iPad Kiosk Mode and Guided Access: A quick breakdown

Whether you run a full-swing hospital wing or a small boutique, you need control over your iPads. Without kiosk mode, users might exit the app by mistake, causing delays. Kiosk mode locks the iPad to one app, helping staff and patients stay focused. This keeps things running smoothly, whether processing payments or handling requests. Kiosk mode has helped businesses reduce errors by 25% during peak hours by limiting app usage.

What is iPad Kiosk Mode?

iPad kiosk mode locks the device to a single app for its intended use. It’s ideal for point-of-sale systems, digital signage, and interactive kiosks. This feature minimizes distractions and boosts business efficiency. It gives businesses more control over the user experience. It also reduces distractions and minimizes the chances of errors or misuse.

There are two ways to set up an iPad kiosk:

• iOS Guided Access: This feature is available on all iPads and iPhones. It restricts the device to a single app until the passcode is entered.
• iOS Kiosk Mode (Single App Mode): This option is available for iPads managed by businesses or educational organizations. It uses tools like Apple Configurator, Apple Business Manager, or Apple School Manager to lock the device to one app.

How iPad guided access functions as a kiosk mode

iPadOS Guided Access is an easy-to-use feature that lets you lock your iPad to a single app. It provides better control over the device, boosting efficiency. While it doesn’t offer all the features of a full kiosk solution, it’s perfect for certain scenarios such as:

• Small Business (SMB): Prevent employees from accessing other apps during transactions.
• Education: Minimize distractions and ensure student stay focused on their tasks
• Retail: Limit customer-facing iPads to a product catalog or digital signage.
• Healthcare: Lock iPads to patient check-in apps, minimizing distractions for healthcare.
• Events/Conferences: Lock iPads to an event schedule or ticket scanning app.

Setting up kiosk mode on iPad using guided access

• Tap the home button three times, enter the passcode, or use FaceID/TouchID.
• Navigate to the settings>Accessibility>Guided Access.
• Toggle Guided Access and set a passcode to enable/disable.
• Open the app to lock into iOS kiosk mode.
• Tap the home button thrice and select Guided Access.
• Select areas and disable functionalities, then click Start to activate.

Once activated, only a passcode can disable it, keeping your device secure. Simple, effective, and easy to set up.

Benefits of guided access

Guided Access is great for small businesses with a few iPads. Here’s why:

• Top-notch Security: Requires a passcode or TouchID to exit, keeping devices secure.
• Complete Control: Disable power, volume, keyboard, and touch functions for full focus.
• Effortless Setup: Easy to set up and simple to use.

For smaller businesses, Guided Access provides an easy, secure way to keep things running smoothly. But, it has its limits.

Challenges of guided access

• Scaling struggles: Works for a few iPads, but not for many.
• Hands-on management: You must manage the device in person—no remote control.
• Basic customization: Customization options are limited.

Beyond iPad guided access: The one pane, one agent solution

Guided Access is great for simple setups but falls short for more complex kiosk needs.

If you’ve reached the limits of iOS Guided Access or found it lacking, there’s a better solution—iPad Kiosk Mode. It builds on Guided Access and adds features for more control.

Kiosk software lets you lock iPads to single or multiple apps. It can block access to buttons, and filter web pages. You can manage everything remotely across multiple devices with one pane, one agent—no need for manual configurations.

With kiosk software, you can lock your iPad to the right app or page. Plus, you can control everything from orientation to access restrictions. Using a top-tier UEM solution like Scalefusion, managing iPad kiosks has never been easier.

How to setup kiosk mode on iPads using Scalefusion UEM?

With the holistic dashboard of the Scalefusion iPad Kiosk software, you can set up iPad Kiosk Mode by following the step-by-step method below:

Prerequisites to configure iPad kiosk mode:

1. A personal or corporate-based Apple ID.
2. A supervised iOS device.
3. Scalefusion sign-up and access to the admin dashboard.

Step #1

Login to the Scalefusion browser using your email, G-Suite, or Office 365. Click on Enroll Devices on the dashboard. Select iPad & iPhone. Follow the on-screen steps to configure the device in iOS Kiosk mode.

