How to create a single purpose device
This section will guide you through the process of kiosking a device using mobile device management.
What is kiosk mode?
- Kiosk mode allows businesses to ensure that their provided mobile devices are used for work purposes only and not individual use.
- Kiosk mode "locks down" mobile devices, enabling only work-related apps which are deemed required for business.
- Users can access only those apps which are enabled by an administrator.
- In Kiosk mode, mobile devices (like tablets) can also be turned into (POS) Point Of Sales, digital signage, or kiosks to showcase products or services.
For example:
- Tablets at restaurants for menus and placing orders.
- Delivery drivers with access to only required apps.
- Portable kiosks to display your products or services.
- Hotels and other hospitality sectors using kiosked devices to enhance their customer service with a digital experience.
- Educators looking to secure their devices and teach remotely or in the classroom.
Single app kiosk mode
Are you a hospitality administrator looking for a way to provide your customers with a convenient digital experience while securing your devices from theft and other online threats? Use single-app kiosk!
Single app kiosk mode refers to a method of kiosking where only a single application is allowed to be accessed on a device.
An example of when this method is used is when hospitality businesses want to re-purpose a device to allow customers to conveniently check in or out of their room.
To achieve this, follow these steps:
- Click here to create an account and start your free trial.
- After creating an account, you must go to the Devices tab and add a device.
- Go to the Content tab and the APK or app that you would like to Kiosk.
- Go to the Projects tab and create a new project.
- Open the new project and add your device to it by navigating to the Project Devices tab, clicking the vertical ellipsis (⋮) symbol, and selecting "Add Devices".
- Go to the Policies tab and edit the Kiosk Settings by clicking on the "Edit" icon.
- Select the package that you uploaded from the "Select Kiosk Package" dropdown.
- For Additional Kiosk Features, we recommend you use:
- "Enable Global Actions Dialog": allow users to power off or reset the device.
- "Enable System Info": allow users to see device indicators such as connectivity, battery, and sound and vibrate options.
- Choose a wallpaper for the home screen.
- Select a portrait orientation for your device.
- Set an Exit PIN in the 'Ensemble App Settings' tab. This PIN can be used to exit Ensemble and return to the home screen.
- Save the changes by clicking the "Save" icon in the top right corner.
- Deploy the changes by navigating to the project Deploy page and clicking "Deploy".
- In this example, we are kiosking the Google Chrome app:
The Splash Screen time-out controls what happens if a customer attempts to back out of the kiosked application. They will be brought to a screen with a loading progress spinner. This screen can be used to access the Ensemble menu in the upper-right hand corner (i.e. connect to Wi-Fi, exit kiosk mode, reload policies etc.).
Multi-app kiosk mode
Are you an education administrator looking for a way to secure school-owned devices while still allowing students to easily access required educational applications? Use multi-app kiosk!
Multi-app kiosk mode refers to a method of kiosking where multiple apps can be designated to be used on a device. The Ensemble launcher mimics the devices default home screen but allows the admin complete control of the look and feel. This has the added benefit of creating a consistent experience across multiple Android device models.
- Action Bar: enable the action bar at the top of the screen. The left displays customizable title and the right access to the Ensemble settings menu. The Ensemble menu can be added as a shortcut directly on the home page if this bar is hidden.
- Action bar title: customize the title that appears on the action bar.
- Allow access to app information: if the user long-presses a shortcut on the home screen, this allows them to access that app’s information in settings: (grant / view permissions, clear cache etc.). We recommend this when utilizing the app drawer so users can manage the permissions of any downloaded apps.
- Bookmark browser: this chooses what browser will be used when the user opens a bookmark.
- Default font color: this sets the default color of the font that new shortcuts will use.
- Background color: this sets the color of the background. This is useful to blend with the background color of wallpaper images that are not transparent.
- Wallpaper: this sets the background image.
- Grid Configuration: choose the number of columns and rows to display in the grid.
- Orientation: lock the device in portrait and/or landscape
- Wallpaper Scale Type: scale the size of the wallpaper image.
Date Widget
A date widget can be included in the grid of the kiosk home screen. This can be customized to span the entire or part of the row.
Favorites Bar
The favorites bar is found at the bottom of the kiosk screen. Any shortcuts found here are visible on all pages of the kiosk.
App Drawer
The app drawer can be included in the favorites bar. This provides access to all apps that are installed on the device.
Folders
Folders can hold shortcuts just like the home screen of kiosk mode. The background color can also be customized.
Legacy Mode
Legacy mode is what kiosk mode looked like from Ensemble version 169 and below.
An example of this method being used is when an educational institution wants to lock down a device for specific academic purposes throughout a classroom.
This feature deters device theft, ensures students' online safety, and makes it easy to teach students remotely or in the classroom.
To achieve this, follow these steps:
- Click here to create an account and start your free trial.
- After creating an account, you must go to the Devices tab and add a device.
- Go to the Content tab and upload the APK or app that you would like students to have access to.
- Go to the Projects tab and create a new project.
- Open the new project and add your device to it by navigating to the Project Devices tab, clicking the vertical ellipsis (⋮) symbol, and selecting "Add Devices".
- Go to the Policies tab and edit the Kiosk Settings by clicking on the "Edit" icon.
- Select the Ensemble application from the "Select Kiosk Package" dropdown. This will ensure that students cannot use any apps that are not allowed to be accessed.
- Set a Kiosk PIN. This PIN can be used to unlock Kiosk mode and allow access to other apps.
- For Additional Kiosk Features, we recommend you use "Enable Global Actions Dialog" and "Enable System Info". These settings allow users to power off or reset the device.
- It will also allow users to see device indicators such as connectivity, battery, and sound and vibrate options.
- If you would like to set bookmarked pages on the kiosk home screen, you need to set a "Bookmark Browser". We recommend setting this to com.android.chrome (or Chrome).
- This is the browser that will be used when a student opens up the bookmarked page on the kiosk home screen.
- The "Homescreen Preview" is where you can set the apps or bookmarks that students will have access to. Simply click on one of the home screen boxes and choose an app to add.
14. Check the boxes for "Show Date" and "Show Actions Bar". This will allow the student to see today's date displayed on the home screen and also access the actions bar which provides a shortcut to options such as Wi-Fi and Policy updates.
15. Choose a wallpaper for the home screen.
16. Select a portrait orientation for your device.
17. Save the changes by clicking the "Save" icon in the top right corner.
18. Deploy the changes by navigating to the project Deploy page and clicking "Deploy".
19. Congratulations, you have successfully set up a multi-app kiosk device!
Here is an example of what the home screen will look like with two applications allowed for a multi-kiosk device:
