Set up a PC in kiosk mode

By Ed Bott

One of the best ways to lock down a Windows 10 PC for shared use by multiple people is to set it up as a kiosk, using an obscure feature called Assigned Access.

When you configure a PC as a kiosk, you identify what you want the PC to do. You can assign it to run a single UWP app, for example, so that employees or visitors to your store can browse through a catalog or look up prices. You can create a kiosk that runs a locked-down public version of Microsoft Edge that protects user data by automatically resetting after a few minutes of inactivity. Or you can remove all input devices and set up the PC to display a single HTML page, effectively turning it into a digital sign.

To set up any of these configurations, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & Other Users and click Assigned Access under the Set Up A Kiosk heading. Windows 10 creates a standard local account exclusively for use by the kiosk and signs into that account automatically.

For more complex configurations, including a multi-app setup that provides users with a menu of approved apps, you'll need to create custom XML files or use mobile device management software. You can find full instructions at https://bit.ly/kiosk-configure.

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