Plenty of people run Google Chrome without ever touching one of its more useful settings. Chrome Kiosk Mode locks a computer down to a single window or app, and it suits both businesses and home users. Before you decide where it fits, it helps to know the Chrome options behind it.
Chrome Devices and Chrome for Work
Chrome for Work is close to the everyday browser with a different name attached. Google made it to push Chrome into schools and offices, building the version for machines running ChromeOS rather than the standard browser. That includes Chromebooks and the wider Chrome hardware family.
A Chromebook is a budget laptop from Google, sold in several models. These run ChromeOS, a slim system built for getting work done and for simple jobs like web browsing, video, and gaming. Schools were the first target, since the low price fits K-12 students. If you want the full picture, our guide on what a Chromebook handles day to day goes further.
A Chromebox is a small desktop that also runs ChromeOS, often called a mini PC. It connects to most monitors and plays video too. The Chromebase is a business-grade all-in-one machine, and it’s the device where Chrome Kiosk Mode pays off most. You can read more about that form factor in our Chromebase coverage.
| Device | What it is | Built for |
|---|---|---|
| Chromebook | Low-cost laptop on ChromeOS | Students, light daily tasks |
| Chromebox | Small desktop on ChromeOS | Connecting to monitors, video |
| Chromebase | Commercial-grade computer | Business users, kiosk setups |
What Chrome Kiosk Mode Does
Chrome Kiosk Mode lets any computer running Chrome switch off every other window and stay on one. It bolts the machine down to a single app. Owning a Chrome device makes no difference here. You can turn the feature on either way.
How It Works
You can start Chrome in a full-screen, browser-only state. Once it launches, nobody on that computer can reach any screen apart from the chosen app. Beyond a guest account, you can tie it to a single web address.
There’s a second version called Single App Kiosk Mode. Here the user is pinned to a full-screen Chrome App that won’t budge, with no control over the browser at all. They can touch one site or one Chrome app and nothing else. Both versions work when you need to hold back access to a computer and its browser, so learn the setup before you commit.
Who Gains the Most From Chrome Kiosk Mode
Kiosk Apps are Chrome Apps written to stay full-screen, with no exit for the person using them. A few settings fit well:
- Sign-in counters for guests
- Library lookup stations
- Checkout systems inside a shop
- Computer and gadget shops
- Schools and other learning centres
Run a desk where guests check in or register, and the feature smooths the visit, speeds up your workplace, and gives your business a tidy, professional look.
How to Turn On Chrome Kiosk Mode
On a Managed Chrome Device
Using a Chromebook or another managed Chrome machine? Open Chrome’s admin panel, then adjust the Kiosk Settings. A few choices appear:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Public Session Kiosk | The standard Chrome Kiosk Mode under a different name |
| Auto-Launch Public Session | Starts a public session on its own |
| Auto-Launch Kiosk App | Fires up Single-App Kiosk Mode by itself |
On an Unmanaged Device
If your Chromebook or Chrome device isn’t managed, sign in and open Chrome. Type chrome://extensions into the address bar, then switch on Developer Mode. After that, hit Manage kiosk applications and enter the ID of the Kiosk App you want.
On Chrome for Windows
Most people keep a Chrome shortcut on the desktop. No shortcut yet? Make one. Right-click the Chrome shortcut and pick Properties. Open the Shortcut tab and add the kiosk command to the end of the Target field.
You can drop in a specific web address to open in Kiosk Mode, and that becomes the only page reachable while you’re in it. Single-App Kiosk Mode works only on Chromebooks and other Chrome devices, which differ from standard Windows or Mac laptops.
How to Exit Chrome Kiosk Mode
Chrome stays in kiosk mode until the app shuts down, so closing it takes a few steps. End every Google background process in your operating system’s task manager. Go to the Windows taskbar, look at the lower right corner, and right-click the Google Chrome shortcut. Choose Exit, and you should land back outside Chrome Kiosk Mode.
Is Chrome Kiosk Mode Right for You?
Think about whether you run a school, a library, a learning centre, a shop, or a hotel. If students or customers sit at a computer for set jobs tied to study or work, this tool may fit. Tired of devices being used for things they were never bought for? Chrome Kiosk Mode is the fix.
For more on the hardware itself, our roundup of the top Chromebook picks this year and our look at how reliable these machines are over time are both worth a read. You can also check whether you’re getting full value from a Chromebook before adding more devices.
FAQs
What is Chrome Kiosk Mode used for?
It locks a computer to one website or app in full screen. Businesses use it for sign-in desks, checkout terminals, digital signage, library stations, and school computers where users should reach only one task.
Do I need a Chromebook to use Chrome Kiosk Mode?
No. Standard Kiosk Mode runs on any computer with Chrome, including Windows, using a launch command. Single App Kiosk Mode is the exception, since it works only on Chromebooks and other Chrome devices.
How do I exit Chrome Kiosk Mode?
End all Google background processes in your task manager. Then right-click the Chrome shortcut in the lower-right Windows taskbar and choose Exit. The machine returns to its normal state outside kiosk mode.
What is the difference between Kiosk Mode and Single App Kiosk Mode?
Standard Kiosk Mode opens Chrome full-screen, locked to a guest session or one URL. Single App Kiosk Mode pins the user to one full-screen Chrome App with no browser control at all.
How do I set up Chrome Kiosk Mode on Windows?
Right-click the Chrome desktop shortcut, pick Properties, open the Shortcut tab, and add the kiosk command plus a web address to the Target field. That page becomes the only one reachable.
