D2L Brightspace Session Timeout 30 Minutes

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D2L Session Timeout Update – Important Information for Students and Instructors 

Brightspace now enforces a 30-minute session timeout for inactive users. This means that if there is no qualifying activity within 30 minutes, the system will require you to re-authenticate to continue.   

This update is part of system-wide security requirements aligned with industry best practices (e.g., NIST, OWASP) and will be applied across other applications over time.  

What counts as “activity”? 

Not all actions keep your session active. According to D2L, actions that keep your session active include: 

  • Navigating to a new page
  • Clicking items that trigger saves
  • Typing in text fields (e.g., Written Response questions)
  • Responding to the “Are you still there?” prompt

The following actions do not keep your session active: 

  • Scrolling
  • Passive actions (e.g., watching a video without interaction)
  • Random or repeated clicks that don’t trigger system activity

What will students experience? 

  • If you are inactive for over 30 minutes, you will see a prompt asking if you are still there. You must interact to continue your session.  
  • If the timeout is exceeded, you will need to log back in to Brightspace. 
  • In most cases (e.g., quizzes), your work is preserved and can be continued after re-entry.  

However, there are important exceptions (see below). 

Known impacts and current issues 

We are actively working with D2L on known issues related to session timeouts, including: 

  • Quiz auto-save actions may not extend the session 
  • Video playback or interaction may not extend the session 

Special consideration: Respondus LockDown Browser 

When using Respondus LockDown Browser: 

  • If a session timeout occurs during an exam, students may be logged out and unable to log back in within the testing session 
  • The only available option is to exit and restart the LockDown Browser session 

This is a known limitation and may require adjustments to testing practices.  

Guidance for Students 

  • Interact with the system regularly (click, type, or navigate) at least every 20–25 minutes 
  • Do not rely on passive activities (e.g., watching long videos or working offline without interaction) 
  • If timed out during a quiz:  
  • Log back in as soon as possible 
  • Re-enter the quiz attempt if allowed 

Guidance for Instructors 

To reduce disruption: 

  • Design assessments with interaction in mind 
  • Break long tasks into multiple pages (pagination) 
  • Ensure quizzes contain 5 or fewer questions per page 
  • Include periodic interaction points 
  • Be mindful of timing settings 
  • Avoid tight end dates/times when long periods of inactivity are expected 
  • Consider allowing re-entry or using “Exceeded Time Limit” options where appropriate 
  • Communicate expectations to students 
  • Let students know they must remain active in Brightspace during long quizzes or activities 
  • Use LockDown Browser carefully 
  • Be aware that session timeouts can prevent students from continuing an exam 
  • Consider longer timeout settings (where configurable) or alternative assessment approaches 

Reporting Issues 

If you encounter session timeout issues: 

  • Include:  
  • What occurred 
  • Who was impacted 
  • Course/example 
  • Approximate number of students affected 

This helps track impact across institutions and relay that information to the system office and D2L. 

 

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