The Fastest Way to Configure Android Tablet into Kiosk Mode

In our everyday lives, we often see restaurant personnel using tablets to take client orders. Similarly, office employees and drivers in the logistics and transportation industries are issued Android tablets for official usage.

In order to limit employees and customers in different industries to business-related applications or websites, it is necessary to lock enterprise Android devices into Kiosk mode.

This article will describe two methods for configuring Android tablet Kiosks.

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1 What is Android Tablet Kiosk Mode?

Android tablet Kiosk mode is a functionality mode applied to a tablet to make it purpose-built for a certain commercial use. In Android tablet Kiosk mode, devices are limited to particular programs to prevent cyber risks and boost productivity by eliminating all unnecessary applications.

Purposes

1. The basic purpose of adding Kiosk mode on Android tablets is to utilize Android tablets for specified tasks depending upon the user's duty.

2. Various kinds of Kiosks are available in different industries, each built with a unique interface and features to perform.

3. Android Kiosks are used in educational and healthcare industries for various tasks, and their uses are limited to learning and working purposes.

4. Similarly, other sectors use Android tablets and smartphones as Kiosks to smooth their transactions and perform business operations.

Settings Provided by Kiosk Mode

Single-app/Multi-app/Browser Lockdown

Kiosk mode provides the facility to apply single-App or multi-App Kiosk mode on Android devices to limit the users only to those selected Apps. Similarly, access to different browsers and web searches can also be customized using the Kiosk mode.

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Custom Brand and Layout

Kiosk mode also helps in the advertisement of company brands. Some Kiosks are developed specifically to promote a brand or a product. Businesses can set an interface with a company theme or play a video to promote their products using a Kiosk mode.

Devices System Settings

With the help of Kiosk mode, devices are also controlled remotely, and the admin can manage the system settings remotely on the Kiosk devices.

2 How to Run an Android Tablet in Kiosk Mode?

There are two straightforward methods to run an Android tablet in Kiosk mode. One method is operational within the Android tablet or smartphone, while the other needs external software to manage the Kiosk mode. The uses of these two methods are different from each other. Let's get into them deeply to understand their importance.

Method 1. Screen Pinning Inbuilt Feature

Every Android tablet or smartphone has a built-in Screen Pinning feature in its Settings. This method is probably a temporary way used commonly at home when parents have to hand over their smartphones to their kids for a specific purpose. It enables the user to set a single-app kiosk mode and restrict the device to a singl-app unless it is un-pinned using a specific code selected.

Prerequisites

Before practically performing this operation, make it clear that it is only available on Android devices, mostly with Android 11. It is important to check the Android version to make it operational on any device.

Why Is Screen Pinning Not Suitable for Business Purposes?

Businesses need a secure and permanent source for enabling Kiosk mode, while screen pinning is a temporary source with no security measures. Businesses need full security as they are attacked by expert hackers, so a secure system is always preferred.

In screen pinning, users still can have the option to access other apps beyond the app we have selected, and secondly, app can move to the background to access the notifications. Confidential data can be breached quickly, even in Screen Pinning mode. Hence, the corporate sector is never recommended to use this method.

How Do I Turn off Pinned Screen?

Here are simple steps to unpin the device from screen pinning:

1. You can use gesture, two-button, or three-button navigation to unpin the device.

2. If the pop-up appears to enter the code or pattern, enter the code or pattern set while enabling the screen pinning. Screen Pinning will disable instantly.

 

3. Another way is to move to “Settings” app and select “Security”. Then click on the “Advanced” tab and tap the switch to disable the screen pinning on the device. Enter the pin code to disable it.

Method 2. AirDroid Business MDM Solution

AirDroid Business MDM is an all-in-one solution for any business security and smooth working of various tasks. It is purposely built to support large organizations in keeping the Android devices used in the organization fully effective and managed.

This software supports Kiosk mode on Android that helps lock down Android devices to secure apps and websites. It also supports a Kiosk browser for limited and safe web searching.

We can switch the devices into single-app or multi-app kiosk mode to run only a few apps and customize the kiosk screen for brand promotions using Logos and themes of the company in the background. With this Android kiosk software, System Settings are efficiently handled to support the Kiosk devices.

Prerequisites

The minimum specification for Android devices to run AirDroid Business is 2 GB RAM and Android 4.1 Version.

Key Functions

Other than Kiosk mode, AirDroid Business supports any size of business in several ways to meet all the endpoints including various security and management factors. Here are some key features that it provides to the users:

3 Best Practices of Lockdown Android Tablet into Kiosk Mode

Kiosk mode for Android tablet is beneficial in numerous ways depending upon the kind of industry we are involved. Here are three different industries and their best practices for lockdown Android tablets into Kiosk mode:

Quick-service Restaurants

In restaurants, self-service ordering kiosks simplify the ordering process. In fast-service restaurants, Android tablets are configured as self-ordering Kiosks so that consumers may place orders for rapid service.

Similarly, there are Android tablets set up in Kiosk mode to handle transactions and create invoices. Customers may order and get meals without interacting with workers. It aids in reducing mistakes and enhancing the user experience.

Retailers

Retailer’s deals with a large variety of products, including clothing, electronic products, grocery items, and many more. Android tablets are set up in electronic retails as a demo with Kiosk mode limited to only a few apps, especially the camera, so that the customers can view the camera result.

Moreover, there are Android tablets used to select the products and watch the variety and prices. They can also use those Kiosk devices to buy products and pay bills online. These Android tablets are only limited to retail services.

The Android tablets cannot perform any other function as they are set as purpose-built for a specific retail shop. Android tablets and smartphones are also helpful in engaging customers in contests, promotions, and marketing campaigns.

Hospitality

Hotels providing high-quality services use Android Kiosk tablets to save customers time for check-in and check-out. These Kiosk tablets can also help check the details of all the services that a specific hotel provides, like the type of rooms, prices, and other services.

With this Kiosk workload of the hotel management will be reduced, and secondly, the customer will also be satisfied with the quick and managed services of the hotel.

4 What Should You Consider Before Setting up An Android Tablet as a Kiosk?

Consider several necessary points before setting up an Android tablet as a Kiosk device. Let's discuss the five crucial points that need to be considered before setting up the Kiosk mode:

1. As Kiosks provide limited access, it's very important to focus on the first display on the Kiosk device. For example, in ATMs, the first display on the screen is a short introductory video of the bank and its basic information or includes the latest information about any promotion or service; after that user can access the account and perform further transactions.

2. Depending upon the Kiosk services and usage, guess an estimate of the number of users that need it at a certain time. Mostly one Kiosk device is operated by a single user at a time. There must be more than one Android Kiosk tablet in a restaurant to receive orders from the customers if there are many customers to deal with.

3. While using Android tablet Kiosks, it's obvious to know where to store the data. Mostly the Kiosk devices are connected online, and the data is directly stored in the database for further processing. So, before setting up Android Kiosk mode on tablets, it's necessary to finalize the data management process.

4. Many Android tablets in Kiosk mode are connected to a printer or external hardware to perform other operations like generating bills. Depending upon the use of the Kiosk, it's necessary to find out which hardware component is needed.

5. Screen time limit is set at various Kiosks to make it more secure. Hence it's better to estimate the time limit of the Kiosk screen each time it is used. 

5 How to Set up Chrome Browser in Kiosk Mode on Android Tablets?

Using the Kiosk Launcher feature of AirDroid Business, we can set up Chrome browser in Kiosk mode on Android tablets. It enables the admin to select a single-app to operate on an Android tablet in Kiosk mode, restricting the Home Screen and the Notification Center.

1. First of all, you need to create an AirDroid account to log in to the admin console (dashboard).

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2. For Kiosk Launcher, Open the admin console of AirDroid Business and select “Policy and Kiosk”, Then click on “Policy and Kiosk Config File”.

 

3. Now press the Edit button from the screen and scroll downwards. Click on Kiosk Launcher and select “Single App”.

 

4. In the Select App box, select Chrome. Now set the time limit for Kiosk mode as “Keep Running” so that the Android tablet under Kiosk mode keeps restricted to Chrome app unless it is removed from the admin console.

Closing

The article describes two techniques for obtaining Kiosk mode on Android tablets, each with its significance. Screen Pinning is a built-in feature of Android smartphones that enables a single-app Kiosk mode, although it is only suitable for home usage where security is not an issue. The second alternative, AirDroid Business MDM, is preferable for businesses. It delivers considerably more than the screen-pinning feature's single-app Kiosk mode. Using AirDroid Buseinss, the mobile business is adapted and managed to satisfy all business requirements. In addition to the Kiosk mode, it offers a variety of other capabilities that enable mobile businesses.