Is it possible to use a device to run one application exclusively?

Question

I have developed an app which is destined for tablets in hospitals for patients use.

Right now I am being asked to make the tablet's only functionality be my app to prevent personel or any person from using it for web browsing, gaming or anything else.

Is this possible?

score 9 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:46

9

There are products on the market that offer 'kiosk mode' style device lock down whereby you can restrict applications.

Surelock

SuperLockLite

Also see this Stackoverflow post for similar discussion.

Kiosk mode in Android

edited May 23 '17 at 11:46

Community

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answered May 16 '12 at 19:36

Sharpedges

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thanks Sharpedges! surelock is perfect. My only problem now is that I haven´t been able to find out what are the limitations the trial version comes with. Is it just less features or will it stop working after some days? – jjgl May 21 '12 at 18:50
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Very good question, I am afraid I didn't know the answer! I e-mailed Surelock support and got the following reply: Here are the limitation of SureLock Android Free version: 1. Free version allows maximum of 2 applications only. 2. Free version displays reminder messages periodically 3. Some wallpaper display settings are not available in free version Hope this helps :) – Sharpedges May 22 '12 at 20:55
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haha Did the same thing, got the same response :) thanks! – jjgl May 23 '12 at 20:51
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I would really like to know how Surelock is able to hide Home and back button to do it within my app. Can you please help me to achive this? – Pascal Jan 23 '13 at 07:32
I believe you need to have the device rooted and running Honeycomb+ in order to use the setting 'Hide bottom bar' using Surelock. – Sharpedges Jan 24 '13 at 20:10

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 02 '13 at 09:09

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This is the best solution to kiosk mode I've found so far http://thebitplague.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/kiosk-mode-on-the-nexus-7/

answered Aug 02 '13 at 09:09

matt_lethargic

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered May 16 '12 at 19:42

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android is a linux OS and you can create users with specific permission,

i never did this but I've seen it: http://l4android.org/

I hope might help

answered May 16 '12 at 19:42

ademar111190

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score 1 · Answer 4 · answered May 16 '12 at 20:09

You can create your own custom android version, in order to prevent users to use the back button or to acceas settings, for instance. You have to take care of restarting your app if it crashes. You can ovverride the home launcher in order to be your app the only launchable. You want to take same sort of "back door" just in case you want to grant super user access

Is it possible to use a device to run one application exclusively?

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