Setting up Hāpara Highlights on non-managed devices (Windows and Mac) Follow
In this article:
Overview
Turn on Chrome management for signed‑in users for your Student OU in the Google Admin Console.
Then make sure the Hāpara Highlights student extension is force‑installed to that OU.
When students sign into the Chrome browser with their school account, the extension and policies will apply — even on personal Windows/Mac devices.
Steps to follow (for administrators)
Confirm prerequisites
Students should use Google Chrome (not Safari/Firefox) on their personal device.
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Students must sign into the Chrome browser with their school Google account (not just Gmail or Docs).
Turn on: Chrome management for signed‑in users
Visit admin.google.com and sign in as a Super Admin.
Navigate to Devices > Chrome > Settings (User & browser settings).
Find Chrome management for signed‑in users → Edit → select Apply all user policies when users sign in to Chrome, and provide a managed Chrome experience → Save (for your Student OU).
Harden sign‑in so students don’t bypass policies (recommended)
Force Chrome browser sign‑in and block secondary Google account sign‑in for Student OUs.
This prevents personal accounts from diluting policies on BYOD.
Teacher quick check (BYOD in class)
Ask a student to sign into the Chrome browser with their school account.
In Chrome, click the Extensions (puzzle) icon → confirm Hāpara Highlights is installed and enabled.
Look at the Highlights extension icon: If it displays in color = student activity can be monitored. If it displays in gray = student activity cannot monitored.
Open your class in Highlights. The student should appear Online with live tabs. If not, see Verifying student extension connectivity.
Additional tips
BYOD still requires school sign‑in to Chrome to apply user policies. Signing into only Gmail/Docs won’t apply policies.
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If Hāpara Highlights doesn’t connect for some students, confirm:
They’re in the Student OU that applies the extension/policies.
They’re not using a personal Google account in Chrome. If needed, follow the steps to block multiple sign‑ins. See How to prevent students from using multiple Google accounts.
For managed Windows/Mac devices where you deploy policies at the device level (Group Policy/Profiles), see Deploy Highlights extension to managed PCs.