How to Enable Chrome Kiosk Mode on Your Computer

Chrome kiosk mode turns your browser into a locked-down, full-screen display that runs a single website or app. It’s ideal for digital signage, public information terminals, or a dedicated dashboard that visitors can’t navigate away from. This guide walks you through setting it up on Windows, macOS, or Linux using built-in Chrome flags and command-line shortcuts.

What You’ll Need

A computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux
Google Chrome installed (any recent version)
Administrator or owner access to the computer (to create shortcuts or edit settings)
The URL of the website or web app you want to display

Step-by-Step

Open Chrome and test your URL. Type the address you want to display in kiosk mode into the address bar and press Enter. Confirm the page loads correctly and that any required logins or permissions are set up beforehand (kiosk mode won’t hide login prompts).
Close all Chrome windows. Kiosk mode launches a fresh Chrome process. If Chrome is already running, the command may open a new tab instead of a kiosk window. Make sure to quit Chrome completely.
Create a desktop shortcut (Windows). Right-click on your desktop, choose New > Shortcut, and in the location field paste the following (replace https://example.com with your URL):
"C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --kiosk https://example.com
If Chrome is installed elsewhere, adjust the path accordingly. Click Next, name the shortcut (e.g., “Kiosk”), and click Finish.
Create a shortcut on macOS. Open Script Editor (found in Applications/Utilities), paste this AppleScript, and replace the URL:
do shell script "\"/Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google Chrome\" --kiosk https://example.com"
Save it as an application (File > Export, format: Application). Double-click the saved app to launch kiosk mode.
Create a launcher on Linux. Open a terminal and run:
google-chrome --kiosk https://example.com
For a desktop launcher, create a .desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications with the same command in the Exec line.
Enable full-screen kiosk (optional). By default, --kiosk hides the address bar, tabs, and toolbar, and prevents exiting with F11. To also disable the right-click context menu and keyboard shortcuts, add --disable-context-menu and --disable-dev-shm-usage to the command.
Test the shortcut. Double-click your new shortcut (or run the command). Chrome should open in a borderless, full-screen window showing your chosen site. To exit, press Alt+F4 (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Q (macOS).
Set the shortcut to launch on startup (optional). For a dedicated kiosk, place the shortcut in the Windows Startup folder (Win+R, type shell:startup), or add the app to your Mac’s Login Items, or use your Linux desktop’s autostart settings.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to close Chrome first. If Chrome is already running, the kiosk command may open a new tab in the existing window instead of a dedicated kiosk window.
Wrong path to chrome.exe. On Windows, Chrome might be in C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\ instead of the standard path. Verify the path by right-clicking the Chrome shortcut and selecting “Open file location.”
Using a URL with spaces or special characters. Enclose the entire URL in quotes if it contains ampersands or spaces.
Expecting kiosk mode to block all navigation. Kiosk mode hides the UI but does not prevent users from using keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+T (unless you disable them) or navigating via links on the page.

Tips

Use --kiosk along with --incognito to avoid saving any browsing history or cookies from the session.
For a touchscreen kiosk, add --touch-events=enabled to improve touch response.
Set a homepage or use a redirect page to prevent users from navigating to unintended sites if they manage to open a new tab.
Test the kiosk with a strong Wi-Fi connection or a wired connection to avoid loading delays.
If the website requires a mouse, consider using a wireless mouse or a touchscreen monitor.

Troubleshooting

Kiosk window doesn’t appear. Close all Chrome processes (check Task Manager or Activity Monitor) and try again. If the shortcut doesn’t work, run the command directly in Command Prompt or Terminal to see any error messages.
Chrome opens with a normal window instead of kiosk. Make sure you typed --kiosk exactly (two dashes) and that there is a space before the URL. Also check that you’re not using a Chrome profile that forces a different startup behavior.
Kiosk mode exits when the user presses Esc or F11. Some versions of Chrome may allow exiting with F11 unless you also add --kiosk-printing or use a policy. For a truly locked-down kiosk, consider using Chrome’s managed kiosk mode (requires a Google Admin console) or a third-party kiosk app.
Website doesn’t load in kiosk mode. Check that the URL is correct and that the site is accessible from the computer. If the site uses pop-ups or requires a specific browser profile, test it in a normal Chrome window first.
Kiosk window is not full-screen. Ensure your display resolution is set correctly and that the browser window is not being constrained by the operating system. Try adding --start-fullscreen to the command.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use kiosk mode on Chrome for Android? Yes, but the process is different. You can use the “Kiosk” feature in Chrome’s settings on Android, or use a dedicated kiosk app that launches Chrome in a locked mode.

How do I exit kiosk mode? On Windows and Linux, press Alt+F4 to close the window. On macOS, press Cmd+Q. If those don’t work, use the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to end the Chrome process.

Can I set a timeout to restart the kiosk automatically? Chrome doesn’t have a built-in timer. You can use a scheduled task (Windows) or a cron job (Linux) to relaunch the shortcut at intervals, or use a third-party kiosk manager.

Does kiosk mode work with multiple monitors? Yes, but you may need to specify which monitor to use. Add --window-position=0,0 and --window-size=1920,1080 (adjust to your screen) to the command.

Can I block the user from leaving the kiosk with keyboard shortcuts? Chrome’s kiosk mode disables most shortcuts, but Ctrl+Alt+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Option+Esc (macOS) can still open system tools. For full lockdown, use a dedicated kiosk software.

Will kiosk mode work if I have multiple Chrome profiles? Yes, but the kiosk command will use the default profile unless you specify one with --profile-directory="Profile 1". It’s best to create a dedicated profile for the kiosk.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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