TOEFL Home Edition: Requirements, Check-In Process, and What Gets Your Test Cancelled

The TOEFL Home Edition is the same TOEFL iBT test taken from your own room instead of a test center. ETS scores it on the same scale, universities receive the same score report, and the report does not indicate which format you chose. The difference is entirely in the test-day experience: your equipment, your room, and a remote proctor watching through your webcam instead of an in-person supervisor.

That sounds simpler than traveling to a test center, and for many people it is. But ETS enforces strict technical and environment rules for the TOEFL at home, and violating any of them can cancel your scores with no refund. This article covers every requirement ETS publishes, walks through the check-in process, compares the home and center experiences, and lists the specific mistakes that get tests invalidated.

Key Takeaways

• The TOEFL Home Edition produces identical scores to the test center version. Score reports do not show which format you took (ETS).
• You need Windows 11 or macOS 10.13+, a webcam, internal speakers, and a stable internet connection. Headsets and dual monitors are prohibited (ETS).
• No breaks are allowed during the Home Edition. Taking a break at any point invalidates the test.
• The most common score cancellation reason in online forums is unauthorized software (Grammarly, cloud sync, remote desktop tools) running in the background during the test.
• The TOEFL online test is available in every country where ETS offers testing except mainland China and Iran.

What Computer Do You Need for the TOEFL Home Edition?

ETS publishes a specific equipment list, and the test software checks each requirement before the test starts. If any check fails, you cannot proceed.

Computer: A desktop or laptop running Windows 11 or later, or macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later. Windows 10 support was dropped after January 13, 2026 — the equipment check now fails on it. Tablets, Chromebooks, and hybrid devices like the Microsoft Surface are not accepted. Only one monitor and one keyboard are allowed. The device must stay plugged into power throughout the test (ETS).

Camera: A built-in or external USB webcam capable of showing a 360-degree view of the room. Starting April 2025, ETS began rolling out a secondary camera requirement in select countries — a smartphone on a stand, positioned to capture your computer, keyboard, hands, and side profile. ETS tells you during registration if your location requires this (ETS).

Audio: Internal or external speakers only. Headsets, earphones, and headphones of any kind are prohibited. The microphone can be built-in or external, but it cannot be part of a headset (ETS).

Internet: ETS requires a "stable internet connection" without publishing an exact speed floor. Secondary sources commonly cite 1 Mbps minimum with 5 Mbps recommended. A wired Ethernet connection is strongly preferred over Wi-Fi because bandwidth fluctuations during the test can disconnect you from the proctor. Shut down all other devices using the same network on test day.

Software: You must download the TOEFL Test App (ETS Secure Test Browser) before test day. All other browsers and applications must be closed. Screen-sharing tools (Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams), remote-access software (TeamViewer, AnyDesk), and writing aids (Grammarly, spell-check extensions) must be disabled or uninstalled. Browser extensions — ad blockers, password managers — should also be turned off.

What Does Your Room Need to Look Like?

ETS requires a private, well-lit room with every door closed. The proctor will ask you to show the room via webcam before the test begins, and their standards are specific.

Desk: Clear everything except the computer, an optional external mouse, and your whiteboard or sheet protector. No books, papers, phones, pens, or food. A transparent water bottle is the only non-equipment item allowed.

Room: No other person may be present or enter the room at any point during the test. If someone walks in — even briefly — the test can be invalidated. Transparent walls and large windows must be covered. ETS recommends positioning your desk so the door is behind you and visible on camera.

Notes: You may use one small erasable whiteboard with an erasable marker, or one blank sheet of paper inside a clear plastic sheet protector with an erasable marker. Regular paper, notebooks, and pens are not accepted. When your writing surface is full, you erase it — there is no second sheet. The proctor inspects the whiteboard during check-in. This is the single biggest practical difference from test centers, which provide their own scratch paper and pencils (ETS).

