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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions and troubleshooting for FreeKiosk

Docs Home • Installation • Integrations

Tip

Start from Installation Guide for first deployment, then use this page for edge cases.

Installation

Q: Do I need to root my tablet?

  • A: No! FreeKiosk uses Android's official Device Owner API. No root required.

Q: Do I need Android Studio?

Q: Can I install from Play Store?

  • A: Yes! Search "FreeKiosk" on Google Play Store, or download APK from Releases.

Q: Which Android versions are supported?

  • A: Android 8.0+ (API 26 and above).

Device Owner

Q: What is Device Owner mode?

  • A: Device Owner is Android's official enterprise feature that gives FreeKiosk complete control over the device for full kiosk lockdown. It's like MDM (Mobile Device Management) but built into Android.

Q: Is Device Owner required?

  • A: No, but highly recommended for production use. Without Device Owner, kiosk lockdown is partial (users may exit with back button, see notifications, etc.).

Q: Can I activate Device Owner after installing FreeKiosk?

  • A: Yes! You just need to remove all accounts from the device first (Settings → Accounts). Once the dpm command succeeds, you can sign back into your accounts. A factory reset is not required — only the absence of active accounts matters.

Q: Factory reset required?

  • A: No! Android's actual requirement is that no user accounts are active on the device. Simply remove all accounts (Google, Samsung, Microsoft, SIM profiles), run the dpm command, then sign back in. A factory reset is only needed as a fallback if account removal alone doesn't work (some devices retain hidden accounts).

Q: Can I remove Device Owner?

  • A: Yes! In FreeKiosk settings, use the "⚠️ Remove Device Owner" button (NOT "Exit Kiosk Mode"). Or via ADB: 
    adb shell dpm remove-active-admin com.freekiosk/.DeviceAdminReceiver

Q: Does Device Owner void warranty?

  • A: No. Device Owner is an official Android feature with no system modifications.

Usage

Q: How to access settings in kiosk mode?

  • A: Tap 5 times on the secret button (default: bottom-right corner), then enter your PIN code.

Q: Can I use custom URLs?

  • A: Yes! Any HTTPS/HTTP URL works (Home Assistant, dashboards, websites, web apps, etc.).

Q: Does it work with Home Assistant?

  • A: Perfectly! Many users deploy FreeKiosk for Home Assistant dashboards.

Q: Can I display local HTML files?

  • A: Currently only HTTP/HTTPS URLs. Local file support coming in v1.1.

Q: How do I change the URL?

  • A: Tap 5 times bottom-right → Enter PIN → Settings → Change URL.

Q: I forgot my PIN code. What do I do?

  • A: If Device Owner is active: You'll need to factory reset (or use ADB to remove Device Owner first). This is by design for security.

Q: Can I rotate between multiple URLs?

  • A: Not yet, but planned for v1.1! You can use a single URL pointing to a page that rotates content.

Compatibility

Q: Which tablets are supported?

  • A: Any Android 8.0+ tablet. Tested on:
    Brand Models
    Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, A9+, S6 Lite
    Lenovo Tab M10, M11
    Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE
    Generic Most Android tablets

Q: Does it work on Samsung tablets?

  • A: Yes! Device Owner mode specifically blocks Samsung update popups and bloatware.

Q: Does it work on Fire tablets (Amazon)?

  • A: Should work, but not officially tested. Device Owner setup may differ on Fire OS.

Q: Does it work on smartphones?

  • A: Technically yes, but FreeKiosk is optimized for tablets. Phone screens are small for kiosk displays.

Q: Does it work on Chromebooks?

  • A: No. FreeKiosk is Android-only.

Troubleshooting

Q: Kiosk mode doesn't lock completely

  • A: Make sure Device Owner is activated. Without Device Owner, lockdown is partial. See Installation Guide.

Q: System notifications still appear

  • A: Device Owner mode blocks all notifications. If they still appear:
    1. Verify Device Owner is active: adb shell dpm list-owners
    2. Reboot tablet
    3. Restart kiosk mode

Q: Samsung update popup appears

  • A: Device Owner mode should block Samsung popups. If they still appear, try:
    1. Suspend Samsung system apps in FreeKiosk settings (coming in v1.1)
    2. Verify Device Owner: adb shell dpm list-owners

Q: WebView doesn't load my URL

  • Causes:
    • URL is not HTTPS/HTTP
    • No internet connection
    • Self-signed SSL certificate (not trusted)
  • Solutions:
    • Use valid HTTPS URL
    • Check WiFi connection
    • Use trusted SSL certificate

Q: App crashes on start

  • A: Please report a bug with:
    • Device model
    • Android version
    • Crash logs (if possible)

Q: FreeKiosk doesn't auto-start after hard restart

  • A: A hard restart (holding power + volume buttons for 10s) may reset the app to initial state. Make sure "Launch on Boot" is enabled in Settings → Security tab. Starting from v1.3.0, the app checks the stored setting before launching, ensuring consistent behavior.

