How to disable hardware buttons on Android devices

In addition to locking down devices in kiosk mode, Hexnode UEM allows you to disable hardware buttons to prevent users from using hardware keys to break out of lock down mode.

Take a quick look at the following table to understand the hardware restrictions available in Android kiosk mode.

Disabling Home and Power Buttons

1. Login to your Hexnode portal.
2. Navigate to Policies.
3. Select an existing policy or create a new one by clicking on New Policy.
4. Navigate to Android > Restrictions > Basic and click on Configure.
5. Under Allow Device Functionality, you’ll have the options to disable Home/Power button.
   • Home button-Uncheck this option to restrict users from using the Home button.
   
   • Power Off-Uncheck this option to restrict users from turning their devices off.
   
   
6. Navigate to Kiosk Lockdown > Android Kiosk Lockdown.
7. Select either Single App/Multi-App Kiosk mode.
8. Navigate to Policy Targets and click on the +Add Devices button to add the devices you wish to associate the policy to. Click on Save.

Disabling volume indicator and Power buttons

1. Login to your Hexnode portal.
2. Navigate to Policies.
3. From Kiosk Lockdown > Android Kiosk Lockdown > select either Single App/Multi-app kiosk mode.
4. Go to Peripheral Settings > Hardware/software buttons.
   • Disable volume button – This option disables the user from changing the volume of the device. The admin can set the volume for the device from the console. However, if you still press the volume up/down key, the volume indicator will be displayed. But you cannot set anything on the volume indicator, thus showing the default volume set on the device before the policy was applied.
     
     Note:

     For devices running Android 7 and above, the ring volume cannot be muted. It can only be minimized down to level 1. In such cases, grant the Do not disturb access permission (varies with the device model) for the Hexnode app manually from the device settings.

     
     
   • Disable power button – Enabling this option will clear any PIN, unlock pattern or password saved on the device.
     
     Warning:

     Disabling power button is not natively supported on Android and the screen will turn off as soon as you press the button. However, Hexnode UEM automatically turns the screen back on momentarily to replicate the ‘Disabled’ behavior. The actual delay may vary from a fraction of a second to a few seconds depending on the device.

5. Navigate to Policy Targets and click on the +Add Devices button to add the devices you wish to associate the policy to. Click on Save.