Setup Guide
How to Lock an iPad in Kiosk
Mode for a Meeting Room Display
Step-by-step: Guided Access vs Single App Mode for locking an iPad to one app. Settings, passcodes, auto-lock, and what to do when it exits.
Short answer: use Guided Access (built into iPadOS, free, 2 minutes to set up) for 1–10 iPads. Use Single App Mode via MDM for larger fleets or when you need the lock to survive a reboot automatically.
A wall-mounted iPad that visitors can swipe out of isn't a display — it's a free games console. Here's how to lock it down properly.
Method 1: Guided Access (built-in, best for small fleets)
- Settings → Accessibility → Guided Access → toggle on
- Set a passcode (different from the device passcode — facilities staff may need one and not the other)
- Turn on Mirror Display Auto-Lock
- Open The Room Display, then triple-click the top button (or home button on older iPads)
- Tap Start
The iPad is now locked to the app. Triple-click + passcode exits.
Two settings that matter: - Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock → Never. Otherwise the screen sleeps and your display goes dark. - Inside Guided Access options, disable the Sleep/Wake button so a curious finger can't blank the screen.
The catch: after a hard reboot (power cut, iPadOS update), Guided Access waits for the device passcode before re-engaging. For most offices this means a 30-second fix per iPad a few times a year — acceptable. If not, you want Method 2.
Method 2: Single App Mode (MDM, best for fleets)
Single App Mode is the industrial version: the iPad boots straight into your chosen app, every time, no human needed. Requirements:
- iPad enrolled in Apple Business Manager (free for companies)
- An MDM — Apple's free option covers this, as do Jamf, Mosyle, etc.
- The iPad in Supervised mode (set during enrollment or via Apple Configurator)
Push a Single App Mode policy targeting The Room Display, and the device is appliance-grade. We cover the full setup in our MDM guide for room display iPads.
Recommended companion settings (both methods)
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Lock | Never | Screen must stay on |
| Brightness | 40–60% | Heat + battery health |
| True Tone | Off | Consistent colour on the wall |
| Notifications | All off | No banners over the schedule |
| Software updates | Manual/scheduled | Updates reboot the iPad mid-day |
FAQ
Can visitors still pull down Control Centre? In Guided Access, disable it under Options. In Single App Mode it's blocked by default.
Does kiosk mode drain the battery faster? No — screen-on time is the cost, and that's the job. See keeping a wall-mounted iPad charged.
What if the app crashes in Single App Mode? iPadOS relaunches it automatically — one reason fleets prefer it.
Send this to your IT admin with the subject line "two minutes per iPad" — because that's genuinely all Guided Access takes.