Updated October 2026
TOEFL Home Edition requirements: computer, room and rules
The TOEFL iBT Home Edition is the same test as at a test centre, taken on your own computer with a human proctor watching online. The requirements are strict, and ETS is clear that if you do not meet them on test day you cannot take the test, with no refund or free reschedule. Here is the full list, grouped so you can check it in one pass.
Computer and software
A desktop or laptop
Tablets and mobile phones cannot be used. Only one monitor and one keyboard are allowed, so disconnect a second screen.
Windows 11 or later, or macOS 10.13 or later
The operating system must be licensed; test-mode or unlicensed versions are not allowed. Other systems, such as ChromeOS or Linux, are not on the list.
The TOEFL Test App
Install it from the My TOEFL Home dashboard (Upcoming Tests, then Install the TOEFL Test App) and run its Equipment Check. A failed part shows a red triangle with tips to fix it.
A stable connection
The Equipment Check includes a bandwidth test. Run it several times, including on the same weekday and at the same time of day as your test, and ask others at home not to stream during it.
No screen-sharing or remote-access software
Close programs such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype or TeamViewer before the test, and stop them from opening automatically. Close every application and browser tab you do not need.
Speaker, microphone and camera
A speaker, not headphones
Use your computer's speaker or an external one. Headsets and earphones are not allowed, for the test or for talking to the proctor.
A microphone that is not part of a headset
A built-in microphone or a separate one is fine.
A camera you can move
A webcam or a camera built into the computer or screen. You must be able to show the proctor a 360-degree view of the room, including the desk surface and the area below it. A laptop camera works if you can turn the laptop.
A second camera, if it applies to you
If you are asked to use one, you need a fully charged phone or tablet running iOS 12 or later or Android 8 or later, a stable connection and something heavy to stand it against. ETS has a set-up video on My TOEFL Home.
The room
Alone, with the door closed
Nobody may enter during the test. Public places such as cafés, parks or libraries are not allowed.
Covered glass, clear walls
Cover transparent walls, glass doors and large open windows. Take anything related to the test off the walls.
A desk and a normal chair
The computer and keyboard sit on a desk or table and stay plugged into power. Sit on a standard chair, not a bed, sofa or armchair. Place them so the proctor can see the door.
A clear desk
Remove notes, books, extra cameras and phones. Food and drink are not allowed during the test.
What you wear and what you may use
Face and ears visible
Hair, hats and other items must not cover your ears or face. Religious headwear is allowed if your ears stay visible. Face masks are not allowed at any point.
Accessories off
Remove headphones, smartwatches, jewellery and hair accessories such as clips and headbands before check-in. Wedding and engagement rings can stay on.
Notes on a whiteboard or in a sheet protector
Paper on its own is not allowed. Use one small whiteboard with an erasable marker, or one blank sheet inside a transparent sheet protector with an erasable marker. At the end you show the proctor that everything is erased.
Your ID
Bring the passport or other ID that meets the ETS ID requirements for your country, with the name exactly as in your registration. Some test takers are also asked to verify their identity in advance with the Entrust app; if that applies to you, do it soon after registering.
Check-in on the day
You can start checking in up to 15 minutes before your scheduled time, and you have up to 30 minutes after it to begin. If you have not checked in by then, the test is cancelled.
Have a phone or hand-held mirror ready: the proctor uses it to check your screen and surroundings. After check-in, put the phone behind you and out of reach, unless it is your second camera. The proctor may ask you to show the room and the desk again.
During the test
There are no scheduled breaks in the TOEFL iBT, and unscheduled breaks are not allowed in the Home Edition. Use the bathroom and drink water before you check in. The test takes about 90 minutes plus check-in.
Your whole session is recorded and watched by a human proctor. Stay in view, keep your eyes on the screen, and do not read questions aloud or speak to anyone. In Speaking you of course speak, but in Reading, Listening and Writing, murmuring to yourself can look suspicious.
Because the test plays through your speaker, the recordings sound different from practice with headphones. Practise Listening with speakers at home so the sound is familiar.
A checklist by time
When you register
Read the requirements, check your ID, and do the identity verification if it applies to you. If your computer cannot meet the requirements, choose a test centre instead.
The week before
Install the TOEFL Test App, run the Equipment Check at your test time, and prepare the whiteboard or sheet protector. Sit one full practice test at home with speakers, in one sitting.
The day before
Set up the room and desk, cover windows, restart and update the computer, and turn off automatic updates and remote-access software.
The hour before
Close everything else, plug in the power, put away anything not allowed, use the bathroom, and open the app a little before your check-in window.
If you test in mainland China
Test takers in mainland China have their own Home Edition policies and procedures, published by ETS on its China site. Check them there rather than relying on the general rules above.
Practise under the same conditions
The Home Edition removes the journey and the waiting room but adds technical risk. One full practice test at the same desk, through the same speaker and microphone, with no break, shows you most problems in advance. A fullmock mock runs in the browser in one sitting; its scores are estimates, and only ETS issues official TOEFL scores.
Questions about the TOEFL Home Edition
Can I use headphones for the TOEFL Home Edition?
No. Headsets and earphones are not allowed. Use an internal or external speaker and a microphone that is not part of a headset.
Can I take notes on paper at home?
Not on plain paper. Use one small whiteboard with an erasable marker, or one sheet inside a transparent sheet protector with an erasable marker, and erase it at the end.
Is there a break in the TOEFL Home Edition?
No. The TOEFL iBT has no scheduled breaks, and unscheduled breaks are not allowed at home.
Can I use a tablet or a Chromebook?
No tablet or mobile device can be used. The listed operating systems are Windows 11 or later and macOS 10.13 or later.
What happens if my equipment fails the requirements on test day?
According to ETS, you cannot take the test and you do not receive a refund or a free reschedule. That is why the Equipment Check should be run well before the day.
This is an independent summary written for test takers. ETS publishes the official specification of the test on its own website.