Free EditionKiosk Mode is a method using which devices can be restricted to running with specified apps and settings. Windows 10 and Windows 11 Kiosk Mode is a lock down mechanism that enables IT teams and admins to restrict Windows 10 & 11 devices to running only on a single app or a specific set of apps, for enhanced control and governance.
Windows Kiosk Mode is especially helpful to lock down Windows 10 & 11 devices that are used for a specific purpose such as self check-in kiosks at airports; point-of-sale (POS) terminals at self service restaurants; digital signage used for advertising as it also ensures users cannot modify device settings, access other features or apps on the devices, or use the device for unintended purposes.
Mobile Device Manager Plus is one such mobile device management (MDM) solution that doubles as a Windows Kiosk software in addition to supporting Kiosk Mode on Apple, Android and Chrome devices. With Mobile Device Manager Plus you can easily enable Kiosk Mode on the Windows devices in your organization.
To setup Windows 10 Kiosk Mode with multiple apps, it is required to create a Windows Kiosk profile on MDM. Follow the steps given below to configure Kiosk Mode on Windows 10 or Windows 11 devices using Mobile Device Manager Plus as your Windows kiosk software:
Step 1: On the MDM server, click on the Device Mgmt tab.
Step 2: Select Profiles from the left pane and navigate to Create Profile -> Windows.
Step 3: Provide the Name and Description for the profile and click on Continue.
Step 4: Select Kiosk from the left pane to create a Win 10 or 11 Kiosk profile.
Step 5: Now, choose between Single App or Multi App Kiosk type.
Step 6: In the Allowed Apps tab, specify the app name(s) or bundle identifier(s).
Step 7: Next, Save and Publish the Kiosk profile.
After creating the Windows Kiosk Mode profile, it must be associated with Windows 10 or Windows 11 devices to enable Kiosk Mode. However, it is recommended to test the Kiosk profile on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 test device before associating it with your production environment. When Windows 10 or Windows 11 apps are updated on the MDM server, they are automatically updated on devices provisioned with Windows 10 or Windows 11 Kiosk Mode on the subsequent reboot; no user intervention is required for app updates on devices provisioned in Windows 10 and Windows 11 Kiosk Mode.
On profile association, when the user provides the login credentials to unlock the device, only the apps provisioned under Windows 10 or Windows 11 Kiosk Mode will be available on the device.
NOTE: When devices are removed from Windows 10 Kiosk Mode, they will automatically be factory reset to be used again in the organization.
Before a device can be provisioned into a Windows 10 Kiosk Mode or Windows 11 Kiosk Mode, admins must ensure the following pre-requisites are met:
Assigned Access in the in-built feature that allows the Windows 10 & 11 devices to be locked to a single app thereby enabling Single App Kiosk Mode. One major limitation of using the in-built Kiosk Mode on Windows 10 & 11 devices is that you can only provision Microsoft Store apps into Windows Kiosk Mode.
To setup Windows 10 or Windows 11 Kiosk Mode, follow the steps given below:
Step 1: Setup a Standard user account using the Administrator account
Step 2: Open Settings app using Windows Key + I combination.
Step 3: Navigate to Accounts -> Other People -> Set up assigned access
Step 4: Click Choose an Account and select the Standard user account created in Step 1
Step 5: Click Choose an App and select an App from the list of Supported Apps to be added to Windows 10 Kiosk Mode or Windows 11 Kiosk Mode (or Assigned Access)
Step 6: Restart the machine and login using the Standard account credentials to enable Windows 10 Kiosk Mode or Windows 11Kiosk Mode
The device will be locked only to the selected app and the user will not be able to access any other apps or settings on the device, including the Start Menu. Users can sign out of the account using the Ctrl+Alt+Del shortcut.
NOTE: The session will be completely terminated if the system is restarted.
To disable Windows 10 or Windows 11 Kiosk Mode, follow the steps given below:
Step 1: On the Settings app, navigate to Accounts -> Family and other users
Step 2: Under the Setup Kiosk option, select the Assigned Access
Step 3: Under Kiosk Info, select the account and click Remove Kiosk
Though Windows 10 & 11 Single App Mode is an in-built functionality and is available free of cost, it has a few disadvantages over Kiosk Mode on Windows 10 and 11 devices:
Windows 10 & 11 Kiosk software is required in every organization due to the following reasons:
Windows 10 Kiosk Mode and Windows 11 Kiosk Mode is supported for laptops, desktops, phones or Surface Pro tablets. A Windows Kiosk software provides a unified console to manage all the Windows 10 device types and provision these devices into Kisok Mode.
Windows Kiosk Mode is user-specific; on associating a Kiosk profile to a Windows device, Kiosk is applied to the concerned user to whom the device is assigned to. For steps to associate profiles to devices, click here. Similarly, when associating a Kiosk profile to a group, it is assigned to all the users for the respective devices present in the group. For steps to associate profiles to groups, click here.
Using a Windows Kiosk software to enable Kiosk Mode on Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices has many benefits such as:
Provision devices into Windows 10 Kiosk Mode and Windows 11 Kiosk Mode, with Mobile Device Manager Plus. Give ManageEngine's Windows 10 and Windows 11 Kiosk software a try, free for 30 days!