No one likes this situation where you’re handing your phone to a friend to show them a video, but they start scrolling further. What about personal space? To avoid this, you can use Android screen pinning, a feature that locks your device to just one app, ensuring that your friend can only view the specific video and nothing else. It’s a simple and effective solution for personal use, giving you comfort in situations like this.
But now, think about this on a larger scale. Say you’re managing devices for a company. You need those devices to run only specific apps or tools, like a self-service kiosk or point-of-sale system, while keeping everything else out of reach. In this case, Android Screen Pinning might not be enough. With solutions like Scalefusion MDM, you can lock down devices to one or more designated apps with advanced control and security features, making it a perfect solution for business environments.
In this blog, we’ll explore how Android screen pinning works and its benefits for personal use, but also why it might fall short in a business setting. We’ll look into how Scalefusion MDM’s Kiosk Mode offers a more comprehensive solution for managing and securing devices in a corporate environment.
What is Android Screen Pinning?
Android Screen Pinning is a security feature introduced in Android 5.0 (Lollipop) that allows users to lock their device to a single app. When screen pinning is enabled, the selected app remains fixed on the screen, and users cannot navigate to other apps, return to the home screen, or access device settings without first unpinning the app.
This feature is commonly used in scenarios where temporary device access is required. For example, handing a phone to someone for a specific task, without exposing other apps, personal data, or settings. To exit screen pinning, the device typically requires authentication using a PIN, pattern, or password, ensuring controlled access at all times.
Benefits of Screen Pinning on Android Devices
Here are some key benefits of using Screen Pinning on Android devices:
- Focused Usage: Screen Pinning allows you to lock your device to a single app, ensuring users stay within the intended application without accidentally navigating away. This is especially useful for presentations or interactive kiosks.
- Simple Setup: The use of Screen Pinning on Android devices is straightforward and can be activated easily through the device’s settings, making it accessible for users of all levels.
- Enhanced Privacy: By locking the device to one app, Screen Pinning helps prevent unauthorized access to other apps and personal information, enhancing user privacy.
- Versatile Application: Ideal for scenarios like public kiosks or dedicated information terminals where restricting device access to a single app is essential.
- Cost-Free Solution: Screen Pinning is a built-in feature available at no additional cost on Android devices running version 5.0 Lollipop and later.
How to Set Up Screen Pinning on Android Devices
Turn on Screen Pinning
To enable Screen Pinning on an Android device, follow these steps:
- Access Settings: Open the Settings app on your device.
- Navigate to Security: Scroll down and tap on Security or Security & Location, depending on your device.
- Advanced Settings: Under Advanced, look for Screen Pinning.
- Enable Screen Pinning: Toggle the switch to turn on Screen Pinning. If you want added security, ensure that you enable the option to require a PIN, pattern, or password before unpinning.
How to Pin an App on Android Devices
Pinning an app to the screen varies slightly depending on your device’s Android version:
For devices running Android 8.1 and below:
- Open the App: Launch the app you want to pin.
- Tap Overview: Tap the Overview button (the square button at the bottom of the screen).
- Pin the App: Swipe up to reveal the Pin icon at the bottom right corner of the app’s window. Tap it to pin the app.
For devices running Android 9.0 and above:
- Open the App Overview: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to the middle to open the App Overview.
- Select the App: Locate the app you want to pin and tap on its icon at the top of the window.
- Pin the App: Tap Pin to lock the app to the screen.
How to Unpin Apps on Android Devices
Unpinning the screen depends on your device’s system navigation settings:
Gesture Navigation:
- Swipe up and hold from the bottom of the screen until the app is unpinned.
2-Button Navigation:
- Touch and hold the Back and Home buttons simultaneously.
3-Button Navigation:
- Touch and hold the Back and Overview buttons at the same time.
If a PIN, pattern, or password is set, you will be prompted to enter it before the screen is unpinned, ensuring an additional layer of security.
Why Screen Pinning Falls Short for Business Use
While screen pinning on Android devices is a convenient feature for individual users, it presents several challenges when applied in a business or organizational context. Below are the limitations or disadvantages of using Android screen pinning:
- Lack of Centralized Control
Screen Pinning requires manual activation on each device, which becomes impractical when managing multiple devices across an organization. There’s no centralized management or ability to enforce pinning settings remotely, making it difficult for IT admins to maintain consistency.
- Security Vulnerabilities
Although Screen Pinning restricts access to a single app, it is not foolproof. Users can potentially bypass the pinning with a few steps, especially if a PIN or password is not set, leading to unauthorized access to other apps and sensitive data.
- Limited Customization and Flexibility
Screen Pinning does not offer the customization needed for varied business use cases. For example, it cannot lock devices into multiple apps or allow for the customization of the device interface, which is essential for creating a seamless user experience in environments like retail or customer service.
