Apple TV kiosk mode: A complete setup guide

Apple TV kiosk mode is a premier, secure, and highly efficient solution for transforming consumer-grade Apple TVs into dedicated, enterprise-level kiosk devices. By using kiosk mode, organizations can turn their Apple TVs into display boards, digital signage, and interactive terminals across various use cases. 

Naturally, the next question is, how to set up Apple TV kiosk mode? 

In this blog, we’ll lay out a step-by-step guide on how to configure your Apple TVs in kiosk mode with ease through Scalefusion. 

Why does Apple TV need kiosk mode?

Apple TV kiosk mode locks the device into a single or a specific set of apps to make it secure and functional for public or corporate environments. This tailors the user experience to a particular task assigned to that device. It also prevents unauthorized use of the device, such as accessing settings, exiting to the home screen, and ensuring the Apple TV displays dedicated content like digital signage or a specific app. 

Kiosk mode turns regular Apple TVs into dedicated task units that can be further customized to fit the organization’s needs. 

Step-by-step guide to setting up kiosk mode for Apple TV

To enable kiosk mode for your Apple TV, you need to create a tvOS profile first. Once that is done, you can configure the profile to run it in single-app or multi-app kiosk mode. Let’s see how you can configure both in the same order. 

Creating tvOS Device Profile

A minimum of one tvOS Device Profile is mandatory to manage your Apple TV devices and set up kiosk mode. Without a Device Profile, you cannot apply any policies to the device. You can create as many Device Profiles as you want, depending upon your organization’s structure.

Make sure you have completed configuring the APNs setup and ADE/DEP setup. 

Configuring kiosk mode

Select the Device Profile that has been set up and go to Edit Profile. From here, you can start applying policies to and create a kiosk mode policy for your Apple TV. 

Multi-app kiosk mode

Here, you can select the apps you want to run on your Apple TV, effectively shutting off all other services and apps. 

Step 1: Under the Select Apps section, you can choose:

• Allowed App List: Strictly allows the selected apps to be visible on the device.
• Blocked App List: Strictly disallows the selected apps. All other apps will be visible to the user.

Step 2: The list of apps that you can choose from contains:

• A prepopulated list of common apps on your Apple TV.
• All App-Store apps that are currently installed across the devices that are already enrolled.
• The apps that you have added to your dashboard from App Management > Apple Apps > App Store and published to the Device Profile.
• The apps that you have uploaded to the dashboard from App Management > Enterprise Store > tvOS apps and published to the Device Profile.

Single App Mode

With Single App Mode, you can turn your Apple TV into digital signage for your conference rooms and meeting spaces.

Step 1: From the Default Application dropdown, select the app that you want to set in Single App Mode. You can choose one app from the apps that you have allowed in the Select Apps section of Device Profile.

Step 2: Additionally, you can also control various settings when in Single App Mode, such as Enable Auto Lock, Enable Touch, Enable Voice Over, Enable Zoom, and Enable Invert Colors.

Note that if you have set an app that you have enabled in the Apple App Store or Enterprise Store, then first the app will be installed, if not present, on the device, and then the device will be set in Apple TV single app mode. 

Home Screen Layout

From here, you can configure the home screen layout of your Apple TV.

Step 1: Click the Configure button to open the Arrange App screen.

Step 2: On the left-hand side, you will see the apps that you have enabled in the Select Apps section.

Step 3: Drag and drop the apps on the home screen as required.

Step 4: You can also create an App folder.

Step 5: Once done, click Save.

Network & Security

Additionally, you can configure network settings such as Wi-Fi configuration, TV Remote, AirPlay Security, Conference Room, and Software Update Settings.   

Restrictions

You can also impose certain restrictions on the devices. These are further categorized into two:

1. General Restrictions: A collection of common settings that include Allow Camera Use, Allow Device Sleep, Force Automatic Date and Time, Allow Pairing with Remote App, Allow Modifying Device Name, Allow proximity based password sharing requests, and Allow Automatic Screen Saver. 

2. Media Restrictions: A collection of media-related settings that include Region Code, Allow content ratings for movies, TV shows, and Apps, and Allow playback of explicit music, podcasts, and iTunes. 

Once you are done editing the profile, click Update in the top right corner of the screen, and you are good to go! 

Applying Device Profile to tvOS Device or Device Group

Your tvOS profile can now be applied to all enrolled Apple TV devices, which seamlessly turns them into Apple TV kiosk mode devices as per your specifications. 

The Device Profile can be applied to one or multiple devices or Device Groups. Any changes in the device profile are automatically applied to all the devices in that profile or the device group.

Step 1: Navigate to Device Profiles & Policies > Device Profile and select the respective tvOS device Profile.

Step 2: Click on the Apply button on the right-hand side.

Step 3: In the Apply Profile window, select either the Device Groups/User Groups/Devices tab and click Apply.

Turn your Apple TVs into dedicated kiosks with ease

Apple TVs are becoming increasingly common across multiple industries, and so the need for a sophisticated yet easy-to-implement kiosk mode for them is crucial. From conference rooms to retail displays, Apple TVs have upped the game and brought the Apple ecosystem to the kiosk mode user base. 

Scalefusion provides you with the best-in-class UEM features that allow you to turn your Apple TVs into sophisticated kiosk devices that serve their purpose, are easy to manage, and secure to meet your compliance standards. From the first device enrollment to its retirement, Scalefusion’s Apple TV MDM software provides you with the support you need. 

FAQs

1. What is needed to enable Apple TV kiosk mode?

To enable kiosk mode, the Apple TV must be supervised by an MDM/UEM solution and running tvOS 10.2+. A device profile must be configured with the specific app, or apps that will be locked to the screen, which must be installed on the device. 

2. How do I exit kiosk mode?

To exit the kiosk mode,  you must remove the kiosk policy through your MDM portal to restore full functionality.

3. Does kiosk mode prevent the device from going into sleep? 

Yes, you can configure the device policy through your MDM solution to disable screen sleep for constant display or set a specific period of time for the device to go into sleep mode, usually after work hours.