Step #2

Go to the dashboard’s Device Profiles & Policies tab. Click on “Device Profiles.” Edit an existing profile or create a new iOS profile.

Step #3

Select the app you want to run in single-app mode. Toggle the chosen app and click Next. If you prefer a web page shortcut, follow the same steps and click Next.

Click Next again to skip app arrangement, as only one app will be used.

Step #4

Go to the Restrictions tab and select Single App Mode. Click “Create a profile” in the top-right. The profile will be saved. You can then push it to the iOS devices from Step 2.

Step #5

Select the device profile created with single app mode, push it into iOS devices, and publish it. This will enable iPad Kiosk Mode.

Benefits of iPad kiosk mode using Scalefusion

For simple tasks like parental control, iOS Guided Access works well. But for secure, remote, and scalable iPad management in businesses, Scalefusion’s iPad kiosk mode is the better choice. It offers full control, strong security, and easy management across multiple devices.

• Remote management: Scalefusion allows you to remotely manage iPads from a central dashboard. No need for physical access, making it perfect for large-scale deployments.
• Advanced control: With Scalefusion, you can lock iPads into single or multiple apps. You can restrict access to web pages, and disable hardware buttons like power and volume. This ensures devices are always used for their intended purpose.
• Enhanced security: Scalefusion’s iPad kiosk mode uses supervised devices, which makes it more secure than manual solutions. It also prevents end-users from bypassing restrictions easily.
• Seamless deployment: With Scalefusion, you can configure and deploy kiosk profiles over the air. Whether you’re pushing updates or making changes, it’s all done remotely, saving time and effort.
• Customizable experience: Scalefusion lets you customize the user experience by locking apps or screens to specific orientations, ensuring a consistent and focused environment for your users.
• Scalable solution: Whether you have a handful of devices or hundreds, Scalefusion can easily scale to fit your needs, allowing for easy management across large fleets of iPads.

Scalefusion’s iPad kiosk mode offers businesses a secure, flexible, and efficient way to manage and lock down iPads, improving both operational control and user experience.

Closing Thoughts

Managing iPads is crucial for smooth operations. iOS Guided Access locks devices to a single app. But, it’s limited when managing multiple devices or scaling your setup. Scalefusion’s iPad Kiosk Mode offers secure, remote management with advanced features that Guided Access can’t match.

Lock iPads to keep students focused or staff on task. In retail, restrict customers to product catalogs, checkouts, or secure POS systems. Scalefusion UEM streamlines device management. It not only saves you time but ensures seamless operations across all your devices.

Want hassle-free, secure iPad management? Try Scalefusion today!

FAQs

1. What is iPad kiosk mode, and how do I enable it?

iPad kiosk mode locks the device to a single app. It prevents users from accessing other apps or settings. To enable it, go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access and turn it on. You can set a passcode. Then start the app you want to lock the device to and triple-click the Home button to activate Guided Access.

2. How to set up iPad kiosk mode for multiple apps using Scalefusion UEM?

To set up iPad Kiosk Mode for multiple apps with Scalefusion UEM, create a policy in the dashboard, select Multi-App Mode, and add the apps to be allowed. Configure restrictions like disabling buttons, network settings, or user interactions as needed. Deploy the profile to enrolled devices, ensuring controlled access to specific apps. This setup enhances security while maintaining productivity across business and educational use cases.

3. Can I disable certain features in guided access mode?

Yes, you can disable some features through guided access. Disable features like touch, motion, or specific areas of the screen, by triple-clicking the home button while in guided access mode. Next, enter your passcode, and select “Options” in the bottom left corner. From there, you can toggle off any features you want to disable.

4. What is iPad Single App Mode?

Single App Mode is a feature on supervised iPads that locks the device to a single app. It’s used by organizations to control how iPads are used, like in schools or businesses. It’s different from Guided Access, which is available on any iPad and offers more customization as compared to Guided Access, it is recommended to enable single app mode on iPad in business environment.

5. How to turn off guided access on iPad?

To turn off Guided Access, triple-click the Home button (or Side button on newer models), enter the passcode, and tap “End” at the top-left corner of the screen.