What Happens on Test Day? The Check-In Process Step by Step

The TOEFL iBT Home Edition check-in begins when you click "Start Test" in your ETS account. As of May 2025, ETS uses its own trained proctors with AI-assisted identity verification through Entrust IDVaaS, replacing the previous third-party-only arrangement (ETS).

Step 1 — Launch the app. Open the TOEFL Test App. You enter a virtual waiting room that shows your test details.

Step 2 — Connect the secondary camera (if required). Scan the QR code displayed on screen with your phone. Place the phone on a stand about arm's length away and switch it to Do Not Disturb mode.

Step 3 — Verify your identity. Show your valid ID (passport, government-issued ID, or driver's license) to the webcam. The name on your ID must exactly match the name on your ETS account — character for character, excluding accent marks. If these do not match, you will not be allowed to test.

Step 4 — Show your face and ears. Remove any jewelry, hair accessories, face masks, or smartwatches. Ensure lighting is bright enough for the proctor to see your face clearly.

Step 5 — Complete the room scan. The proctor guides you through a 360-degree camera sweep: all walls, all corners, under the desk, the desktop surface, and behind the monitor. They check that no unauthorized items are visible and that no one else is in the room.

Step 6 — Whiteboard inspection. Show both sides of your whiteboard or sheet protector to confirm it is blank.

Step 7 — Begin testing. The proctor clears you and the test timer starts. A live proctor monitors your webcam and audio feed throughout the entire session. You can communicate with them by speaking aloud or using the chat icon.

The check-in typically takes 10-15 minutes. ETS recommends logging in at least 15 minutes before your scheduled test time.

How Does the Home Edition Differ From a Test Center?

The test content, scoring, and score report are identical. The differences are all about the test-day environment.

Breaks: The 2026 TOEFL format runs about 90 minutes continuously. At a test center, there is no scheduled break either, but the environment is controlled and familiar. At home, the rule is absolute: taking a break for any reason during the TOEFL at home invalidates the test. You cannot leave your seat, and you cannot step away from the camera.

Note-taking: Test centers provide scratch paper and pencils. Home Edition restricts you to the erasable whiteboard or sheet protector described above. Our guide to TOEFL note-taking explains how this affects your strategy for each section.

Audio equipment: Test centers now provide custom Koss stereophones (new in 2026). At home, you use your computer's built-in speakers. This means everyone in your household can potentially hear the test audio, and ambient noise in your home can interfere with your concentration and your Speaking responses. To see how the recorded Speaking format works in practice, try a free TOEFL interview question before your test day.

Scheduling flexibility: Test center dates are fixed and often fill up weeks in advance. The TOEFL online test offers more frequent dates, including weekends, and you can register up to 2 days before a test date. If you need a date quickly, the Home Edition often has better availability. Check our TOEFL exam dates guide for current scheduling options.

Technical risk: This is the trade-off. A test center has standardized equipment and stable infrastructure. At home, you carry the risk of power cuts, internet drops, software crashes, and webcam failures. If a technical issue disrupts your test and you cannot reconnect, you may lose the session.

Scores and reporting: Score delivery is within 72 hours for both formats. MyBest Scores combine results from both home and center attempts. For details on how scores reach your universities, see our score reporting guide.

Fees: The base registration fee is identical for both formats. For a full breakdown of what you pay, including rescheduling and extra score reports, see our TOEFL exam fee guide.

What Gets Your TOEFL Home Edition Test Cancelled?

ETS can invalidate your test and cancel your scores for any of the following. There is typically no appeals process and no refund.

Unauthorized software: This is the most reported cancellation reason across test-taker forums and prep communities. If Grammarly, a cloud sync tool (Dropbox, OneDrive background sync), or remote-access software (TeamViewer, AnyDesk, Apple Remote Desktop) is detected running during the test — even if you did not actively use it — your scores can be cancelled. The safest approach is to restart your computer before the test and open only the TOEFL Test App.

Someone entering the room: Any person appearing on camera at any point during the test is grounds for cancellation. This includes family members, roommates, and pets in some cases. Lock the door and inform everyone in your household about the test schedule.

