Setup Assigned Access in Windows 10 (Kiosk Mode)

Assigned Access is a feature of Windows 10 which implements Kiosk mode for the selected user account. If you create such Kiosk for the specified user account on your PC, that user will be forced to interact with a single app without the risk of compromising the system. Let's see how to configure Assigned Access in Windows 10.

You can use assigned access to restrict users to using only one Windows app so the device acts like a kiosk. A kiosk device typically runs a single app, and users are prevented from accessing any features or functions on the device outside of the kiosk app. Administrators can use assigned access to restrict a selected user account to access a single Windows app. You can choose almost any Windows app for assigned access.

Here are some notes.

• Windows apps must be provisioned or installed for the assigned access account before they can be selected as the assigned access app.
• Updating a Windows app can sometimes change the Application User Model ID (AUMID) of the app. If this happens, you must update the assigned access settings to launch the updated app, because assigned access uses the AUMID to determine which app to launch.
• Apps that are generated using the Desktop App Converter (Desktop Bridge) cannot be used as kiosk apps.
• Avoid selecting Windows apps that are designed to launch other apps as part of their core functionality.
• In Windows 10, version 1803, you can install the Kiosk Browser app from Microsoft to use as your kiosk app. For digital signage scenarios, you can configure Kiosk Browser to navigate to a URL and show only that content -- no navigation buttons, no address bar, etc.

Starting in Windows 10 version 1709, it is possible to create kiosks that run multiple apps.

Setup Assigned Access (Kiosk) in Windows 10

Before proceeding, please keep in mind that you can exit Assigned Access (kiosk) by pressing the Ctrl+Alt+Del keys. Also, ensure that your user account has administrative privileges.

To setup assigned access in Windows 10, do the following.

1. If you don't have a user account to use with Assigned Access, create a new local account. It must be a standard user account.
2. Sign in to that user account, open the Store app, and install the app you want to use with Assigned Access (if required).
3. Now, sign out from the user account and sign in with your administrative account credentials.
4. Open the Settings app.
5. Go to Accounts - Family and other people.
6. Click on the link Set up assigned access on the right.
7. Click on Choose an account.
8. Select the proper local standard user account.
9. Click on Choose an app.
10. Select the desired app from the list.

You are done. The Assigned Access feature is now configured for the selected local standard user account.

If you sign in to that user account, the pre-defined app will start instead of the Desktop and the taskbar.

To disable Assigned Access, perform the next steps.

Disable Assigned Access

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Accounts - Family and other people.
3. Click on the link Set up assigned access on the right.
4. Click on the link Turn off assigned access and sign out the selected account.

That's it!

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