Browser Support
Blackboard Collaborate with the Ultra experience is based on modern web technologies including HTML 5 and WebRTC. You don't need to install Java or a launcher.
Collaborate Best Screen Reader Experience
For the best Blackboard Collaborate experience with your screen reader use Firefox® and JAWS on a Windows® system. On a Mac® use Safari® and VoiceOver.
| Browser | Audio/video | Application sharing |
|---|---|---|
| ChromeTM versions 54+
On Windows®, Mac® and AndroidTM |
Supported with High Quality
Shows most videos in conference layout See 5 videos: four speakers and your own |
Share and view |
| Firefox® versions 55+
On Windows, Mac, and Linux® |
See 3 videos: two speakers and your own | Share and view |
| Safari® 11+
on Mac and iOS®
|
See 4 videos: three speakers and your own | Share and view |
| Microsoft Edge® version 17 | See 4 videos: three speakers and your own | Share and view |
Mobile devices
Collaborate is supported in Chrome on AndroidTM devices and Safari on iOS®11+.
More on browser support on Behind the Blackboard (available in English only)
Best browsers for the Ultra experience - Student
Best browsers for the Ultra experience
You can use many Blackboard products in a web browser. You don't need to download anything to get started in courses or meetings in the Ultra experience. Choose a browser compatible with the Blackboard products your institution uses. You can move between products and still have a great experience with a supported browser.
Blackboard tests and optimizes Ultra experience features on Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Other browsers are still supported. Refer to the table below for more information.
Select the link in the first column to learn more about each product's browser support.
| Google Chrome™ | Mozilla Firefox® | Microsoft Edge® | Internet Explorer® | Safari® | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackboard Learn | Supported | Supported | Supported (v 20+) | Not supported | Supported (v6+) |
| Blackboard Collaborate | Supported | Supported | Supported | Not supported | Supported (v11+) |
| Predict | Supported | Supported | Supported (v 20+) | Not supported | Supported (v6+) |
| Ally | Same as shared program | Same as shared program | Same as shared program | Same as shared program | Same as shared program |
| Web Community Manager | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported (v11+) | Supported (v9+) |
| Blackboard Open LMS | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported (v11+) | Supported on mobile |
Based on the configurations listed above, Blackboard recommends using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox for the best possible experience using Ultra.
Supported operating systems for mobile apps
You can access your courses and content on the go with Blackboard's mobile applications. Your mobile device needs to be on a supported operating system to use any of the following apps.
Not all Blackboard products are available through our mobile applications. See the product documentation for information on mobile compatibility.
| iOS® | Android™ | Windows® | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackboard App | 9.0+ | 4.2+ | 10+ |
| Community Engagement | 8.0+ | 5.0+ | Not supported |
| Web Community Manager Apps | 9.0+ | 4.1+ | Not supported |
Screen readers in Ultra
For the best Blackboard Ultra experience with your screen reader, use Firefox and Jaws on a Windows system. On a Mac use Safari and VoiceOver.