Taking a break: Standing up, leaving the camera frame, or stepping away from your desk for any reason during the 90-minute test invalidates the session. Use the bathroom before you start.

Looking away from the screen: Repeated or extended glances away from the monitor trigger a warning from the proctor. Continued instances can lead to cancellation.

Talking aloud outside the Speaking section: Speaking is only permitted during the Speaking tasks and when communicating with the proctor via the chat function. Muttering, reading aloud, or talking to yourself during Reading, Listening, or Writing sections is flagged.

Using unauthorized materials: Any notes, books, or devices (including a phone not serving as the required secondary camera) visible on camera will cancel the test.

Can You Take the TOEFL Home Edition From Any Country?

The TOEFL iBT Home Edition is available everywhere ETS offers TOEFL testing, with two exceptions: mainland China and Iran. ETS has stated they are working to offer at-home testing in both countries but has not announced a timeline (ETS).

Test-takers in all other countries register through the same ETS website. The secondary camera requirement is rolling out country by country — ETS notifies you during registration if your location requires it.

How Do You Prepare Your Setup Before Test Day?

Run the ETS Equipment Check from the exact computer you will use for the test. Run it at different times of day, because internet bandwidth varies, and a check that passes at 10 a.m. may fail at your 2 p.m. test time if others in your household are streaming video.

A practical pre-test checklist:

• Restart your computer and open only the TOEFL Test App. Check Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac) for background processes.
• Uninstall or fully disable Grammarly, cloud sync tools, and any remote desktop software. Closing the window is not enough — these tools often run background services.
• Disable browser extensions, especially ad blockers and password managers.
• Test your webcam and microphone in the TOEFL Test App, not just in your system settings.
• Clear your desk completely. Move everything except the computer and whiteboard out of the camera's view.
• Tell everyone in your household the exact start and end time. Put a sign on the door.
• Charge your erasable marker the night before. A faint marker wastes your limited whiteboard space.

Is the TOEFL Home Edition Right for You?

The Home Edition works best for test-takers who have a private, quiet room with a reliable wired internet connection and can test without interruption for 90 minutes. It offers better scheduling flexibility and eliminates travel to a test center.

It is riskier for test-takers who share living spaces with family or roommates, rely on unstable Wi-Fi, or use a computer with corporate security software that might conflict with the proctoring platform. If your internet drops mid-test and you cannot reconnect, you may lose the session entirely.

Both formats produce the same score on the same report. Universities do not know which one you chose. The decision comes down to which environment gives you the best chance of performing well, uninterrupted, for 90 continuous minutes.

For a broader overview of the 2026 test format, scoring, and registration, start with our complete TOEFL iBT guide. If you want to practice the format before test day, our free TOEFL practice tests simulate the real test structure and timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the TOEFL Home Edition score count the same as a test center score?

Yes. ETS scores both formats on the same scale, and the score report does not indicate which format you took. Universities receive identical reports regardless of whether you tested at home or at a center. MyBest Scores also combine results across both formats.

Can you wear headphones during the TOEFL at home?

No. Headsets, earphones, and headphones of any kind are prohibited during the TOEFL Home Edition. You must use your computer's built-in or external speakers. The microphone can be built-in or external but cannot be part of a headset.

What happens if your internet disconnects during the TOEFL online test?

If you lose your connection briefly, the proctor may be able to reconnect you and resume the test. If the disconnection is extended or cannot be resolved, the test session may be terminated. ETS evaluates each case individually, but extended outages typically result in the test being cancelled. Using a wired Ethernet connection reduces this risk significantly.

Can someone else be in the room during the test?

No. ETS requires that no other person be present in or enter the room at any time during the test. If anyone appears on camera — including briefly — the test can be invalidated with no refund.

Do you need a secondary camera (phone) for the TOEFL Home Edition?

It depends on your country. ETS started rolling out the secondary camera requirement in April 2025, country by country. You will be notified during registration if your location requires it. If required, you need a smartphone running iOS 12+ or Android 8+, placed on a stand about arm's length from your computer.