TOEFL Home Edition Requirements: Everything You Must Have Ready
TOEFL Home Edition requirements cover four things a test center handles for you: your computer, your room, your ID, and what you're allowed to write on. The test itself and the score it produces are identical to the test-center version. Miss one setup rule at check-in and ETS cancels the appointment, and your fee is not refunded.
Everything below is checked against ETS's own Home Edition requirements pages and the 2026–27 TOEFL iBT Information Bulletin, as of September 2026, organized as one page you can scan on your phone the night before or print and keep next to your desk.
What does TOEFL Home Edition require?
Machine
- Desktop or laptop only; a tablet, iPad, or Chromebook can't run the operating systems below
- Windows 11 or higher, or macOS 10.13 or higher, licensed and fully activated, no test-mode copies
- One monitor and one keyboard only; a second screen or keyboard is not permitted
- Download the TOEFL Test App from your My TOEFL Home dashboard and run Equipment Check first
- Charged phone or tablet (iOS 12+ or Android 8+) ready if your test requires a second camera
Audio & Video
- Internal or external microphone allowed; it can't be built into a headset
- Internal or external speakers allowed and must be audible without headphones
- Headsets and earphones of any kind are not allowed during the test
- Webcam, built-in or external, must tilt or move enough to show a full 360-degree view of the room
- Test your mic and camera inside Equipment Check, not just once at setup
Room
- You test alone in a private room with the door closed before the test starts
- No one else may enter the room at any point once testing begins
- Cover glass doors, large windows, and mirrors so the room can't be seen into
- Walls must be clear of posters, whiteboards, or notes related to studying or the test
- Public spaces, cafes, and shared coworking rooms are not acceptable
Desk & Surfaces
- Clear the desk and nearby surfaces of everything except computer, keyboard, mouse, and approved notes
- Sit in a standard chair; a bed, couch, or overstuffed armchair is not allowed
- Keep your computer connected to power for the entire test
- No food or drink at the desk during the test
- Remove headphones, smartwatch, jewelry other than a wedding or engagement ring, masks, and hair accessories; ears and face stay visible
ID
- One original, unexpired passport, driver's license, state or province ID, or national ID card
- A photocopy or a photo of your ID on a phone is not acceptable
- First name, last name, and date of birth on the ID must exactly match your registration
- If the proctor can't resolve a question about your ID, you're dismissed with no refund
- If your test requires app-based identity verification, ETS says to complete it at least 48 hours ahead
Notes
- Allowed: one small whiteboard with an erasable marker, or one blank sheet of paper inside a clear sheet protector with an erasable marker
- Paper must stay inside the sheet protector for the whole test; it never comes out
- No pens, pencils, sticky notes, or any other loose paper
- Proctor checks your whiteboard or sleeve is blank before the test starts
- At the end, erase everything and show the proctor the blank front and back on camera
During the Test
- Stay in view of your webcam, and your second camera if one is required, at all times
- No talking or reading aloud except during the Speaking section
- There are no scheduled breaks in the TOEFL iBT test; unscheduled breaks aren't allowed either
- Close and disable screen-sharing or remote-access software (Zoom, Skype, TeamViewer, Microsoft Teams, Apple Remote Desktop) before you start
- If your connection drops, stay put; you're reconnected to the proctor automatically once it's back
Disqualifiersno refund
ETS can cancel your score and keep your fee for any of the following. There is no appeal.
- Talking or reading aloud outside the Speaking section
- Looking away from the screen or leaving the camera's view
- Anyone else entering the room during the test
- Taking any break, scheduled or not
- Using a phone, tablet, or smartwatch during the session
- Running screen-sharing or remote-access software
- Wearing a headset or earphones
- Using paper notes instead of the approved whiteboard or sleeve
- An ID name or date-of-birth mismatch that can't be resolved
What happens during TOEFL at-home check-in, step by step?
Home Edition check-in is its own timed sequence, separate from the roughly 90 minutes of testing in the current TOEFL iBT format. Budget extra time before your scheduled start, not after it. For how the rest of the day unfolds once you're through check-in, see what to expect on TOEFL test day.
How do you test your TOEFL Home Edition equipment the night before?
- Run Equipment Check in the TOEFL Test App at the same day of week and time of day as your real appointment; ETS's own guidance is to check more than once, not just at setup.
- Charge your laptop fully and keep the charger within reach of your desk.
