Getting started with Apex

01Create students and administrators

Apex uses one organization-bound household or administrator account. Students have individual profiles inside that organization; they are not separate administrator accounts.

1. 1
   Open ConsoleSign in at console.apexbrowser.app with the account that owns the organization.
2. 2
   Create a studentOpen Users, add the student's display name and username, and create a PIN. Apex stores a protected PIN verifier rather than the plain-text PIN.
3. 3
   Add another authorized adult if neededUse the administrator settings to add a verified co-administrator. Do not share the owner password.
4. 4
   Approve the deviceReview new-device requests in Console and revoke any device that is no longer trusted.

02Choose a protection level

The Apex workspace looks nearly the same across platforms, but each protection layer has different authority.

• Web workspace/PWA: approved destinations, requests, Daily Plan, Messages, Writer, Design, and Calculator. A website cannot control other apps or browser tabs.
• Chrome Extension: adds Chrome destination enforcement, supported AI and Lens controls, activity signals, and the Apex side panel. It cannot lock Windows or an unmanaged Chromebook.
• Windows Student Mode: uses the bundled Apex Browser, a dedicated standard Windows account, protected startup, common exit-key controls, and an independent recovery supervisor. It remains a family pilot while recovery behavior is validated.

03Set up the Chrome Extension

The current extension release is 1.7.15. Install only the official Apex package or Chrome Web Store listing supplied by True Anchor LLC.

1. 1
   Install the extensionUse the official store listing when available. For approved testing, load the supplied apex-extension folder through Chrome's extension tools.
2. 2
   Open Apex HomeSign the student into go.apexbrowser.app. The extension connects to the authenticated Apex session.
3. 3
   Confirm policy loadingIf policy cannot load, the extension is designed to fail closed rather than silently allow unrestricted navigation.
4. 4
   Test an approved and unapproved destinationAn approved site should open; an unapproved site should return to Apex or present the request path.

04Set up Windows Student Mode

Windows Student Mode is intended for a dedicated standard Windows account. Keep a separate Windows administrator account available for setup, maintenance, and removal.

1. 1
   Install Apex BrowserRun the current Windows installer from the administrator account.
2. 2
   Run Student Mode SetupSelect the student Windows account. Setup installs the scheduled task and native protection helpers.
3. 3
   Sign into the student Windows accountThe Student Mode supervisor should start first and then launch Apex automatically.
4. 4
   Test recoveryConfirm Apex relaunches after an unexpected application exit and that the protected recovery screen remains in control while it restarts.

05Approved sites and requests

The Site Catalogue contains the common destinations available to Apex. Administrators can also approve a destination for a specific student.

1. 1
   Add a destinationOpen Site Catalogue, enter the domain, review the name and category, and save it.
2. 2
   Choose the studentApply the approval to the intended student rather than assuming every profile needs the same access.
3. 3
   Choose a durationRequests can be approved temporarily, for a custom duration, or without an expiration when appropriate.
4. 4
   Expect authentication dependenciesSome services use several domains for login, content, and embedded resources. Approve only the additional domains the service genuinely requires.

06Workspace, sidebar, and printing

Apex Home keeps Daily Plan, approved sites, Messages, Writer, Design, and Calculator together. In protected desktop builds, the workspace menu also tracks Apex-opened pages so a student can return to earlier work without reopening it.

• Split View gives the sidebar its own screen space.
• Overlay temporarily places the sidebar over the current page.
• Open windows switches between pages opened through Apex.
• Writer shows the student's saved files; selecting a file should activate it without signing the student out.
• Print opens Apex Print Preview before the Windows print dialog so the student can review what will be printed.
• Apex Home returns to the student workspace. Back returns within the active Apex-managed page history.

07Activity, focus insights, and alerts

Apex reports what it observed; it does not decide a student's intent.

• Activity is ordinary session history: opened destinations, work sessions, and routine use.
• Focus Insights records supported focus changes. A change may mean note-taking, reading, another approved task, a break, or disengagement.
• Alerts are higher-priority protection events such as a blocked restricted route, supported AI/Lens attempt, evasion shortcut, or other enabled detection that may require review.

08Messages and notifications

Console can receive student messages, approval requests, and supported alerts. Browser and phone notifications are best-effort and depend on operating-system permission, browser permission, network access, a valid push token, and an active authorized administrator account.

1. 1
   Install ConsoleAdd the Administrator Console to the phone's home screen when supported.
2. 2
   Allow notificationsGrant browser and operating-system notification permission.
3. 3
   Stay signed inOpening a notification may require authentication if the phone has cleared or expired the Console session.
4. 4
   Check Console directlyDo not treat push or email delivery as an emergency or life-safety system.

09Recovery and safe removal

If the Apex application exits during Student Mode, the independent supervisor is designed to keep the protected recovery surface visible and relaunch Apex. If Student Mode itself requires maintenance, switch to the separate Windows administrator account.

• Do not delete helper files, scheduled tasks, or the student Windows account manually.
• Use the Apex Student Mode status, repair, or removal tools from the administrator account.
• Preserve the lifecycle and Student Mode logs when requesting support; they identify startup, navigation, helper, and recovery failures.
• Use the authorized removal flow so Windows taskbars and shell settings are restored cleanly.