Q: Power button doesn't work in kiosk mode

  • A: By default, Lock Mode blocks all system features including the power menu. Starting from v1.3.0, you can enable "Allow Power Button" in Settings → Security tab → Lock Mode section. This allows shutting down the device without exiting kiosk mode.

Q: Are my settings preserved after updating FreeKiosk?

  • A: Yes! All your settings (URL, PIN, display mode, etc.) are stored locally on your device and are preserved when updating FreeKiosk. You don't need to reconfigure anything after an update.

Dashboard Mode

Q: What is Dashboard Mode?

  • A: Dashboard Mode replaces the single-URL WebView with a grid of configurable URL tiles. Each tile has a name and a URL — tap it to open the page. A navigation bar lets you go back, forward, refresh, or return to the grid.

Q: How do I enable Dashboard Mode?

  • A: Go to Settings → Dashboard tab → toggle "Dashboard Mode" on. Then add your tiles with a name and URL for each.

Q: Can I use Dashboard Mode with Inactivity Return?

  • A: Yes! Enable "Inactivity Return" in Settings → General. After the configured timeout without touch, the app automatically returns to the dashboard grid.

Q: What happens with the URL Planner in Dashboard Mode?

  • A: Scheduled planner events take priority — they switch from the grid to the scheduled URL. When the event ends, the app returns to the dashboard grid automatically.

Q: How many tiles can I create?

  • A: There is no hard limit. The grid adapts to the number of tiles.

Features

Q: Can I customize the PIN length?

  • A: Not yet, but planned. Current: 4-6 digits.

Q: Can I hide the "Exit Kiosk Mode" button?

  • A: Not yet, but planned for v1.1 (configurable in settings).

Q: Can I schedule kiosk mode on/off?

  • A: Not yet, planned for v1.2.

Q: Does FreeKiosk collect data?

  • A: No! FreeKiosk is 100% offline. No analytics, no tracking, no data collection. Your privacy is respected.

Q: Can I use FreeKiosk offline?

  • A: Yes! Once configured, FreeKiosk works offline (your URL must be accessible offline too).

Comparison

Q: FreeKiosk vs Fully Kiosk Browser?

Feature FreeKiosk Fully Kiosk
Price Free €7.90/device
Open-source Yes (MIT) No
Device Owner Yes Yes
Basic kiosk Yes Yes
Advanced features Roadmap Yes
Support Community Commercial

Q: Why is Fully Kiosk more expensive?

  • A: Fully Kiosk is a mature commercial product with many advanced features. FreeKiosk is new and community-driven. We're catching up!

Q: Will FreeKiosk always be free?

  • A: Yes! The app will always be 100% free and open-source. We may offer optional paid cloud services (FreeKiosk Cloud) in the future, but the core app stays free forever.

Development

Q: Can I contribute?

Q: Is FreeKiosk really open-source?

  • A: Yes! MIT licensed. View source on GitHub.

Q: Who develops FreeKiosk?

  • A: FreeKiosk is developed by Rushb, a French tech company passionate about open-source.

Q: Can I self-host FreeKiosk?

  • A: The app is self-contained (no server needed). Future cloud features will offer self-hosting options.

Roadmap

Q: What's coming in v1.1?

Feature Description
Multi-language FR, DE, ES support
URL Rotation Multiple URL cycling
Motion Detection Activity-based triggers
Auto-brightness Scheduled brightness

Q: What about v2.0?

Feature Description
FreeKiosk Cloud MDM Dashboard
Remote Config Centralized management
Multi-device Fleet management
Analytics Usage insights

See full Roadmap.

Support

Q: Where can I get help?

Resource Link
Installation Guide Installation
GitHub Discussions Discussions
Report Bug Issues
Email Support support@freekiosk.app

Q: How can I support FreeKiosk?

Action How to
Star on GitHub Star Repository
Spread the word Share with friends & colleagues
Report bugs Open Issue
Contribute code Contributing Guide
Buy us coffee Ko-fi (coming soon)

Didn't find your answer? Ask in Discussions!

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