How to set up kiosk mode on Samsung Tablets

Today, the Samsung tablet in kiosk mode is a major necessity for businesses across industries, as we see it almost everywhere, from hotel lobbies for check-ins, at airports for ticketing to restaurants for placing orders. 

These Samsung tablets function within a certain boundary that is set for them. This is done by operating the tablets in kiosk mode. Through kiosk mode, you can define the apps and services that will be available on the tab and block pretty much everything else. 

By utilizing a kiosk mode on Samsung tablet setup, organizations can boost their functions across different workflows. It reduces any distractions for employees and prevents users from misusing them for malicious intents.

Let’s dive into the workings of kiosk mode for Samsung tablets and how you can set it up with ease. 

What is kiosk mode on a Samsung tablet?

By setting up your Samsung tablet in a kiosk mode profile, you can limit the tablet to a single app or to a defined set of multiple apps. It ensures that only certain allowed apps run on the tablet and prevents any tampering with device settings, opening random websites, or accessing personal files on the device. 

To put it simply, kiosk mode turns your Samsung tablets into tools that are precise in their functions and eliminate configuration drift.

Enabling kiosk mode on Samsung tablets provides various benefits, such as:

• Removing unnecessary distractions from the task
• Prevent the tablet from being misused 
• Maintain consistency across all managed tablets

Samsung Android kiosk mode is fit for various use cases:

• As self-service kiosks in restaurants or airports
• For digital signage across the floor in retail stores and malls
• As point of sale (POS) systems across several industries
• In schools and other educational institutions

Samsung tablets in kiosk mode improve security and user experience. By confining users to a defined set of apps, it creates a simplified interface that’s easy for them to navigate. Businesses tailor the tablet’s UI, disable certain features, block access to corporate information, and create custom branding visuals to best fit their use case.

Types of Kiosk Mode for Samsung Tablets

1. Single-app kiosk mode

It limits the device usage to a single app interface for a user-specific purpose. The app is automatically launched when the tablet is powered on, and blocks exit from the interface.

It is ideally used for dedicated tasks such as ticketing, placing orders, and displaying information.

2. Multi-app kiosk mode

It allows access to a predefined group of apps while blocking the rest of the device features. This makes it more optimal for use cases where a suite of apps is needed to carry out daily operations on company-owned devices.

It is best suited where employees need different apps but shouldn’t be distracted, such as delivery drivers and call centers.

3. Display only mode

It turns the device into a digital display that will only display a single picture or a set of pictures and videos as long as it is powered on. 

It can be used for advertisements on the retail floors and event booths.

4. Browser mode

It enables web browser on tablets with limited access to specific websites. The user cannot surf the internet freely, but can perform web research only on relevant websites. It can be further configured to disable downloads and require secure credentials. 

Requirements for kiosk mode on Samsung tablet setup

Before you delve further, it is important to make sure that your Samsung tablet has all the prerequisites for setting up a kiosk mode. 

• Ensure your tablet belongs to the Samsung Galaxy series, as they work best for kiosk configurations.
• Check if the device is running on the latest Android OS version, since older versions will have limited features and a higher security risk.
• Leverage an MDM solution for advanced controls and make the setup process much easier.

Different ways of implementing kiosk mode on Samsung tablets

I. Screen Pinning

Samsung tablets come with a built-in feature called Screen Pinning that allows you to lock the device to a single app and block all other features. 

To turn on Screen Pinning:

1. Open the “Settings” menu on your Samsung Android tablet.
2. Go to “Security and Privacy”.
3. Click on “Other security settings”.
4. Find the “Pin windows” option and turn it on to enable the feature.
5. Select the app you want to pin to the screen.
6. Use the recent button or swipe up from the bottom to bring up the recent apps
7. Tap the app’s icon and pick ‘Pin this app’.

II. Samsung Knox

1. Sign in to the Samsung Knox dashboard and launch either Knox Configure or Knox Manage.
2. Navigate to Profiles and create a new profile for your device.
3. In Knox Configure, choose Pro Kiosk mode for a single-app, strict, or Normal for a multi-app, customizable interface.
4. In Knox Manage, navigate to Management > Configuration profiles, add a profile, and select Kiosk mode (Knox).
5. Select the specific apps to appear in the Kiosk.
6. Customize device restrictions, such as disabling the home button, modifying notifications, or restricting device settings.
7. Optionally, you can arrange the home screen, add widgets, or set a wallpaper.
8. Assign the profile to your target devices and push the configuration to activate

III. Scalefusion Android kiosk mode

Before you begin, make sure your Samsung tablet is enrolled with Scalefusion

1. On your Scalefusion dashboard, navigate to Device Profiles & Policies > Device Profile.
2. Select the Android device profile on which you need to set the application in Single App Mode.
3. Click on Edit Device Profile.

4. In the Device Profile Settings window, go to Kiosk/Launcher Settings > Single App Mode
5. In the ‘Set a Default Application to run always’ drop-down, choose an application from the list of enabled applications that will be set to run as the default app.

6. Once you select the app, you can select the following settings:

• Run All the Time: Select this checkbox to set the app to run all the time. By default, the app is set to run all the time.

• Enter delay to launch the app (in seconds): If you do not want the app to run all the time, you can even set a delay time (in seconds), after which the app will launch. To set a delay time, uncheck the ‘Run All the time’ checkbox and enter the delay value (in seconds).

• Configure gesture to exit Single App Mode: With this, you can configure the gesture with which you can exit the Single App Mode. 
• Retain application state when an app is relaunched: Select this option to retain the application state when it is relaunched due to an invariant user action that causes a blocked app to be opened. For example, the action could be pressing the app switch key. This ultimately depends on app behavior.
• Show Update in Progress screen: Enabling this option will show the update’s progress screen whenever the default app is being updated. It can be enabled only when you make the default app Run All the Time.

7. After completing these steps, click Next and then Update Profile.
8. Your device will now run in Single App Mode.

Best Practices to run kiosk mode on Samsung tablets

For your kiosk mode on Samsung tablet to run smoothly, make sure you follow these steps:

• Use a strong admin PIN to prevent unauthorized exits.
• Set up automatic updates during off-hours to avoid downtime.
• Use the remote access feature of your MDM solution to track performance and troubleshoot issues remotely.
• Restrict connectivity options such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth if not needed.
• Conduct regular training sessions with staff for restarting or troubleshooting kiosk devices to reduce IT dependence.

Wrapping up

With Samsung kiosk mode, organizations can customize their Samsung tablets to carry out specific functions with greater precision and efficiency. It greatly reduces any hurdles in the workflow and also strengthens the security posture of the devices by eliminating their misuse. 

Choosing the right MDM software also plays a vital role in managing these kiosk devices. Scalefusion MDM is a comprehensive solution that provides you with the best features across all industry use cases for kiosk devices. It allows you to run your Samsung tablet the way you want to with unmatched consistency and efficiency.