What is Kiosk Mode in Windows?
Kiosk mode is a built-in feature of Windows 11 and Windows 10 that you can use to run a single UWP app (in full-screen mode only) for a particular local user account. Once the kiosk mode is set up, then only the selected app (say Microsoft Edge, Calculator, Mail, Maps, etc.) can be used in that user account and nothing else. While it restricts a user account to run only a single app, there are other benefits of turning your Windows 11 device into a kiosk. For example, you can use the kiosk feature to use your device as an interactive display, digital sign, etc.
Assigned Access feature in Windows 11 and Windows 10
The Kiosk mode is useful if you want to create a lockdown environment and set up and display a Windows system in a general public area, and give access to any user to access and use any single app for a particular function – eg as an information kiosk or a kiosk for checking the weather, and so on. For a kiosk device to run a Universal Windows app, we can use this Assigned Access feature. For a Windows 11/10 Enterprise or Education to run a classic Windows software, you need to use Shell Launcher to set a custom user interface as the shell. When you used the Assigned Access feature, the user does not access to the desktop, Start Menu or any other part of the computer. He can only access and use a particular function.
Things you should know before you set up Kiosk Mode
Before you set up kiosk mode on your Windows 11 computer, here are a few things to know about:
You cannot set up kiosk mode for a Microsoft account or administrator account. Only a local account is supportedThere will be no Start menu, taskbar, File Explorer, Desktop, etc., in the user account where you have set up kiosk modeYou won’t be able to use hotkeys to open the Settings app, File Explorer, etc.You need to use the Ctrl+Alt+Del hotkey to exit from that user account and access the lock screen.
In simple words, you can’t do anything outside of the kiosk app in that local user account.
How to set up Kiosk Mode in Windows 11
When you don’t want to use a local user account as a kiosk, then simply turn off or remove the kiosk using the following steps:
That’s it! Now just access the lock screen and log in to that user account with kiosk mode.
How to Turn off or remove Kiosk Mode in Windows 11
When you don’t want to use a local user account as a kiosk, then simply turn off or remove the kiosk using the following steps: This will successfully remove kiosk mode from your Windows 11 computer for that user account. Read: How to enable On-screen Keyboard in Kiosk mode
How to set up Kiosk Mode in Windows 10
Open Windows 10 Settings and select Accounts. Click on Family & other people on the left side to open the following settings.
Scroll down and towards the end you will see a Set up assigned access link. Click on it to open the following window.
Now you will have to Choose an account, under which you want to run the device in Kiosk mode.
Having done this, you will have to next click on the Choose an app link and from the pop-up, select the Universal Windows app, to which you would like to give access to.
Restart your computer so that you sign out of all user accounts. TIPS:
How to secure Windows Kiosk Mode
For a more secure kiosk experience, you want to make further configuration changes to the device: For more details on how you can configure a device running Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Education, Windows 10 Mobile, or Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise as a kiosk device, and further lock it down, visit this TechNet link.
How do I put my computer in Kiosk Mode?
If you are using Windows 11 computer, then setting up kiosk mode is pretty simple. The Settings app of Windows 11 provides the option for creating kiosk mode with a UWP app. The steps to set up kiosk mode in Windows 11 are already covered by us in this post above.
Does Windows Windows 10 have Kiosk Mode?
Yes, similar to Windows 11 OS, Windows 10 also comes with a kiosk mode feature. You can easily set up Windows 10 in kiosk mode using the Settings app. You need to: After that, you can follow the required steps to set up kiosk mode on your Windows 10 computer. FrontFace Lockdown Tool is a freeware that can help you protect Windows PCs that are used as public kiosk terminals. Read next: How to set up Shared PC Mode in Windows using Group Policy.
