1. Hapara Support
  2. For Hāpara administrators
  3. Hāpara Highlights Installation and Configuration

Menu

Articles in this section

See more

Install Hāpara Highlights Follow

BAU development team
  • Updated

This article helps administrators install Hāpara Highlights by choosing the correct setup path for Chromebooks, managed Windows/Mac devices, Microsoft ID devices or non-managed devices.

Who this is for

Admins

Teachers can use the verification and common errors sections to check why a student may not appear online in Highlights.

 

Summary

To install Hāpara Highlights, admins need to deploy the student extension, confirm browser and device policies, allow required Hāpara network traffic and verify that students appear online. Start by choosing the setup path that matches how your school manages student devices.

Before you start

Confirm the following before you roll out Highlights:

  • Students are in the correct Student OU, user group or device group.

    Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 11.09.10 AM.png
  • Students are using the supported browser for your school’s setup.
  • Students sign into the browser with their school account.

  • The Hāpara Highlights extension is force-installed for students.

    Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 11.11.35 AM.png
  • Required Hāpara and Google URLs are allowed through your firewall, web filter and network controls.
  • Highlights is enabled in the Hāpara Admin Console.
  • A test student account has been checked before a full rollout.

 

Choose your setup path

Use the path that matches your student devices and account setup.

 

Managed Chromebooks

Use this path when students use school-managed Chromebooks with Google Workspace accounts.

Go to: Google Admin + Chromebook setup

Managed Windows or Mac devices

Use this path when students use school-managed Windows or Mac devices and sign in with Google Workspace accounts.

Go to: Windows/Mac MDM setup

Windows devices with Microsoft ID sign-in

Use this path when students use Windows 10/11 devices and sign in with Microsoft 365 school accounts.

Go to: Microsoft ID via Intune setup

Personal or non-managed Windows/Mac devices

Use this path when students use personal devices or school devices that are not managed through an MDM.

Go to: Non-managed device setup

Students appear Offline, blank or missing in Highlights

Use the verification and common errors sections in this article.

 

Decision path: managed vs non-managed devices

  1. Are the student devices managed by the school?
    • If yes, continue to step 2.
    • If no, use the Non-managed device setup section.
  2. What type of device are students using?
    • Chromebook: Use Google Admin + Chromebook setup.
    • Windows or Mac: Continue to step 3.
  3. What account type do students use?
    • Google Workspace account: Use Windows/Mac MDM setup.
    • Microsoft 365 school account: Use Microsoft ID via Intune setup.
  4. Are students signed into the browser with their school account?
    • If yes, continue with extension and network verification.
    • If no, ask students to sign into the browser first. Signing into Gmail, Google Docs, Outlook or another website is not the same as signing into the browser.

Google Admin + Chromebook setup

Use this path for managed Chromebooks with Google Workspace student accounts.

Steps to follow

  1. Sign in to the Google Admin Console as an administrator.
  2. Confirm students are in the correct Student OU.
  3. Confirm the required Google Workspace and Chrome policies are applied to the Student OU.
  4. Enable screenshot permissions for Highlights if your school uses screen visibility.
  5. Force-install the Hāpara Highlights extension for the Student OU.
  6. Confirm the extension is set to force install.
  7. Add the required Hāpara URLs to your firewall, web filter and network allowlist.
  8. In the Hāpara Admin Console, confirm Highlights is enabled.
  9. Sign into a Chromebook with a test student account.
  10. Open a class in Highlights and confirm the student appears online.

Windows/Mac MDM setup

Use this path when student Windows or Mac devices are managed by your school and students sign into the browser with Google Workspace accounts.

This may apply if your school uses tools such as Group Policy, Intune, Jamf or another MDM.

Steps to follow

  1. Confirm Google Chrome is installed on student devices.
  2. Confirm students will sign into Chrome with their school Google account.
  3. In your device management tool, configure the Chrome extension force-install policy.
  4. Add the Hāpara Highlights extension using the deployment details from the managed Windows/Mac article.
  5. Apply the policy to the correct student device group or user group.
  6. Allow the required Hāpara URLs through your firewall, web filter and network controls.

  7. On a student device, open chrome://policy.

    Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 11.17.04 AM.png
  8. Confirm the extension force-install policy is applied.

  9. Open chrome://extensions.Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 11.27.29 AM.png

     

  10. Confirm Hāpara Highlights is installed and managed by your organization.
  11. Open a class in Highlights and confirm the student appears online.

Microsoft ID via Intune setup

Use this path for Windows 10/11 devices where students sign in with Microsoft 365 school accounts.

