Overviews of Edge Browser Kiosk Mode – AirDroid
What is Edge Browser Kiosk Mode?
Microsoft Edge kiosk mode is a function designed for users that want to build a locked-down browsing experience on Windows devices. When running Edge browser kiosk mode, users can only interact with the specific web content intended to be displayed, which can help limit usage to the intended purpose.
Let’s view the two essential lockdown experiences with the Edge kiosk browser for users:
Digital/Interactive Signage | Public Browsing | |
---|---|---|
Purpose | Display interactive or static full-screen content, often for ads, information, or engagement in public areas. | For environments like libraries or internet cafés where multiple users require independent internet browsing. |
Navigation | Restricted | Only allowed to browse the website |
Content | Single-purpose displays.(Like image, video, or a slideshow) | Traditional browsing experience with added security and privacy measures for multi-user environments. (Like a website to search and perform transactions) |
1 How to Lockdown Edge Browser into Kiosk Mode?
Method 1. Assigned Access
Setting up assigned access on your device is possible if you have the Chromium Version of the Microsoft Edge browser. It is easily manageable on Windows 10 using the device Settings tab without technical skill or additional costs.
- Step 1. Open the device Settings tab and select the 'Accounts' option. Then, choose the 'Family and other users' tab.
- Step 2. The 'Set up a kiosk' option will appear on the screen. Click the 'Assigned Access' option below it.
- Step 3. A new page containing a ‘Get Started’ button will open. Click on it to proceed.
- Step 4. Add a name for the account you are creating, which will automatically launch kiosk mode when you sign in. Then click the ‘Next’ button.
- Step 5. A list of apps will appear on the screen. Choose the Microsoft Edge app and click the ‘Next’ button.
- Step 6. Now you will have two options:
Option 1-As a digital sign or interactive display: It will launch the website in full-screen mode.
Option 2-As a public browser: It will open the Edge browser with support for multiple but limited tabs.
- Step 7. Click 'Next' and add the URL of the website you want to run on the Edge browser. Click ‘Next’ and then the ‘Close’ button. Now, restart the computer to initiate the settings.
- Step 8. On restarting, the device will automatically sign in to the kiosk account with the Microsoft Edge browser and display the specified URL mentioned in the assigned access configuration process.
Note:
- It is the simplest way to provide users with interactive kiosks for digital signage and public browsing without any additional costs.
- Using the Windows+Ctrl+Del keyboard keys, users can quickly move to the sign-in page and exit the kiosk mode.
- It does not work with the legacy version of the Edge browser.
Method 2. Command Prompt
- Step 1. Use the Run program to open the Command Prompt on your device. Type ‘cmd’ and press ‘OK’. Make sure to open it as an administrator so you can make changes as needed.
- Step 2. Use the –kiosk command line parameter to launch Microsoft Edge in kiosk mode. Here is the format to configure it through the command line:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" --kiosk https://www.airdroid.com.(Please choose the path according to your device and change the URL for your required website or web application.)
- Step 3. Users can run the device with a specific URL mentioned in the command prompt instructions. However, they can also exit by pressing the F11 key or Ctrl+Alt+Delete key and use other apps on the device, which might lead to security issues.
Note:
- It cannot prevent access to the keyboard shortcut keys. Users can exit by pressing the keyboard shortcut keys.
- Admins need to have technical knowledge and skills to run Edge in multi-app kiosk mode on Windows 10 devices.
- It does not prevent users from accessing other apps.
Method 3. Kiosk Browser App
Kiosk browser is an app developed by Microsoft Corporation to provide a restricted browsing experience by turning the device into kiosk mode. It is mainly for IT departments who need to configure it using a provisioning package created by Windows Configuration Designer or the advanced management tools.
The kiosk browser app allows enforcing restrictions such as allow listing and disabling of device buttons and is good at presenting web applications and digital signage to improve business visibility and brand promotions.
Some technicalities in the app create hurdles in managing the kiosk mode, as there is no way to prevent users from saving credentials, which can lead to security issues.
Method 4. Windows MDM Solution
After reviewing all the above methods, it has become clear that they are quite appreciable but not perfect for business entities as they lack strong management capabilities.
Users can quickly exit the Microsoft Edge kiosk mode from the devices using the shortcut keys, which can result in excessive data consumption and privacy concerns.
So, we recommend an MDM solution for enterprises to manage kiosk mode as it overcomes all the concerns that the above methods lack. It is a highly secure and effective way to configure devices with kiosk mode, as users cannot exit it without the admin’s consent.
Admins are given the supreme power to manage kiosk mode on official devices. Moreover, MDM offers remote management and monitoring features to remotely manage and customize the kiosk mode settings for enrolled devices.
2 Microsoft Edge Chromium vs. Microsoft Edge Legacy
Microsoft Edge Legacy was launched in 2015, and Chromium in 2020. Edge Legacy was developed, while Chromium is an open-source project that also serves as the foundation of Google Chrome.
Due to this architecture, Chromium offers better performance, support, and compatibility with the latest tools and standards.
Microsoft Edge kiosk mode is also available for the Chromium Edge version, while it lacks the feature and compatibility with Legacy Edge. Moreover, Chromium is supported by all Windows and Mac devices, while Microsoft has ended up supporting the Legacy version and recommends that users move to the latest Chromium Version.
3 Where to Setup Group Policy for Egde Browser Kiosk
Press Win+R on your Windows to run dialog box, and enter 'gpedit.msc', use the Local Group Policy Editor on the device to manage kiosk mode settings. You can run kiosk mode in three different ways: InPrivate full screen, InPrivate multi-tab, or standard Microsoft Edge.
To move to configuration settings, open the Local Group Policy Rditor > navigate to Computer Configuration > select Administrative templates and open Windows Components > Select Microsoft Edge to proceed with the settings.
Configure kiosk mode
Here, you can configure how Microsoft Edge behaves in kiosk mode:
For single-app assigned access: If the value is set to 0, the single app will run on full screen for digital signage or interactive displays, and if it is set to 1, it will run in InPrivate public browsing mode with limited features.
For multi-app assigned access: Setting it to 0 will run normal Microsoft Edge with assigned access, while choosing one will enable InPrivate public browsing.
Configure kiosk reset after idle timeout
Here, you can specify the time in minutes to reset Microsoft Edge if it is left inactive for a certain amount of time. You can choose to disable the timer or set it to 1 to 1440 minutes to automatically reset the browser when it is left inactive.
Furthermore, there are 55 setting options on Group Policy Editor, which you can customize as required.
4 FAQs
Summary
Edge browser is Microsoft’s latest web browsing app, which keeps updating to the latest versions with time. Currently, Chromium Edge is the latest one, while the Legacy Edge is still operational. On Windows 10, when you download the browser, it automatically gets updated to Chromium to enhance its features and capabilities.
Chromium has fewer compatibility issues. To know how to start Edge browser in kiosk mode, you can try different methods that we introduced above. If you are finding a perfect method for managing business operations, we recommend to choose an MDM solution for highly secure and uninterrupted kiosk mode.
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