Identify your device before an online assessment

An online assessment may ask which device, operating system, or browser you will use. The details can be confusing if the computer is shared, recently repaired, or running through a remote desktop. A browser can show useful information, but it may not know the exact model name or every hardware detail.

Use the System Info tool to check the hardware and screen information your browser can access. Then compare it with the assessment requirements and confirm exact model or operating system details in your device settings.

Check your device before the assessment

1. Open System Info on the same computer or phone you plan to use for the assessment. Review the processor, graphics, screen, battery, and network details it shows.
2. Open Browser Info and check the browser version and engine. Compare these with any browser requirements from the assessment provider.
3. Look up the exact device name and operating system in the device settings. Use the assessment's own requested fields as a checklist, since a device name, processor, and operating system version are different details.
4. Write down only the details the assessment asks for. If the assessment has a compatibility check, run it on the device and browser you will actually use.

If you are preparing the computer for an exam, the guide to checking your OS before an online assessment can help you verify its operating system separately.

What the results mean

The hardware and screen details match what you expect

This confirms that the browser can read those details from the device you are using. It does not guarantee that the assessment platform will accept the device. The platform may also check its own supported operating systems, browser versions, camera permissions, or other requirements.

The device name or model is missing

That is normal. Websites generally do not receive a reliable, exact computer model name or serial number from a browser. System Info can show hardware hints such as processor and graphics information, but it is not a manufacturer inventory report. Check the label on the device or its system settings if you need the model.

The memory amount looks rounded or unexpected

Browsers may expose only a rounded hint about RAM, not the exact installed amount. A virtual machine, privacy setting, or managed computer can also affect what a website sees. For the installed memory on Windows 11, open Settings › System › About and check the device specifications. On macOS, choose Apple menu › About This Mac.

The browser or platform label is unfamiliar

Browser Info reports the browser version and engine, which may not match the browser's brand name in the way you expect. A privacy feature, remote desktop, virtual machine, or organization policy can change or limit platform details. The result describes what the browser reports, not a complete audit of the computer.

The assessment says your device is unsupported

Use the provider's message as the deciding requirement. A device can work normally and still be outside the provider's supported list. Check whether the issue names the operating system, browser, screen size, or a required feature, and verify that exact item rather than relying on a general hardware report.

Fix an incorrect or unclear device report

1. Check that you are using the intended device. If you are connected to a remote desktop, the browser usually reports the remote computer's environment, not the keyboard or screen in front of you. Run the check directly on the device you will use for the assessment.
2. Check the device's About screen. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › About. On macOS, choose Apple menu › About This Mac. On an Android phone, open Settings › About phone. On an iPhone, open Settings › General › About. Menu wording can vary by device and operating system version.
3. Confirm the assessment's browser requirement. Compare its supported browser and version with the result in Browser Info. If the provider requires a current browser, update it using the browser's own menu, then reopen the assessment in a regular browser window.
4. Check for a virtual machine or managed browser. A virtual machine presents a separate computer environment, and workplace or school policies can restrict browser information. If you are not sure, ask the assessment provider whether that setup is allowed before exam day.
5. Install system updates only when you have time to retest. On Windows 11, go to Settings › Windows Update. On macOS, open System Settings › General › Software Update. Do not start a major update right before a timed assessment.
6. Ask the provider about a mismatch. Send the exact requirement and the relevant result, such as your operating system version or browser version. Avoid sending a device serial number, account password, or other information they did not request.

What a browser check cannot confirm

A browser-based report is useful for comparing visible device details, but it does not certify the computer, prove who is taking the assessment, or guarantee compatibility. It may not identify the exact model, exact RAM capacity, or every installed component. If the assessment has a specific compatibility checker, use that as well and contact its support team if its result conflicts with your device settings.

Share only the device information the assessment provider needs. For more on browser-visible hardware details, see hardware inventory privacy.