Topic Overview - Browser Support

Blackboard Learn is tested with a variety of technologies.

These browsers work best with our version of Blackboard Learn:

• Firefox 24 and later
• Chrome 30 and later
• Safari 6 and later (Mac only)

• Internet Explorer 9 and later

   

  Run the browser checker to see if your browser will work with Blackboard.

  Internet Explorer Users

  Some configuration options for Internet Explorer may make certain features of Blackboard difficult to use.

Microsoft® Windows® Operating System

Apple® Mac OS® Operating System

Also add Blackboard (http://blackboard.syr.edu) to your IE Trusted Sites Security.

Configuration Notes

• Internet Explorer is only supported in Standards Mode.
• Blackboard strives to make all its products as accessible as possible. JAWS 14 and 15 were used during accessibility testing of Learn 9.1 October 2014.
• Chrome support: due to the auto-update feature of Chrome, support is based on the version available at the time of testing. Learn 9.1 October 2014 was tested with Chrome 34.
• Firefox support: due to the auto-update feature of Firefox, support is based on the version available at the time of testing. Learn 9.1 October 2014 was tested with Firefox versions 32 and 31 (ESR).
• Note on OSX 10.8+ Java is no longer shipped as part of the OS install and must be downloaded and installed by users on request of application/applet - this is a one time action on the part of the user.

Technologies Not Supported

The following technologies are not supported in the October 2014 release:

• Internet Explorer 6, 7, 8
• Firefox 1.x, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, and 3.6
• Safari 2, 3, 4, 5 and any version on Windows
• Windows XP
• Mac OSX through 10.6
• JRE 5

 Accessibility and JAWS

Blackboard strives to make all its products as accessible as possible. JAWS for Windows 11 and 12 were used during accessibility testing in SP 11.

JRE Support

JRE (Java Runtime Environment) is not required for users to access and interact with the Learn platform with the exception of the following features and tools:

• Learn collaboration tools virtual classroom and chat
• Multiple-file uploads
• Math equation editor
• Default text editor shipped with Learn 9.1 SP9 and earlier

Blackboard has tested and supports these features with JRE versions 7 and 8. JRE 6 may work, but could result in unexpected behavior. The JRE can be downloaded from http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html. Windows system administrators who want to provide auto-download for users can find the.cab file link for the appropriate JRE at http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/autodownload-140472.html.

• Internet Explorer 9 is tested in Standards Mode. Some known issues can be resolved by using Compatibility Mode (emulates IE7 behavior).
• Both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox have moved to a rapid release cycle.  At the time of testing, Chrome 16.0 and Firefox 9.0 were the latest available versions.  Since then, new stable versions have been released and widely adopted.  Blackboard is supporting all newer stable versions of Chrome and Firefox.

Sources and Relevant Links

For more detail see Blackboard Browser Support