Guide to Best Kiosk Mode Applications


Kiosk Mode

The word Kiosk (pronounced as kee-aask) has it's origins in Persian language (Wikipedia) meaning a small structure open from all sides. Now a days the term kiosk is used for a small stand or booth with open sides with some interactive displays. Modern day Kiosks can be manned or self-serving without requiring any specialized human resource. Kiosks are becoming popular with businesses due to their ease of use and economical nature. Kiosks can help businesses fill in operational holes that can increase your organization deals.

Based on what you want to use your kiosk for, there are innumerable uses of various kiosks that can be made using Android kiosks, iOS kiosks and Windows kiosks for Standard Application or Multi-application kiosks, however these products have their pros and cons. A brief description of these kiosks products is given below:

Kiosk Mode Applications

Based on what you want to use your kiosk for, there are innumerable uses of various kiosks that can be made using Android kiosks, iOS kiosks and Windows kiosks for Standard Application or Multi-application kiosks, however these products have their pros and cons. A brief description of these kiosks products is given below:

Kiosk Mode App - Android

Android started supporting kiosk mode from Android 5.0. Android Kiosk Mode (aka COSU) gives IT admins the ability to lock down the device to single or a set of applications. Android Kiosk Mode also enables admins to fully manage and control mobile devices remotely such setting up password, security as well as application management. The best Android MDM Solution offered by WaZa MDM fully supports Kiosk Mode for Android devices. Any Android 5.0+ device can be setup for WaZa MDM kiosk mode in minutes. WaZa MDM supports setting up kiosk mode for Android devices via DPC Identifier or NFC Provisioning. IT admins can also install managed applications remotely once kiosk mode is setup. WaZa MDM also enables admins to configure mobile device management policies like password, security, wifi, email.

Kiosk Mode App - Windows

Recently, Microsoft introduced a new Kiosk Mode in Windows 10, this feature enables users to run a single app as a kiosk, this feature though appealing, it has a lot of issues like:

  • Accessibility: only users of Windows 10 Pro, Education or Enterprise can utilize this feature, it does not work on Windows 10 Home
  • Lack of inbuilt features which make it's implementation a lot more complicated.
  • It supports only one app and cannot be used for setups that require a lock down system with more than one application.

To setup Kiosk Mode on Windows 10, the following steps should be taken:

  • Open Settings.
  • Click on Accounts.
  • Click on Family & other users.
  • Under "Set up a kiosk," click the Assigned access button.
  • Click the Get started button.
  • Type a short, but descriptive name for the kiosk account.
  • Click the Next button.
  • Select a Microsoft Store app from the list.
  • Click the Next button.
  • Select the option that suits your environment.
  • Click the Next button.
  • Type the web page address you want users to use for the home page, start page, and new tab page.
  • Specify the time before Microsoft Edge restart the InPrivate session if no one is using the device.
  • Click the Next button.
  • Click the Close button.

Kiosk Mode App - iOS

For iOS devices, iPad can turned into kiosk mode with the need to installing any application, but this will need to be setup manually. iOS provides an option Guided Access Mode to turn any iPad to a kiosk. To enable kiosk mode via Guided Access Mode, follow the steps below:

  • Open Settings.
  • Tap General.
  • Select option Accessibility.
  • Go to Guided Access.
  • Enable Guided Access option at the top of the page.

On the Guided Access page, you will also have an option to setup password to end guided access mode. Next press the home button and select the application you want to run in kiosk mode. While the application is open, press the home button three times in quick succession. This will launch the kiosk mode or guided access mode and you will have option to enable or disable hardware buttons for volume, sleep/wake, keyboard and motion. You can also setup for how long the guided access is granted. You can then select the option resume to enable guided access mode.

Kiosk mode can also be setup for iOS devices as part of mobile device Management. The mobile device management server can publish a configuration to iPad remotely to setup single app mode or kiosk mode.