- Sit where you'll actually test and confirm your internet signal, or move the router closer for the day.
- Tell roommates, family, or kids your exact test window so no one opens the door once you start.
- Charge your phone, or find your hand-held mirror, for the room-scan and camera-check steps.
- Pause downloads, streaming, or backups on other devices in the house so your connection isn't shared.
Availability varies by country. As of September 2026, TOEFL testing, Home Edition included, is paused inside Iran under a U.S. Treasury (OFAC) rule, and test takers in Mainland China register through the NEEA portal rather than through ETS directly. If either applies to you, confirm current Home Edition availability on the official pages in Sources before you book.
TOEFL Home Edition vs test center: which should you choose?
ETS's own comparison guide puts it this way: "Same test, different experience." Both versions are, in ETS's words, "equally valid," and universities and institutions do not distinguish between a Home Edition score and a test-center score, so the choice comes down to your setup, not your outcome. Score reports come from the same 1-6 scale scoring pipeline either way.
| What differs | Home Edition | Test center |
|---|---|---|
| Environment | Your own private room, self-managed setup | ETS-staffed center, workstation provided |
| Note-taking | Small whiteboard or paper in a clear sleeve, erasable marker only | Pencil and scratch paper handed out by staff; you can't bring your own |
| ID check | Proctor-assisted virtual check; some test takers also verify identity through a mobile app 48+ hours ahead | In-person check by staff, which can include photographing or biometric confirmation |
| Your equipment | Your computer, webcam, mic, and internet must all pass Equipment Check | Center supplies the workstation and connection |
| Avoid this format if | You share a home with people who can't clear out for about two hours, have unreliable internet or power, or need an accommodation the app doesn't support | None of those apply, or you'd rather not travel to a center |
If test-day nerves are the bigger risk than your setup, that's a separate problem the equipment list above won't fix; see managing exam-day anxiety for what actually helps before a high-stakes test. And if you're weighing whether you need TOEFL at all, some graduate programs waive it outright; check TOEFL and IELTS waivers for grad school before you book either format.
Whichever format you choose, the TOEFL registration steps and fees are identical up through payment, and TOEFL fees by country shows what you'd be forfeiting if a Home Edition disqualifier ends your session early.
TOEFL Home Edition requirements FAQ
What operating system does TOEFL Home Edition require?
Windows 11 or higher, or macOS 10.13 or higher, on a licensed, fully activated copy. A tablet, iPad, or Chromebook can't run either operating system, so none of them work for the Home Edition, and you need one monitor and one keyboard only.
What are the TOEFL home edition room requirements?
You test alone in a private room with the door closed, and no one else can enter while the test is running. Cover glass doors, large windows, and mirrors, keep the walls clear of study material, and don't test in a cafe or shared space.
What ID do you need for TOEFL at home?
One original, unexpired passport, driver's license, state or province ID, or national ID card. A photocopy or a photo of your ID on a phone doesn't count. The first name, last name, and date of birth on the ID must exactly match what you entered when you registered, or you can be dismissed with no refund.
What note-taking materials does TOEFL Home Edition allow?
One small whiteboard with an erasable marker, or one blank sheet of paper inside a clear sheet protector with an erasable marker. The paper can never leave the sleeve. No pens, pencils, or loose paper are allowed, and you have to erase everything and show the proctor the blank front and back at the end.
What TOEFL at home rules can get your score canceled?
Talking or reading aloud outside the Speaking section, looking away from the screen, anyone entering the room, taking any break, using a phone or smartwatch, running screen-sharing or remote-access software, and wearing a headset or earphones can all get your score canceled with no refund.
Is a TOEFL Home Edition score treated differently than a test-center score?
No. ETS's own comparison guide calls both formats "equally valid" and says universities and institutions do not distinguish between a Home Edition score and a test-center score.
Sources
- ETS — At Home Testing Requirements for the TOEFL iBT Test
- ETS — TOEFL iBT Home Edition overview
- ETS — TOEFL iBT Home Test Day: What to Expect
- ETS — TOEFL iBT testing policies FAQ
- ETS — TOEFL iBT Information Bulletin (PDF)
- ETS — TOEFL Home Edition vs Test Center
- ETS — Guide to setting up TOEFL Home Edition
- ETS — Countries where the TOEFL iBT test is available
All pages checked September 2026. ETS updates Home Edition requirements without notice; verify against the current page before you rely on any single detail here for a test taken far in the future.