confirm your environment is secure — no personal files or data are accessed) After granting a permission, return to SmartBrowser and click **Retry**. You may need to quit and reopen SmartBrowser for some permissions to take effect. **Windows** — Open **Settings → Privacy & security**, then allow camera and microphone access for desktop apps. Make sure no other application is currently using your camera or microphone. **6. Camera, microphone, and speaker checks** ### **Camera** When the camera check runs, you'll see a **live preview** of your camera feed. Before continuing: - Confirm you can see yourself clearly in the preview. - If you have more than one camera, choose the correct one from the **Camera** dropdown. - If the feed is **too dark**, improve your lighting — the **Continue** button stays disabled until lighting is acceptable. - If a **virtual camera** is detected, disable that software and click **Retry**. You cannot continue while a virtual camera is active. Click **Continue** once your preview looks good. *Note: If you see "Could not start video source", the camera is likely being used by another app (e.g. Zoom, Teams, your browser). Close those apps and retry.* ### **Microphone (interview sessions)** 1. Select your microphone from the dropdown. 2. Speak — the **level meter** should react to your voice ("Receiving audio"). 3. Once the meter responds, click **Next: Speaker Check**. A working microphone is required to continue. ### **Speaker (interview sessions)** 1. Select your speaker/output device. 2. Click **Play Test Sound** — you should hear a short tone. 3. After you've heard the tone, click **Continue** to proceed. **7. Open applications check** Before your session starts, SmartBrowser checks for other applications that could interfere (for example, screen-sharing, messaging, or recording tools). - If restricted apps are found, you'll see a list of them. - Click **Try Closing Automatically** to let SmartBrowser close them for you. - If some apps can't be closed automatically, you'll see a message like *"Could not close: … Please close them manually."* Close them yourself through your operating system, then click **Retry Check**. - Once no restricted apps remain, SmartBrowser continues automatically. **8. Screen sharing** SmartBrowser automatically shares your **full screen** for proctoring during the session. - This starts on its own — you don't need to choose a window. - You'll see a preview and a **"Screen sharing is active"** indicator. - Keep screen sharing on for the entire session. Stopping it may interrupt or invalidate your session. *Note: If you see "Failed to start screen sharing", check that SmartBrowser has Screen Recording permission (see Granting permissions) and retry.* **9. During your session** While your test or interview is in progress: - **Stay in SmartBrowser.** Don't try to open other applications or switch windows. - **Keep your face visible** to the camera and stay in a well-lit area. - **Don't disconnect** your camera, microphone, or internet. - **Don't connect** additional monitors. - If a restricted application is opened during the session, you may see a warning overlay. Close the app to continue. - A monitoring notice may appear to remind you that your session is being proctored. ***![Screenshot from 2026-06-12 15-59-17](https://help.hackerearth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%20from%202026-06-12%2015-59-17.png?width=670&height=457&name=Screenshot%20from%202026-06-12%2015-59-17.png)*** When you finish, you'll see a **completion** screen confirming your session has ended. You can then safely close SmartBrowser. **10. Troubleshooting common issues** ### **"No internet connection"** SmartBrowser needs an active connection. Reconnect to Wi-Fi or plug in an Ethernet cable. The app will resume automatically once you're back online. ### **A system check keeps failing** Click **Retry** after fixing the issue. If it still fails: - Restart SmartBrowser. - Restart your computer. - Try a different network (some office, school, or VPN networks block required services). #### macOS 27 Beta: Full Disk Access check fails even after granting permissions If you're using **macOS 27 Beta** and SmartBrowser continues to show the error: > "System access permission required. Grant permission from System Settings \> Privacy & Security \> Full Disk Access and retry." even after granting **Full Disk Access** to SmartBrowser, you may be encountering a known macOS 27 Beta permission issue. Before proceeding, ensure that both SmartBrowser and Terminal have Full Disk Access enabled. Then, open **Terminal** and run the following commands: `mkdir -p "$HOME/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC"` `chmod 700 "$HOME/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC"` ``` ``` ### **"Multiple displays detected"** Disconnect all extra monitors, projectors, and TVs so only your primary screen is connected, then **Retry**. ### **"Domain resolution failed"** Your network is blocking required HackerEarth services. Try: - Disconnecting from VPNs or proxies. - Switching to a home/personal network instead of a corporate one. - Temporarily disabling firewall or DLP software (or asking your IT team to allow the required domains). ### **"Your internet connection speed is too low"** You need at least 512 kbps download. Move closer to your router, switch to a wired connection, or pause other