Single-app mode policies

Single-app mode enables you to configure an iOS device for kiosk use, restricting use of the device to the designated app. For example, you might want to configure an iPad for use as an electronic catalog. The Home button and features such as taking a screenshot or receiving notifications are disabled. The device returns to the specified app automatically when it wakes or is rebooted.

Note the following:

  • Single-app mode policy applies only to supervised devices running iOS 6 or supported newer versions.
  • AppConnect apps or in-house apps developed with the AppConnect wrapper (including AppConnect apps available on the Apple App Store, such as Ivanti Email+ for iOS and Ivanti Web@Work for iOS) cannot run in single-app mode.
  • The single-app mode policy is different from the single-app mode restriction, which allows you to whitelist apps capable of autonomously running in single-app mode. For more information about the single-app mode restriction, see iOS / tvOS settings.
  • Make sure to install the app you want to use in single-app mode before placing your devices in single-app mode, otherwise, the device will get stuck in single-app mode without an app.

Procedure

  1. Select Policies & Configs > Policies > Add New > iOS and macOS > iOS Only > Single-App Mode.

  2. In the New Single-App Mode Policy dialog box, use the following guidelines to complete this form:

    Item

    Description

    Name

    Required. Enter a descriptive name for this policy. This is the text that will be displayed to identify this policy throughout the Admin Portal. This name must be unique within this policy type.

    It is recommended to use unique names across policy types to allow for clearer log entries.

    Status

    Select Active to enable the policy, or Inactive to disable it.

    Only one active single-app mode policy can be applied to a device. You can define two single-app mode policies and send them to supervised devices, for example, as long as only one of the policies is active. You can easily switch policies by inactivating the policy you want to disable and then forcing a device check-in. Supervised devices can have any number of policies that you can activate at any time, but only one policy is active.

    Priority

    Specifies the priority of this policy relative to the other custom policies of the same type. This priority determines which policy is applied if more than one policy is available.

    Select Higher than or Lower than, then select an existing policy from the drop-down list.

    For example, to give Policy A a higher priority than Policy B, you would select “Higher than” and “Policy B”.

    Priority will only work when the policies (lower and higher priority) are applied together via label to the device after it's initial registration is done. In this case, higher priority will take precedence; for the rest of the cases, priority will not work.

    Description

    Enter an explanation of the purpose of this policy.

    Identifier

    Enter the bundle ID of the app to be used in single-app mode. Example: com.apple.mobilesafari.

    Settings (These settings apply only to supervised devices running iOS 7 through iOS 9.3.)

    Auto Lock

    Select to enable iOS to put the screen to sleep after a set period.

    Device Rotation

    Select to enable device rotation.

    Mono Audio

    Select to play all audio through a single mono channel.

    Ringer Switch

    Select to enable the ringer switch so that device users can use it to mute the sound on the device.

    Sleep/Wake Button

    Select to enable the Sleep/Wake button so that device users can put to sleep or wake their devices.

    Speak Selection

    Select to enable speak selection.

    Touch Screen

    Select to enable basic touch controls, such as tapping and pinching.

    Volume Buttons

    Select to enable volume adjustments using the volume buttons.

    User Enabled Settings

    Enable

    Assistive Touch

    Select to enable Assistive Touch so that device users can modify their screen interactions and use a compatible adaptive accessory.

    Aside from activating these settings on supervised devices, you can also enable device users to manage these options for themselves.

    Select Enable for each setting you want device users to control themselves.

    Invert Colors

    Select to enable the use of invert colors. Invert color displays are high contrast, and can be helpful for visually impaired device users.

    Voice Over

    Select to enable Voice Over controls used to enter text or perform other tasks using voice, such as the device reading aloud artifacts that a device user taps.

    Zoom

    Select to allow device users to magnify the screen.
  3. Click Save.
  4. Apply the policy to the relevant labels.

Finding the bundle ID

To determine the bundle ID:

  1. Sync your device to your iTunes library.
  2. On your PC or Mac, open the Mobile Applications folder in the iTunes library.
  3. Duplicate the app file and assign a .zip extension.
  4. Open the iTunesMetadata.plist file in the zip file.
  5. Find the softwareVersionBundleId key in the list.