Your Guide to iPad Kiosk Mode

So, You Want to Lock Down Your iPad?

Perhaps you’ve seen one: an iPad at a self check out counter, often locked to a payment screen. Or back in a hotel lobby like, gotta show directions without any way to get out of the app. No distractions, no accidental swipes, and no random apps randomly popping up, it just works. How does that stay that way?

If you've ever tried turning an old iPad into something useful—like setting it up for your kids, as a digital menu, or maybe as a check-in device at work—you’ve probably faced the same struggle: As a monk I will be keeping it locked on just one thing. One tap too far in the wrong place and boom—you’re looking at the home screen reeling in your head trying to make sense of a sea of apps, settings.

This is where ipad kiosk mode comes into play. But it’s a simple yet power tool to keep your iPad tuned to a single job, whether that’s a graphics-heavy catalog interface, getting customer feedback, or making sure your toddler doesn’t install a new email account.

Setting it up at first glance, seems simple enough, but once you get started pressing a few buttons simply isn’t enough to setup. If you don’t have the setup right, your iPad can turn out to be more of a pain in the ass than a help, the user could accidentally leave the app, go play with the settings, or even switch the iPad off.

We’ll walk through everything you need to know to get setup the right way for iPad kiosk mode in this guide. It doesn't matter if you're setting up a self service kiosk for your business, a kiosk of the event, or a distraction free device in your home; you will find the practical steps and helpful tricks to make this all work perfectly.

What is iPad Kiosk Mode (And Why Should You Care)?

Essentially, iPad kiosk mode just boils down to control — locking your device down to only run a single app and allowing you to control exactly what it does without interruption. It’s possible to use the kiosk mode to display a restaurant menu, run a visitor sign-in form, or showcase product information in a store, so users can’t leave (or try to get off of) the app, can’t surf to social media or get to settings they shouldn’t be poking around in.

Why is this such a big deal, though? Well, think about it. An iPad used in public can quickly become a free zone without kiosk mode. The app can disappear, customers can accidentally close the app and start exploring, kids can dive into YouTube, and in next to no time, your carefully designed setup is out of the window. But kiosk mode does this by making the iPad single-purpose oriented, focusing it to a single exacting function for a smooth, habitless experience.

And now, Apple has two ways to set kiosk mode, based on what you need.

Guided Access: It’s perfect for quick, temporary setups. This one is built right into iOS and can be enabled in seconds to only allow the phone or tablet screen to unlock to a single app -- it's the 'lite' version, as easy to use as the 'lite' version is simple to use, but with some limitations.

Single App Mode: A more robust option if you are a business or want to do a long setup. This locks your iPad to a single app and forever, and then times the pain strikes with additional steps that include: Apple Configurator or a mobile device management (MDM) solution.

No matter what you require (or prefer to do) with your iPad kiosk, both options have their place, though which one you choose will depend on how and where you intend to use the iPad kiosk.

In the next up, we will explore how to get you instilled and smoothly running.

Setting Up iPad Kiosk Mode: Step-by-Step Guide

That means you want to turn your iPad into a zoned in, dedicated device. Whether you need a quick fix for an event or a long-term setup for your business, Apple offers two reliable methods to get the job done: Single App Mode and Guided Access. Your needs vs the level of control you need determines the right choice for how much control you want. Let’s break them down step by step.

Method 1: Guided Access (Quick and Easy Setup)

Guided Access is your best bet if you’re looking for a fast way to lock your iPad to one app, without diving into complex configurations. It works great in a short term setup and that is built into iOS, so you don’t need any extra software.

How to enable Guided Access:

Turn it on:

• Open the Settings app on your iPad.
• Go to Accessibility > Guided Access.
• Toggle it on and tap Passcode Settings to set up a PIN for exiting the mode.

Lock your iPad to an app:

• Open the app you want to lock the iPad into.
• Triple-press the Home or Side button (depending on your iPad model).
• Tap Start in the top-right corner.

Fine-tune restrictions:

• You can disable touch on specific areas of the screen.
• Decide whether to allow volume buttons or motion gestures.

Exiting Guided Access:

Triple-press the button again, enter your passcode, and tap End.

When to use Guided Access:

Ideal for one off events, trade shows, home use.

Perfect for when you want to give a kid’s iPad to them but only want them to be able to use a single app.

It’s too easy to exit with the passcode, not ideal for unattended public kiosks.

Method 2: Single App Mode (The Pro Setup)

For a more locked down solution, that you can’t bypass easily, Single App Mode is the way to go if you’re running a business. This method lets you stick with the app for every app your iPad shows, and to do that you must use Apple Configurator or another mobile device management (MDM) solution to enable Supervised Mode. Here is more info about Supervised mode if you are interested.

How to set up Single App Mode:

Prepare your iPad:

• Download Apple Configurator 2 on your Mac.
• Connect your iPad using a USB cable.
• Enable Supervision:
• Open Apple Configurator, select your iPad, and choose Prepare.
• Select Supervise devices and follow the prompts (note: this will erase your device).

Lock it to a single app:

• Once supervised, go to Actions > Advanced > Start Single App Mode.
• Select the app you want the iPad to run.

Managing Single App Mode:

To disable, reconnect to Apple Configurator and stop the mode.

When to use Single App Mode:

• Retail store, corporate environments, and unattended kiosk applications.
• Makes it impossible for a user to exit the app without special access.
• It offers more customization and remote management options.

Each one has its own strengths and the one you want to choose is based on if you need a quick fix or a long term solution. We’ll take a side by side comparison up next to help you choose one that is better suited to your needs.

Each one has its own strengths and the one you want to choose is based on if you need a quick fix or a long term solution. We’ll take a side by side comparison up next to help you choose one that is better suited to your needs.

Guided Access vs. Single App Mode: Which One Should You Choose?

You should know by now there are two ways to enter kiosk mode on an iPad: Guided Access and Single App Mode. But which one is the right fit for your needs? It all depends on how you plan on using the device and how much control you will require. Let’s break it down.

1. Ease of Use

Guided Access: This is how you go if you want something quick and easy. You can start with a few taps, and you don’t need to install any additional software.

Single App Mode: It takes a little more effort to get set up with this method. The messaging between the two is quite strong and it requires a Mac and Apple Configurator (or MDM solution) but once it is running it means deeper control.

Winner: Guided Access (for simplicity), Single App Mode (for control)

2. Security and Control

Guided Access: It's good, but you can exit the mode when you got the passcode. However, if you’re putting your iPad out in the public it may not be ideal.

Single App Mode: Once you turn it on, it’s locked in and can’t be turned off without grafting in your separate administrative tools. High traffic areas are ideal for where you can't afford interruptions and it's perfect.

Winner: Single App Mode

Well, what to conclude?

Guided Access is the best choice if you want something quick and temporary. It’s easy, it works, and you don’t have to do much. With Single App Mode, if you’re looking for a stable long term, secure setup, then this is precisely what you need—especially for business or public environments.

Next, we’ll cover some handy tips and tricks that’ll make your iPad kiosk experience even smoother.