Need your iPad/tablet to ONLY be used for the Time Kiosk? Check out this article to learn how to set this up. Be sure to use the navigation tabs to skip to your preferred device.
For an Apple iPad:
Apple's iOS11 enables the use of "Guided Access" to allow you to control and limit the use of the device to just one app.
- Select: Settings > General > Accessibility > Guided Access > On
- Set a Passcode: Use a 6 digit code that will be memorable but not easily guessed
- Press the home button to return to the home screen. Open up the GoCo Time Kiosk app.
- Triple click the home button so the Guided Access screen appears.
- Press Start.
- Guided Access mode will begin. Your device will be locked down to this single app
If you need to disable the touch on certain areas of the screen (ie: to prevent users from typing a new url in the address bar), access your Guided Access screen again by triple clicking the home button and entering your passcode.
- Ensure that: Touch Option > On. You will now be able to draw a shape around any part of the screen and adjust the position and size by pulling the corner circles. Press resume (top right corner). This part of the screen will no longer react to touch.
To end Guided Access and regain full use of the iPad, triple click the home button again, enter your chosen passcode and select End (top left corner).
To stop the screen from timing out after periods of inactivity, you can control the Auto Lock settings.
- Select Settings > General > Auto-Lock > Never.
For a Windows Tablet:
With Windows 8 and higher, you can use Assigned Access.To use Assigned Access, you must first set up another account. You will need to be logged in as an administrator to do this: find out how here.
- Swipe the right edge to access PC settings and select: All settings > Accounts > Other accounts > Family & other people > Add someone else to this PC > I don’t have this person’s sign-in information > Add a user without Microsoft account.
- Under ‘Who’s going to use this PC’, fill in the details (name could be ‘Kiosk’) and enter a password. Next, log out of your current account, and log in to your new ‘Kiosk’ account. Install the app you would like to use for Assigned Access and log out again.
- Finally, log back into your Administrator account, open All Settings, and select: Accounts > Set up assigned access > Choose the Kiosk account (which account will have assigned access) > Choose the app (which app this account can access).
Once these steps have been followed through, the device will be locked down into the one app you chose. To end Assigned Access, simply log out of the ‘Kiosk’ account and back into your own account by clicking Ctrl + Alt + Del.
If you still need assistance with a Windows device, check out this more detailed help article.
Security settings for Android tablets:
How can I lock an Android tablet down into one app?
There are many free apps available for Android users that mimic the effect and possibilities of Apple’s Guided Access and Windows’ Assigned Access mode. Some of these include SureLock, Kiosk Browser Lockdown or Kioware (available to download on Google Play store). Simply follow the on-screen instructions to set your passcode and give users access to selected apps only.
How do I restrict use of hardware buttons?
Depending on your Android tablet, you may or may not have a physical ‘Home’ button on your device. Although the ability to disable hardware buttons may not be included in the tablet’s system settings, the apps suggested above will prevent use of hardware buttons (this mode will only end after entering passcode). Apps such as Kids Lock are also available, which can disable hardware buttons and prevent users from accessing the home screen and settings such as the volume control. To disable hardware buttons, simply follow the on-screen instructions.
How do I keep my content awake?
There is a hidden setting on Android that allows you to keep the screen on indefinitely, but only whilst plugged into the charger. First you will need to activate the Developer Mode. To do this select: Settings > About phone > Build number entry (tap 7 times), then choose: Settings > Developer options > Stay awake. As long as your phone or tablet is plugged in, the screen won’t go to sleep after a certain amount of time.
This easy-to-follow guide works well on a device-by-device basis (for 10 tablets or less), but if managing a larger number of devices, check out our introduction to managing multiple tablets.