How to set up kiosk launcher on Android devices

Kiosk Mode is a restrictive mechanism that allows the organizations to lock their devices down to a single or a few selected apps/websites/file shortcuts of their choice.

On associating a single app kiosk policy with an Android device, the app automatically launches as the device enters kiosk mode. However, a multi-app kiosk locked device will display a home screen with all the kiosk locked apps. With the Hexnode kiosk launcher settings, you can configure to launch a specified app as the device enters the kiosk mode or when the device stays idle on the home screen.

Configuring Hexnode kiosk launcher settings with the multi-app kiosk policy ensures that the device will not stay idle as the app will get opened after the specified time interval. Setting up kiosk launcher along with the single app mode facilitates a kiosk home screen with a single app. This enables users to return to the kiosk home page if they wish to do so. You can even customize the Hexnode kiosk launcher.

Auto Launch

The auto-launch feature allows the kiosk app to run in the foreground as the default kiosk app. The users can set a specific time interval for the app to re-launch automatically.

This app auto-launch for single-app mode lets the users return to the home page. This simplifies kiosk exit as users can successively tap on the home screen and enter the kiosk exit passcode to release themselves from the lockdown mode. This ensures that users can exit kiosk mode even if you have not set up kiosk exit while app is open. On multi-app mode, the app auto-launch guarantees that the app will be launched when the device is laying idle on the home screen for a certain time period.

Customizations

Customization refers to modifying the outlook of the launcher as per the requirement of the users or the scenario in demand. By setting up customization options, the users can modify the app icon size, title bar dimensions, title bar logo, and many more.

Steps to set up launcher settings

To allow a kiosk app to launch automatically on your Android device,

1. Log in to your Hexnode UEM console.
2. Navigate to Policies > New Policy. You can also choose to continue with an existing policy. If you are creating a new policy, provide a suitable policy name.
3. Set up a single app or multi app kiosk policy under Kiosk Lockdown > Android Kiosk Lockdown.
4. Next, choose Launcher under Android Kiosk Mode.
5. Under Auto-Launch,
   • Select app– Click on the + icon and choose an app or a PDF/video shortcut added in kiosk mode that you wish to open after a specified time interval.
   • App auto-launch delay– Set up a time interval (in seconds) for the kiosk app to re-launch.
6. Under Customizations,
   • Customize kiosk launcher– Enable this option to modify the layout of applications in the kiosk home screen. Enabling this option allows users to adjust the app layout on the device via drag and drop.
     
     Note:

     • This option is not supported on Android TV OS.

   • Icon size– Choose the desired icon size- small, medium, large, extra-large or custom. This would allow the users to modify the size of the kiosk app icon as per their requirement.
     
     Notes:

     • If the kiosk app icon size is changed at Multi App > Basic View – Customizations > Icon Size, the change will be reciprocated at Launcher > Customizations > Icon Size and vice versa.
     • Similarly, If the kiosk app icon size is changed at Multi App > Advanced View , the change will be reciprocated at Launcher > Customizations > Icon Size and vice versa.
       
       
   • Font size– Specify the font size for the app name displayed below the app icon. You can choose from the options, Small, Medium or Large.
   • Font color– Choose a font color for the app name displayed below the app icon.
   • Logo– Choose an image file from the host devices’ storage as the logo of the title bar. The file size should not exceed 1MB. You can reset the theme to default by clicking on the cross mark to the right of this field.
   • Title– Enter the title that has to be displayed on the title bar on the kiosk home screen.
   • Title bar height– Enter the title bar height in % of the screen height. That is, if you set this value as 10, the title bar will be covering 10% of the total kiosk home screen height. This can be any value between 1 and 50. This option is configurable only when the Title is specified.
   • Logo height– Enter a value for the logo height in % of the title bar height. This can be any value between 1 and 50. This feature can be configured only if a Logo is selected.
   • Logo width– Enter a value for the logo width in % of the total screen width. This can be any value between 1 and 50. This feature can be configured only if a Logo is selected.
   • Title font– Choose the title font style. The available options are Helvetica, Baskerville, Times New Roman, Bodoni, Garamond, Gill Sans, Rockwell, Georgia, Calibri, and Arial. This option is configurable only when the Title is specified.
   • Title height– Enter a value for the title height in % of the title bar height. This can be any value between 1 and 50. This option is configurable only when the Title is specified.
   • Title color– Select the title color from the dropdown menu. You can reset the color to default by clicking on the cross mark to the right of this field.
   • Title bar background color– Select the title bar background color from the dropdown menu. You can reset the color to default by clicking on the cross mark to the right of this field.
   • Logo-title alignment– Choose how the title and logo should be aligned on the title bar. The available options are Left, Center, and Right.
   • Peripheral Settings icon – Choose an image to be set as an icon for peripheral settings.
7. Next, associate the policy with the target device.

Associate the policy with target device

After setting up the policy, associate the same with the target device. Follow either of the two methods to associate the policy with the device:
 

Method 1: If the policy is not saved,

1. Navigate to Policy Targets > + Add Devices.
2. Choose the devices, device groups, users, user groups, or domains you wish to associate the policy with. Click OK.
3. Click Save.

Method 2: If the policy is saved,

1. Choose the policy from the list of saved policies in the Policies tab.
2. Tap on Manage and choose Associate Targets.
3. Choose the devices, device groups, users, user groups, or domains to associate the policy with.
4. Click Associate.

Troubleshooting Tips

• App not being listed under Android Kiosk Mode > Launcher.