How to Run Chrome in Kiosk Mode on Windows, Mac and ChromeOS (2026)

Chrome kiosk mode opens a website fullscreen with no address bar, tabs or menus, so visitors can only see the page you choose. On Windows, add --kiosk https://your-site.com to a Chrome shortcut; on a Mac, run Chrome from Terminal with the same --kiosk flag; on managed ChromeOS devices, set up a kiosk app in the Google Admin console. For screens that loop images, videos and websites, a digital signage app is easier to manage remotely.

What Is Chrome Kiosk Mode?

Chrome kiosk mode is a launch option that strips away everything you normally see in a browser window: the address bar, tabs, bookmarks and settings menu, leaving only the webpage itself filling the screen. It was originally built for self-service terminals, but it has become a popular, free way to turn any Windows PC, Mac or Chromebox into a single-purpose display.

The appeal is obvious: if you already have a webpage, a dashboard or a Google Slides presentation published online, kiosk mode shows it fullscreen with zero extra software. The catch, as with most free lunches, is that it comes with a few strings attached.

How to Start Chrome in Kiosk Mode on Windows

1. Right-click the desktop and choose New > Shortcut.

2. Paste the Chrome path followed by the kiosk flag and your page, for example:

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

3. Name the shortcut and click Finish.

4. To launch it automatically at startup, press Windows + R, type shell:startup and copy the shortcut into that folder.

To exit kiosk mode, press Alt + F4.

How to Start Chrome in Kiosk Mode on a Mac

Open Terminal and run:

open -a "Google Chrome" --args --kiosk https://posterbooking.com

Press Cmd + Q to quit.

Kiosk Mode on ChromeOS and Chromebox

On managed Chrome devices, an administrator can set a single app or website to run in kiosk mode from the Google Admin console under Devices > Chrome > Apps & extensions > Kiosks. This requires a Chrome Enterprise or Education licence.

This route suits organisations that already manage a fleet of Chromebooks or Chromeboxes centrally, since the same console that handles updates and security policies also handles kiosk deployment. For a single screen in a small shop, it is a fairly heavy tool to reach for, a bit like hiring a removals van to carry one chair.

Useful Chrome Kiosk Flags

• --kiosk opens fullscreen with no browser controls
• --incognito stops saving history and logins
• --noerrdialogs hides error popups
• --disable-pinch stops visitors zooming on touchscreens
• --overscroll-history-navigation=0 stops swipe-back on touchscreens
• --disable-session-crashed-bubble suppresses the "Chrome didn't shut down correctly" prompt after a power cut

Limitations of Browser Kiosk Mode

• No remote control: changing the page means visiting the screen
• No scheduling or playlists of images and videos
• A browser crash or Windows update can leave the screen showing a desktop
• Hard to manage across many locations
• No built-in way to monitor whether a screen is actually online
• No offline fallback if the website you are displaying goes down

Chrome Kiosk Mode vs Dedicated Signage Software

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

• Chrome shows a "restore pages" prompt after a crash. Add --disable-session-crashed-bubble to your shortcut to suppress it.
• A Windows update interrupts the kiosk and shows the desktop. Disable automatic restarts during business hours in Windows Update settings, and re-add your shortcut to the startup folder if it goes missing.
• The screen goes to sleep. Adjust your OS power settings so the display and PC never sleep, since Chrome kiosk mode has no control over this itself.
• Touch input exits fullscreen. Add --disable-pinch and --overscroll-history-navigation=0 to stop accidental gestures from navigating away.
• Nobody can tell if the screen is still working from a different site. This is the single biggest reason businesses eventually move to dedicated signage software with remote monitoring.

A Simpler Alternative for Screens

If you want a screen to loop websites, images and videos, install PosterBooking on Windows, a Fire TV Stick, Android TV, Chrome device or Raspberry Pi. It launches fullscreen at startup, plays a playlist, and you change content from anywhere. For touch screens, see digital signage kiosks. Your first 10 screens are free.

