Why kiosk setup is different
App and web channels run on phones and browsers the customer already owns. A kiosk is hardware you put on the floor:- The tablet must stay on your kiosk app, not the public Play Store
- Staff should not be able to install other apps or leave the ordering screen
- You need a way to enroll many tablets with a QR, not by installing an APK by hand
- You need a way to push a new version of the app to every store without walking tablet to tablet
Create a kiosk channel
If you do not have a kiosk channel yet, follow Set up channels and set Type to Kiosk. When you open that channel from Channels, you land in the kiosk hub (Channels → the kiosk channel). The header describes devices, releases, and session settings. Tabs across the top are Settings, Devices, Releases, and Health.
Opening a kiosk channel does not open the generic channel page. It opens the
kiosk hub so device and release work stay in one place.
Work through the hub in this order
1
Review Settings
Settings is available before Play is connected. Use it for session timeouts and health thresholds. MDM fields (package name, lock mode) matter after Play is connected and you are ready to lock tablets.
2
Link tablets on Devices
Open Devices and click Link device. Type the hardware-stable code shown on the tablet splash (QR or text). The tablet polls Link kiosk device until it is claimed, then stores store, channel, settings, and payment overrides.
3
Connect Google Play (optional)
A card on Releases asks you to Connect a Google Play account when you want MDM lock or private APKs. Follow Connect a Google Play account.
4
Enroll tablets in MDM
After Play is active, open each linked device and follow Enroll a kiosk in MDM. That is Attach MDM, a factory reset, and the enrollment QR. Releases only install on enrolled tablets.
5
Publish builds on Releases
After tablets are
ENROLLED, Releases uploads the private APK to Managed Play and rolls it out in phases. Dedicated release steps will live in a later guide.6
Watch Health
Health groups tablets by store and flags low battery, offline, or not-operational devices. It does not require a separate Play action once devices are enrolled.
What you see in the hub today
Next
Connect a Google Play account
Why Fire spark needs Play, and how to connect a new account or reuse one already in this organization
Enroll a kiosk in MDM
Attach MDM on a linked tablet, scan the QR after a factory reset, then use Releases
Link kiosk device
Storefront API for the tablet code, heartbeat, overrides, and realtime token