Browser tabs and apps that block your TOEIC Link test — what to kill, what to keep, and how to clear false positives
TOEIC Link runs a process scan when the test browser launches. Conferencing apps, screen recorders, remote desktop, and virtual camera/mic software trigger an instant block. Antivirus and most cloud sync tools pass. This guide gives you the four-category taxonomy, a 30-minute pre-test clean shutdown, and the proctor templates you need when a false positive blocks an otherwise clean machine.
The four blocked app categories — instant disqualifier if running
When the TOEIC Link test browser launches, it scans your background processes. If it detects a forbidden app, you get a "Restricted Application Detected" dialog and the test will not start until you quit it. The four blocked categories all share one trait: they can route your screen, audio, or window content out of the test sandbox.
Category 1: conferencing (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Webex). Category 2: screen recorders (OBS, Loom, ShareX, macOS Screen Recording). Category 3: remote desktop (TeamViewer, AnyDesk, Chrome Remote Desktop). Category 4: virtual camera or mic (Snap Camera, VB-Cable, Loopback). One running process from any category is enough to block startup.
- Zoom / Teams / Slack huddle → fully quit (Cmd+Q / End Task), minimize is not enough
- OBS / Loom → quit including the system tray icon
- TeamViewer → stop the service (services.msc / launchctl)
- Snap Camera → can also break webcam detection itself
Background processes that pass — keep or kill?
Mainstream antivirus tools (Windows Defender, Norton, Kaspersky) pass because the proctoring system has them on a permit list. Cloud sync (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive) also passes, but a sync run during the test eats CPU and degrades streaming quality, so pausing them is recommended.
The grey zone is IMEs, clipboard managers, and small desktop widgets. Microsoft IME and Google Japanese Input pass; ATOK Sync sometimes fails because of its sync-server traffic. Clipboard managers (Clipy, 1Password autofill) occasionally trip the scan, so quitting them before the test is the safe move.
The 30-minute pre-test clean shutdown
The standard sequence starting 30 minutes before the test: 1) close all browsers (fully quit Chrome, Edge, Firefox). 2) Quit Slack, Teams, Discord including the system tray icon. 3) Quit any screen recorder. 4) Stop remote desktop services. 5) Launch the test browser. 6) If no Restricted Detection warning appears at startup, you are good.
If you do see a warning, the dialog will name the offending process ("Found: <process name>"). Search that name in Task Manager (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+Esc) or Activity Monitor (Mac) and end it. If the name is unfamiliar, do a one-pass sweep of the four categories above; quitting the matching app — uninstalling is rarely needed — clears the warning in most cases.
Process category × pre-test action
| Category | Examples | Allowed | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conferencing | Zoom / Teams / Meet | No | Fully quit |
| Screen recorder | OBS / Loom | No | Quit + check tray |
| Remote desktop | TeamViewer / AnyDesk | No | Stop service |
| Virtual cam/mic | Snap Camera / VB-Cable | No | Fully quit |
| Antivirus | Defender / Norton | Yes | Leave on |
| Cloud sync | Dropbox / Drive | Yes (pause recommended) | Pause sync |
| IME | Microsoft / Google IME | Yes | No action |
| Clipboard manager | Clipy / 1Password | Mixed | Quit to be safe |
* Allow-list contents change with proctoring system versions. Always check the latest version in your booking confirmation email.
Proctor chat templates for false positives
- "I get Restricted Application warning but I have closed all listed apps"
- "Could you check my system from your side?"
- "I rebooted but the warning still appears"
- "Please advise — I cannot start the test"
Frequently Asked Questions
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