downloads/streams, then **Retry**. ### **"Virtual machine detected"** SmartBrowser must run on a physical computer. Switch from your virtual machine to real hardware. ### **Camera shows a black screen or won't start** - Close any other app using the camera (Zoom, Teams, browser tabs, etc.). - Disable any virtual camera software. - Check that your camera is connected and its drivers are installed. - On macOS/Windows, confirm camera permission is granted, then **Retry**. ### **Microphone isn't detected** - Select the correct microphone from the dropdown. - Allow microphone access in your system settings. - Plug your microphone back in if it was disconnected, then click **Retry**. ### **SmartBrowser crashed or won't load the test** - Close and reopen SmartBrowser. - Make sure you're on the latest version (let the updater finish). - Check your internet connection. - If it persists, contact support with any error message you see. ### Samsung Studio Mode keeps triggering tab switch warnings Some Samsung laptops include a built-in camera enhancement feature called **Studio Mode**. In certain cases, Studio Mode may repeatedly open or display overlays during an assessment, causing SmartBrowser to detect window or application switches and generate warnings. If this happens: 1. Open your camera settings. 2. Switch from **Studio Mode** to the **Basic/Default Camera** mode. 3. Close any Studio Mode or camera enhancement overlays. 4. Return to SmartBrowser and continue your assessment. **11. Frequently asked questions** **Do I need to install SmartBrowser every time?** No. Install it once. It will check for and apply updates automatically when you launch it. **Why does SmartBrowser need camera, microphone, and screen access?** These are used for proctoring to maintain the integrity of your assessment. SmartBrowser only accesses what's needed for the session. **Can I use two monitors?** No. Only a single display is allowed. Disconnect any additional screens before starting. **Can I run SmartBrowser in a virtual machine?** No. It must run on physical hardware. **What if I lose internet during the test?** SmartBrowser will show a "No internet connection" screen and resume once you're reconnected. Reconnect as quickly as possible. **Can I minimize or switch out of SmartBrowser during the test?** No. Leaving the secure environment may trigger warnings and could affect your session. **The Start button didn't open SmartBrowser. What now?** Open SmartBrowser manually and use **"Enter it manually"** to paste your session link.   ask them to run this command from terminal after giving full disk access to terminal `mkdir -p "$HOME/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC"` `chmod 700 "$HOME/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC"` **12. Getting more help** If you're still stuck after trying the steps above, contact HackerEarth support: - **Email:** support@hackerearth.com When reaching out, please include: - A description of the problem and which step it happened on. - The exact error message shown on screen (a screenshot helps). - Your operating system and version. We're here to help you complete your assessment smoothly. To know more about SmartBrowser, you can watch the video here:     - [Assessments: Recruiters](https://help.hackerearth.com/assessments-recruiters?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Getting started](https://help.hackerearth.com/assessments-recruiters?hsLang=en#getting-started) - [Account settings](https://help.hackerearth.com/assessments-recruiters?hsLang=en#account-settings) - [Admin management](https://help.hackerearth.com/assessments-recruiters?hsLang=en#admin-management) - [Creating tests automatically](https://help.hackerearth.com/assessments-recruiters?hsLang=en#creating-tests-automatically) - [Creating tests manually](https://help.hackerearth.com/assessments-recruiters?hsLang=en#creating-tests-manually) - [Test settings](https://help.hackerearth.com/assessments-recruiters?hsLang=en#test-settings) - [Sections and question pooling](https://help.hackerearth.com/assessments-recruiters?hsLang=en#sections-and-question-pooling) - [Libraries](https://help.hackerearth.com/assessments-recruiters?hsLang=en#libraries) - 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[OnScreen - Interview Analytics](https://help.hackerearth.com/onscreen?hsLang=en#onscreen-interview-analytics) - [OnScreen - Overview](https://help.hackerearth.com/onscreen?hsLang=en#onscreen-overview) - [OnScreen - Interview Proctoring Settings](https://help.hackerearth.com/onscreen?hsLang=en#onscreen-interview-proctoring-settings) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://help.hackerearth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HE%20Logo%20for%20sig-1.png?width=120&height=24&name=HE%20Logo%20for%20sig-1.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.hackerearth.com/) Copyright © 2026, HackerEarth ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "VideoObject", "contentUrl" : "https://2586902.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/2586902/video_assets/217060626003/inherited/web_optimized.mp4", "dateModified" : "2026-07-13T18:50:57.839Z", "duration" : "PT2M8.567S", "height" : 1008, "name" : "SB_3.0.1", "thumbnailUrl" : "https://2586902.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/2586902/SB_3.0.1.mp4/medium.jpg", "uploadDate" : "2026-07-13T18:50:40.365Z", "width" : 1920 } ```