[Solved] How to Set Up Kiosk Mode in Windows 11

#windowskiosk #kioskmode #kiosk #mdm

What Is Windows Kiosk Mode & Why Use It in 2025?

Windows kiosk mode is a Windows feature that locks a PC into a limited, task-specific experience. Instead of the normal desktop, users see only the chosen app(s), preventing any accidental or intentional system changes.

1.1 Single-app vs. multi-app kiosk

Single-app means the user sees only one program from the moment the computer starts. There is no desktop, no Start menu, no taskbar, and no way to open File Explorer or a browser. It is perfect for ticket-printing stations, library catalog PCs, or digital signs that loop a PowerPoint.
Multi-app gives the user a small, custom “allowed” list. You can enable, say, Edge, the camera, and a payment portal, but everything else stays hidden. Multi-app is handy when the front-desk staff need two or three tools, yet you still want to block Solitaire, Settings, or the command prompt.

1.2 Key benefits for IT admins & SMBs

Benefit 1: Stop malware by hiding Windows entirely

When the desktop never loads, users can’t open File Explorer, run unknown files, or plug in infected USB drives. Only the app you choose can run, so the attack surface stays tiny.

Benefit 2: Reuse old PCs and skip new hardware costs

Any Core i5 with 4 GB of RAM and Windows 10/11 Pro turns into a self-service terminal in minutes. No thin clients, no extra licenses, no new boxes to buy.

Benefit 3: Deploy one or one hundred kiosks in under an hour

Single PC: five clicks in Settings. Whole fleet: push one XML profile from Intune or PowerShell. Machines pick it up at next check-in and configure themselves.

Benefit 4: Pass compliance audits with a single line

The device runs only the locked-down app you allow, so PCI-DSS, HIPAA, or CIPA auditors see minimal risk and even less paperwork.

Benefit 5: Cut help-desk tickets by removing the things users break

No Start menu, no right-click, no Control Panel. If users can’t see it, they can’t break it, and your team stops fielding “I deleted the taskbar” calls.

Method 1 – Built-in Assigned Access (Free but only Single-App Kiosk Mode)

Step 1. Open the Start menu and go to Settings > Accounts > Other users

Step 2. Click ‘Add other uses’ to add account.

Step 3. After the account is created, scroll down and set up a kiosk

Step 4. Choose the account you just created, then select the UWP app you want to run in kiosk mode (e.g., Microsoft Edge).

Note: A UWP app is a modern Windows program you download from the Microsoft Store: it runs safely inside its own sandbox, works on PCs, tablets, and Xbox, and never needs an .exe installer.

Step 5. Log out of your current account.
Step 6. Log in with the kiosk account. Windows will automatically open the selected app in full-screen kiosk mode.

Method 2 – Set Up Kiosk Mode with MDM Solution

AirDroid Business is a strong MDM solution that lets you turn any Windows 10/11 PC into a kiosk from a browser. Install a lightweight desktop agent on each device, then use the web console to select the allowed apps or websites and push the policy. After a reboot the machine boots into either single-app kiosk or multi-app kiosk mode easily. Retail POS stations, factory work-cells, hotel business centers and school test labs all rely on it to give guests, operators or students a locked-down experience while IT manages everything remotely.

Step 1. Sign Up AirDroid Account
AirDroid Business provides 14-day free trial, you can sign up an AirDroid Business account via the free trial form.

Step 2. Go to the dashboard
Go to the AirDroid Business MDM dashboard, choose "Policy & kiosk" > "+Create Config File" > "Windows Policy".

Step 3. Set up Kiosk Mode
Open "Kiosk," choose single-app or multi-app mode, select the app(s) to lock down, and choose the user account for this setting. Then, apply the configuration file to your target Windows devices to complete the kiosk restriction.