Over the years, Microsoft has been constantly developing its suite of administrative tools and features. This includes the ability to manage Windows devices in kiosk mode and empowers several businesses to assign access to Windows-based business devices among their workforces or for mission-centric purposes on public sites. The kiosk mode feature facilitates businesses to easily manage, maintain, and customize Windows devices deployed across geographies.
The kiosk mode in Windows, for instance, could be considered one of the tools that limit the potential of improper usage by user accounts of business-critical devices. Windows kiosk mode can be utilized for numerous industrial processes, enhancing customer and employee experience, improving data security, and increasing employee productivity at large.
Windows devices are used by many organizations around the globe. Some prominent industries include computer software, information technology, healthcare, education, government, and finance. SMBs and large organizations alike are increasingly embracing Windows devices for various reasons, including versatility, enhanced data security, Cortana assistance, identity management, scalability, and flexibility.
What is Windows Kiosk Mode?
Windows kiosk mode is a lockdown feature for Windows devices, including the latest Windows 10 pro and Windows 11, which restricts end users to access only a single app running on full screen or multi-app mode. IT teams have the option of running apps that are consistent with UWP (Universal Windows Platform), which is applicable for Windows 10/11.
In other words, it allows companies to ensure greater oversight and control over Windows devices in either of the cases. As a result, kiosks confine access to a single function and minimize behavior that may interfere with the normal functioning of publicly accessible single-purpose devices as deployed by the organizations.
These configurations usually appear or are set up at the point-of-sale systems at retail stores, interactive directories in outdoor lobby areas, public computers, self-service kiosks at restaurants, self-check-in stations at airports, or advertising signage.
All these options prevent end user accounts from leaving the designated kiosk app or app(s) and obtaining internal information about the company devices.
Functions of Kiosk Mode for Windows 7 & 8/8.1 and Windows 10 & 11
As soon as IT admins enable kiosk mode on Windows devices, the following things can be implemented by an organization based on its business specifications and requirements:
1. Windows Devices Can Act as Digital Signage:
Based on business requirements, IT admins can lock down universal Windows devices remotely into a single app kiosk mode with a particular content/message on loop (multimedia content) and deploy it on public-facing sites.
2. Windows Kiosk Browser Lockdown:
It is possible to lock down Windows devices into single-app or multi-app modes with advanced restrictions to browsing or access to browsers. IT admins can configure browsers so that users can access them only for mission-centric purposes. However, as per the latest tech update, Google Chrome doesn’t support Windows 7 & 8/8.1 anymore. For such OS versions, kiosk mode browser lockdown can still be applied on Microsoft Edge. If your IT team prefers the Chrome browser, you need to move to Windows 10 and Windows 11.
3. Manage and Secure Windows Devices:
IT admins can configure and lock down their Windows devices into kiosk mode; this empowers IT admins with the ability to remotely monitor, manage, and secure the deployed devices with predetermined security configurations and policies; thus ensuring enhanced productivity of employees and security of the endpoints.
4. Windows Kiosk Mode Restrictions on Data and Device Usage:
When Windows devices are locked into kiosk mode, end users are automatically restricted from carrying out/performing any personal tasks via their standard user accounts on Windows devices apart from mission-centric purposes defined by the organizations. Moreover, this feature also diminishes any sort of data tampering, device settings misconfigurations, peripheral buttons, and feature misuse.
Types of Windows Kiosk Modes
Now that we are aware of the fact that Windows devices can be locked down into kiosk mode. Corporate-owned devices or Bring-your-own-devices (BYOD), the following modes are available for both:
Here is the table of comparison below:
| Single app mode | Multi app mode |
| It is possible for only one app (in full screen) to run on the device at a time. | It is possible to run multiple apps on a single device. |
| A good option for public use where there is an auto-sign-in capability and a need for high security. | It is ideal for corporate scenarios wherein organizations can deploy corporate-liable devices to their employees and push predetermined policies, configurations & apps to increase their productivity and empower them to not get distracted by other content or applications. |
| In general public places, such as in stores, museums, libraries, and guest registration desks, you will often find kiosks such as ones that provide weather updates, devices that show promotional content, and others that run demo routines are some typical examples. | In corporate scenarios, such as industries across diversified verticals deploying devices to on-field workers, remote workforces, workers on the go, etc., are some typical examples. |
Enrollment Methods to Assign Access to Windows Kiosks
Method #1: Account-Based
A kiosk account can be created in various ways – some methods are limited to configuration for local users (in general). In contrast, others can be used for domain accounts (professional) and Azure Active Directory.
Method #2: Use Case-Based
Kiosk configuration type – Two types of kiosk configurations exist – single app and multi-app.
Method #3: Device-Based
The version of Windows – kiosk mode is compatible with Windows 7, 8.1, & Windows 10 & 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
Learn More: How to Drive Bulk Device Enrollment?Provision Windows Devices Using Scalefusion
Businesses can set up and manage Windows kiosks with solutions like Scalefusion for business-centric purposes, with the ability to completely lock devices. Only IT personnel with Super Admin controls have the authority to restart kiosks. Scalefusion kiosk enhances security features of Windows kiosk mode. Scalefusion aims to simplify the deployment of Windows devices in kiosk mode for businesses.
Scalefusion Offers the Following Major Benefits:
- Streamlined business processes
- Enhanced efficiency by reducing capital costs and IT workloads
- Maximized employee productivity through dedicated kiosk mode usage
- Monitoring kiosk health remotely to ensure they are working properly
- Windows Autopilot enrollment process for bulk enrollment of Windows devices
- Improved device and data security
How to Set Up Kiosk Mode in Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Scalefusion offers an intuitive, unified dashboard to control all device management functions, including enabling and disabling kiosk mode for Windows. Once a particular device is enrolled, IT admins can go to the Scalefusion dashboard where they can easily set up kiosk mode on the required devices. They can also push, control, and alter the content to be displayed and be on top of which apps and browsers to run on kiosks. For in-depth information, click here.
Closing lines…
Although Windows 10 and Windows 11 are now the more popular versions, kiosk mode is applicable to older versions as well. Thus, it is safe to consider that Windows kiosks running on both old and latest versions offer a wide range of use cases for organizations. With Scalefusion kiosk, organizations can be confident that their mobility needs are met, and that their deployed Windows devices running on kiosk mode deliver the best results.
