While running, SEB changes the Windows Registry settings for the options in the Windows Security Screen invoked by Ctrl-Alt-Del.

In addition when running on Windows versions before 10, SEB stops Windows updates while it is running using a Registry setting and re-enables them when being quit (when SEB 2.1.1 or later is running on Windows 10, only the Windows Update background service is stopped and restarted when SEB is quit).


SEB remembers the values for these Registry settings which were active on the computer before running SEB and resets them to the original values when exiting regularly.

In case of a forced reset of the computer while the SEB is running or the SEB crashes, these Registry settings are reset to the original values:this occurs in the following situations:
• when the SEB is restarted once again and properly quit;
• when the computer is restarted
• or when uninstalling the SEB

If you have previously installed SEB or used any of the Joomla! Exam SEB Startup files, and are having trouble to start a new exam, you can carry out the following steps to troubleshoot this;

  • Remove C:\ProgramData\SafeExamBrowser\
  • Remove C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\SafeExamBrowser\
  • Run registry cleaner which is included in the SEB installation folder C:\Program Files\SafeExamBrowser\SebWindowsServiceWCF\SebRegistryResetter.exe (This directory path can be different depending where you have installed the Safe Exam Browser on your computer.
  • Uninstall the Safe Exam Browser
  • Restart your computer and re-install the Safe Exam Browser.