- Scalability Challenges
As organizations grow and their device fleets expand, the manual nature of Screen Pinning becomes a significant bottleneck. Scaling up requires a solution that can handle mass deployment and management, which Screen Pinning alone cannot provide.
- No Remote Management
In a business setting, remote device management of devices is crucial for troubleshooting, updates, and maintaining security. Screen Pinning lacks the capability for remote control or monitoring, making it less suitable for organizations that need to manage devices across various locations.
Why Choose Scalefusion MDM Over Android Screen Pinning?
Scalefusion MDM offers a more robust solution with its Kiosk Mode, along with several other features that make it the superior choice for businesses.
- Scalefusion Kiosk Mode
Scalefusion MDM’s Kiosk Mode is a powerful alternative to Android screen pinning, providing better functionality and control over devices. Unlike basic screen pinning, kiosk mode allows businesses to lock down devices to a single app or a set of apps, preventing unauthorized access to other features or settings. This ensures that devices are used solely for their intended purpose, whether it’s for customer engagement, employee tasks, or digital signage.
- Custom Branding
Scalefusion offers branding customization features, allowing businesses to align their device displays with their corporate identity. In addition to screen pinning, enterprises can configure elements such as home screen and lock screen wallpapers, logos, fonts and font sizes, color schemes, and even user interface settings, including notifications. This ensures a seamless and cohesive visual experience across all devices, reflecting the company’s branding.
- Bulk Provisioning and Automation
Managing a large number of devices manually can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Scalefusion MDM simplifies this process with its bulk provisioning and automation capabilities. You can provision multiple devices at once, apply consistent configurations, and automate routine tasks, significantly reducing manual effort and ensuring that all devices are set up correctly and efficiently.
- Remote Management
Scalefusion MDM offers comprehensive remote management capabilities, allowing IT admins to troubleshoot and manage devices without needing physical access. Whether it’s pushing updates, changing settings, or locking down a device in case of loss or theft, Scalefusion’s remote management tools provide the flexibility and control that businesses need to maintain their device fleet securely and efficiently.
- Security Enhancements
Security is a critical concern for businesses, and Scalefusion MDM offers a suite of advanced security features that go beyond what screen pinning can provide. Features such as Lost Mode, remote wipe, and custom settings apps ensure that devices remain secure, even in the event of loss or unauthorized access. These additional layers of security help protect sensitive business data and maintain compliance with industry regulations.
- Cross-Platform Support
Scalefusion MDM provides cross-platform support. While Android screen pinning is limited to Android devices, Scalefusion MDM allows you to manage Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, and Linux devices all from a single dashboard. This unified solution is particularly beneficial for businesses that operate with a diverse range of devices, ensuring consistency and control across the board.
Upgrade from Screen Pinning to Scalable Kiosk Mode with Scalefusion
Scalefusion Android device management not only addresses the limitations of Android screen pinning but also offers a comprehensive, scalable solution for managing devices in a business environment.
If you’re looking for a more secure solution than Android Screen Pinning, explore Scalefusion MDM. With advanced features like Kiosk Mode, cross-platform support, and enhanced security, Scalefusion MDM is designed to meet the needs of modern businesses.
Contact our experts for more information and start your 14-day free trial today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How does Android Screen Pinning work?
Android Screen Pinning allows you to lock your device screen to a single app. Once enabled, users can’t exit the pinned app or switch to another unless they unpin it using a specific button combination. This feature is useful for temporarily preventing accidental taps or unauthorized access when sharing the device. It’s built into Android and doesn’t require additional apps or configuration.
2. How is an MDM solution better than Android Screen Pinning?
While Screen Pinning is a basic, one-app solution for occasional use, an MDM solution offers full-scale lockdown capabilities tailored for enterprise needs. IT admins can:
- Lock devices into single-app or multi-app kiosk mode
- Remotely manage, configure, and monitor all enrolled devices
- Prevent unauthorized access with policy enforcement and remote lock/wipe options
- Set up custom branding, peripheral control, and scheduled app updates
In short, a mobile device management solution turns Android devices into purpose-built tools, while Screen Pinning is more of a temporary workaround.
3. Can I lock my Android device to more than one app with Screen Pinning?
No. Native Screen Pinning only supports one app at a time. Suppose your use case requires switching between multiple business apps while still restricting general device access. In that case, you’ll need a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution that allows multi-app kiosk mode and advanced control.
4. Is screen pinning secure for business use?
Screen Pinning is minimally secure and best suited for casual or short-term scenarios, like letting a customer fill a form or a child play a game. It doesn’t prevent access to device settings, notifications, or incoming calls unless configured carefully. For enterprise-grade security and compliance, businesses should rely on a dedicated MDM solution that can lock down the device, enforce policies, and prevent data leaks.
