In this guide, let us look at what kind of problems you can face while using Kiosk Mode on Windows 11/10 and how you can fix them.
What Is Kiosk Mode on Windows?
Kiosk mode is a feature that allows users to run a specific set of applications on a Windows computer. Using this mode, you can lock down a Windows device such that the user can only interact with given apps and nothing else. Kiosk mode offers two types of limitations: single-app and multi-app. In single-app mode, the user can interact with only one app. They can’t change tabs or switch to different applications, whereas in the multi-app, the user can see and interact with more than one app on the computer. The computers used in retail stores and museums use the single-app kiosk. Multi-app mode is seen in laptops provided for work by companies where they restrict certain apps to run to improve the user’s focus. Now let us look at what issues you can face while enabling single and multi-app kiosk mode and how you can fix it.
Fix Single-App Kiosk Mode Issues in Windows 11
The issues faced by users in the single-app kiosk mode are mostly with sign-in. Here’s how you can solve it:
- Check that UAC or User Account Control is enabled on the PC.
- If UAC is turned on, start from step 5. Otherwise, follow these steps to enable UAC on your computer.
- Open the search bar from the Start menu, search for UAC, and click on Change User Account Control settings from the search results.
- In the settings, drag the slider upwards to enable UAC and then click on the OK button. It may ask you to enter the administration password, do that and then reboot your computer. Enabling UAC will resolve the issue in most cases, but if the problem persists, read the Event viewer log to find the exact issues. You can also paste this address in the file manager’s address bar to directly open the log. (Logs\Microsoft\Windows\Authentication User Interface\Operational)
Fix Multi-App Kiosk Mode Issues in Windows 11
The common issues faced by users in this mode are more when compared to the single-app kiosk. However, the fixes are only for Windows 10 because Multi-App Kiosk is currently not officially supported on Windows 11.
When Start Is Behaving Weirdly
If the Start menu is not launching in the full-screen mode, or the layout has apps that you didn’t select, then follow these steps:
- Check that the Start layout has been authored properly. Make sure the Size, Row, and Column are clarified for each application and that they are all valid.
- Check if the assigned access user has access to the app included in the Start layout and if those apps are installed as well on the computer.
- If a desktop app is missing from Start, see if the shortcut is present on the target device.
When Apps Present in Allowed List Are Blocked
If an app that you chose to be on the system in multi-app mode is showing blocked, then follow these steps:
Make sure the apps are acceptable for the profile the account is mapped to, and that the profile is specific to the apps. For Applocker and AppxDeployment, check the EventViewer logs from Application and Services Logs\Microsoft\Windows.
Final Words
It is easy to set up kiosk mode on Windows, but missed steps like not assigning access to the user may prevent you from doing so. If this happens to you, use the fixes mentioned above to resolve it. Also, remember that Microsoft recommends users enable logging for kiosk issues which will help you in detecting the problem as well as solving the issue quickly.
