Windows Kiosk mode

Windows Kiosk Mode

Run your Virtual Front Desk station full screen on a Windows touch-screen computer, with Chrome’s kiosk mode.

Chrome’s kiosk mode opens your station in full screen, without the address bar, tabs or menus, so visitors cannot browse away from it. Follow these steps on the Windows computer you use as a station.

Important: do not use Windows’ built-in kiosk feature (Assigned Access). It clears the browser data, so the station would ask for a new connection code after each restart. Use Chrome’s kiosk mode as described below.

Step 1: Prepare the station in Chrome

1. Download and install Google Chrome, if it is not already installed.
2. Open Chrome and go to your station address: station.virtualfrontdesk.com in the United States (or station.virtualfrontdesk.ca, .global or .asia for your region).
3. Enter the station’s connection code from your dashboard.
4. When Chrome asks for permission to use the camera and microphone, click Allow.

Do this first in regular Chrome: the kiosk shortcut uses the same Chrome profile, so it keeps your connection code and permissions.

Step 2: Create a kiosk shortcut

1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop and select New > Shortcut.
2. In the location field, paste the following line (replace the address with your region’s station address if needed):

"C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --kiosk "https://station.virtualfrontdesk.com"

1. Click Next, name the shortcut (for example, “Virtual Front Desk Kiosk”) and click Finish.

If Chrome is installed in a different folder on your computer, right-click your usual Chrome shortcut, select Properties and copy the path shown in the Target field.

Step 3: Start the station automatically (optional)

To open the station automatically every time the computer starts:

1. Press Windows key + R, type shell:startup and press Enter.
2. Copy the kiosk shortcut into the folder that opens.

You can also right-click the shortcut and select Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar for quick access.

Step 4: Make sure the touch keyboard appears

Visitors need the on-screen keyboard to type their information, for example in a sign-in form.

1. Open Settings > Time & language > Typing > Touch keyboard.
2. Set Show the touch keyboard to Always (or When no keyboard attached).

Step 5: Keep the screen on

1. Open Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep (on some computers: Screen, sleep & hibernate timeouts).
2. Set the screen and sleep options when plugged in to Never.

Test kiosk mode

Double-click the kiosk shortcut. Chrome opens your station in full screen, and visitors cannot leave it easily.

To exit kiosk mode: press Alt + F4. You can also press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, open Task Manager and end Chrome.

Tips

• Turn off edge swipes. On a touch screen, swiping in from the edges of the screen opens Windows panels such as widgets and notifications, which lets visitors leave the station. Ask your IT department to turn off edge swipes with the Windows policy Allow edge swipe (set to Disabled). Also turn off Three- and four-finger touch gestures in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touch.
• Do not leave a physical keyboard connected. Keyboard shortcuts such as Alt + F4 or the Windows key let anyone close kiosk mode. Visitors should use the touch keyboard only; connect a keyboard only for maintenance.
• Restrict the computer for a public area. For stronger protection, your IT department can use a dedicated Windows user account for the station and manage it with tools such as Microsoft Intune.
• Check the camera and microphone. If calls do not connect, make sure Chrome still allows the camera and microphone. To learn more, read Troubleshooting Guide, Firewall and Permissions.

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