Steps to follow

  1. Open the Microsoft Intune admin center.
  2. Create or open the browser configuration profile used for student devices.
  3. Add the required extension force-install settings for the browser your students use.
  4. Add the Hāpara Highlights extension using the deployment details from the Microsoft ID article.
  5. Assign the profile to the correct student users or devices.
  6. Allow the required Hāpara URLs through your firewall, web filter and network controls.
  7. Have the device check in to Intune.
  8. Restart the browser if the extension does not appear.
  9. Confirm the Hāpara Highlights extension is installed and enabled.
  10. Open a class in Highlights and confirm the student appears online.

Non-managed device setup

Use this path when students use personal or non-managed Windows/Mac devices.

For Highlights to work on non-managed devices, students must sign into the browser with their school account so the school’s browser policies can apply.

Steps to follow

  1. Sign in to the Google Admin Console as an administrator.
  2. Go to the Chrome user and browser settings for the Student OU.

  3. Turn on Chrome management for signed-in users.

    Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 11.14.40 AM.png
  4. Apply the required user policies when students sign into Chrome.
  5. Force-install the Hāpara Highlights extension for the Student OU.
  6. Ask students to open Chrome.
  7. Ask students to sign into Chrome with their school Google account.
  8. Ask students to confirm the Hāpara Highlights extension appears in Chrome.
  9. Open a class in Highlights and confirm the student appears online.

Teacher quick check for personal or BYOD devices

Teachers can ask the student to check the following:

  1. Open Chrome.
  2. Confirm they are signed into Chrome with their school account.
  3. Open the Chrome extensions menu.
  4. Confirm the Hāpara Highlights extension is installed and enabled.
  5. Refresh Highlights.
  6. Check whether the student now appears online.

If the student is signed into a personal browser profile, ask them to switch to their school profile or sign into Chrome with their school account.

Network allowlist requirements

Highlights must be able to connect to Hāpara and Google services. Add the required Hāpara URLs to your firewall, web filter and network allowlist.

Check the Allowed list URLs for Highlights article for the current list of URLs.

Make sure your network allows:

  • Required Hāpara domains
  • Required Google domains
  • HTTPS traffic
  • WebSocket traffic where required
  • Traffic from student devices on school networks

If many students are affected at the same time, check network filtering, firewall rules and recent policy changes before troubleshooting individual devices.

Verify the installation

Use these checks after any installation or policy change.

  1. Sign in with a test student account.
  2. Confirm the student account is in the correct Student OU, user group or device group.
  3. Confirm the student is signed into the browser with their school account.
  4. Confirm the Hāpara Highlights extension is installed.

  5. On managed Windows/Mac devices, check chrome://policy.Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 11.17.04 AM.png

     

  6. On managed Windows/Mac devices, check chrome://extensions.Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 11.27.29 AM.png

     

  7. Confirm required Hāpara URLs are not blocked.
  8. Open a class in Highlights.

  9. Refresh the student tile. Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 11.31.16 AM.png

     

  10. Confirm the student appears online.

 

Common errors and what to check

Student appears Offline

Check whether the student:

  1. Is connected to the internet.
  2. Is using the supported browser.
  3. Is signed into the browser with their school account.
  4. Has the Hāpara Highlights extension installed.
  5. Is using the correct school account.
  6. Is in the correct Student OU, user group or device group.
  7. Is affected by time or IP restrictions.
  8. Is using a personal browser profile instead of a school profile.

Student tile is blank

Check whether:

  1. The student is actively using the browser.
  2. Screenshot permissions are enabled.
  3. The student is within allowed school hours.
  4. The student is on an allowed network.
  5. Required Hāpara URLs are blocked by a firewall or filter.
  6. A recent policy or network change affected multiple students.

Extension does not install

Check whether:

  1. The extension policy is applied to the correct OU, user group or device group.
  2. The extension is set to force install.
  3. The device has received the latest policy.
  4. The browser has been restarted.
  5. The student is signed into the browser with the correct school account.
  6. The student is using the correct browser for your setup.
  7. Your firewall or filter is blocking extension installation or Hāpara services.

Student can bypass Highlights

Review your Google Admin or MDM policies for:

  1. Incognito mode.
  2. Guest browsing.
  3. Browser sign-in requirements.
  4. Multiple account sign-in.
  5. Developer tools.
  6. Extension removal.
  7. Browser task manager access.
  8. Unmanaged browser profiles.

 

Additional tips

  • Test Highlights with a small group before rolling it out to all students.
  • Keep Chromebook, Windows/Mac MDM, Microsoft ID and non-managed device instructions separate so admins can follow the correct setup.
  • Use this article as the starting point when you are unsure which installation path applies.
  • If only one student is affected, check the student’s browser sign-in, account and extension status first.
  • If many students are affected, check network allowlists, device policies and recent admin changes first.

 

Related articles

Related articles