A Final Thought on Keeping Things Running

The single biggest predictor of a kiosk screen failing quietly is distance: the further it sits from someone who checks on it daily, the longer a fault goes unnoticed. If your screens are spread across multiple sites, it is worth asking whether the time saved managing them from one dashboard outweighs the DIY appeal of a free browser flag. For one screen in the office you walk past constantly, Chrome kiosk mode is perfectly fine. For anything bigger, it starts to feel like herding cats with a very long piece of string.

Checklist Before Deploying a Kiosk Screen

• Has the device's sleep and screensaver settings been disabled?
• Is the kiosk shortcut set to launch automatically at startup?
• Have you tested recovery after a simulated power cut?
• Is the content itself designed for fullscreen, not a cramped browser window?
• Do you have a plan for updating the page if it needs to change next month?
• If managing more than one screen, would a dashboard save you more time than it costs to set up?

A Quick Word on Security

Kiosk mode hides the browser chrome, not the operating system underneath it. A determined visitor with a keyboard can sometimes find their way out using obscure shortcut combinations, so for public-facing touchscreens it is worth pairing kiosk mode with OS-level restrictions, such as a locked-down guest account, disabled keyboard shortcuts, or a dedicated kiosk-mode operating system. It is a bit like a "no entry" sign: technically a deterrent, not a lock.

For most internal business screens, such as a reception dashboard or a back-office TV nobody but staff ever touches, this is rarely a concern worth losing sleep over.

Extending a Kiosk Screen's Lifespan

Business screens running Chrome kiosk mode for months at a time benefit from a few small habits: scheduling a nightly restart to clear memory, keeping Chrome updated so security patches land automatically, and periodically checking the device in person rather than assuming it is still working. A screen stuck on an error page for three weeks is, unfortunately, a very common discovery during an unrelated office visit.

A little discipline here saves a lot of embarrassment later: nobody wants a client walking past a kiosk screen frozen on a Chrome error page from three weeks ago, quietly undermining an otherwise slick reception area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chrome kiosk mode?

Chrome kiosk mode is a fullscreen browser mode that hides the address bar, tabs and menus so a device shows only one website. It is commonly used for self-service terminals, dashboards and simple single-screen digital signage displays.

How do I exit Chrome kiosk mode?

You can exit Chrome kiosk mode by pressing Alt + F4 on Windows or Cmd + Q on a Mac. On managed ChromeOS kiosk devices, exiting typically requires administrator access through the Google Admin console.

Can Chrome kiosk mode start automatically after a restart?

Yes, Chrome kiosk mode can start automatically after a restart. On Windows, place the kiosk shortcut in the startup folder; on ChromeOS, configure an auto-launch kiosk app in the Admin console so the screen recovers without anyone touching it.

Is Chrome kiosk mode good enough for business digital signage?

Chrome kiosk mode is good enough for a single always-on webpage or dashboard, but it lacks remote content updates, scheduling and multi-screen management. For menus, promotions or multiple screens, dedicated signage software like PosterBooking is generally more practical.

Does Chrome kiosk mode work on a Chromebox?

Yes, Chrome kiosk mode works on a Chromebox through the Google Admin console, which lets an administrator configure a single app or website to launch automatically. This requires a Chrome Enterprise or Education licence to manage.

Can I show multiple pages in Chrome kiosk mode?

Chrome kiosk mode on its own only shows one page per launch, so cycling multiple pages requires a separate script or extension to refresh and switch URLs. Dedicated signage software handles playlists and scheduling natively without extra scripting.

What happens if the computer running Chrome kiosk mode loses power?

If the computer running Chrome kiosk mode loses power, it will restart to the desktop unless the kiosk shortcut is set to auto-launch at startup. Even then, Chrome may show a session-crashed prompt unless the --disable-session-crashed-bubble flag is used.