SkieHow to lock a tablet to specific apps
To lock a tablet to specific apps, manage it with an MDM that runs as the Android device owner and give it an app allow list. For a single-purpose device, switch on full-screen kiosk mode, which Skie provides. An admin exits or disables kiosk mode by changing the policy for that device or group in the dashboard.
Three ways to restrict a tablet, from light to strict
People ask how to lock a tablet to a few apps for several reasons: a child's study tablet, a student device, a shop display, a delivery handset, a check-in screen. The right method depends on how strict you need to be.
| Method | What the user sees | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Screen pinning | One app pinned, exit by a gesture | A quick, informal lock. Easy for the user to undo |
| App allow list | Only approved apps visible, normal home screen | Students, staff, children |
| Full-screen kiosk mode | One app fills the screen, no launcher | Customer-facing tablets, single-task devices |
Why built-in pinning is not enough
Android has a built-in screen pinning feature. It is off by default, a person can turn it off in settings, and the exit gesture is known to anyone who looks it up. It is fine for handing a phone to a friend for a minute. It is not a control.
A real lock needs a manager that Android itself trusts. That is the device owner role, which is set when the tablet is first configured. See Android device owner mode explained.
Allow list: several apps, normal feel
An allow list is the everyday answer. You choose the apps the tablet may run, everything else is hidden, and the Play Store is shown or hidden by policy. A student tablet might carry a reading app, a maths tool and a school portal. The home screen still looks like a tablet, which is what most users need.
In Skie, one group has one policy and one app list. Schedules can switch the list on their own, for example lesson apps in the morning and a smaller set at night.
Kiosk mode: one app, full screen
Full-screen kiosk mode fills the screen with one app and removes the usual way out. The user cannot swipe to another app, open settings or reach the home screen. It suits a tablet on a counter, a visitor sign-in screen, a catalogue for customers, an exam player or a handset that runs one delivery app. Skie provides full-screen kiosk mode, and a one-app allow list also locks a device to one app.
Read Kiosk mode on Android explained for the longer description of what it is and when to use it.
How an admin exits or disables kiosk mode
Kiosk mode is a policy, so it is turned off in the policy. The admin opens the dashboard, selects the device or its group, and removes the kiosk setting or widens the allowed apps. The device picks up the change when it next syncs, and the usual home screen returns. If the tablet is offline, the old rule stays until it reconnects.
Do not plan around a secret key combination on the tablet. If a kiosk can be left with a hidden gesture, so can anyone who finds it. Keep control in the dashboard, and keep the admin login limited to the roles that need it.
Set it up in a sensible order
- Decide whether the device is single-purpose or multi-purpose
- Enrol the tablet as device owner, which needs a fresh or reset device and any Google account removed
- Add the apps to an app list and attach it to the group
- Switch on kiosk mode only for devices that truly run one app
- Lock factory reset, safe mode and developer options so the lock cannot be sidestepped
- Test the exit: change the policy from the dashboard and confirm the tablet returns to normal
Where Skie fits
Skie works on any Android 12 or newer phone or tablet and is aimed at schools, hostels and organisations as well as families. It also cares about what happens at the edges: if the tablet loses internet, cached rules keep working, and if anyone tampers with it, the admin is alerted down to the exact device.
Frequently asked questions
How do I lock a tablet to only a few apps?
Use an MDM that runs as the Android device owner, create an app list with the apps you want and attach it to the tablet's group. Everything else stays hidden.
Is there a kiosk mode for Android?
Yes. Android supports single-app lock tasks for managed devices, and Skie provides full-screen kiosk mode for devices that run one app.
How does an admin exit or disable kiosk mode?
From the dashboard, change the policy for the device or group so kiosk mode is off or more apps are allowed. The tablet applies it on its next sync.
Can a user get out of kiosk mode on the tablet?
Not through normal settings, because the device owner controls the lock. Keep exit control in the dashboard and restrict who can use it.
How do I lock a tablet for customers in a shop?
Enrol the tablet, add the catalogue or sales app, switch on full-screen kiosk mode and lock factory reset and safe mode so customers cannot leave the app.
What about screen pinning?
Screen pinning is a built-in feature a user can turn off, so it is not a real control. Use a managed lock for anything that matters.