An Android tablet can make a convenient Home Assistant wall panel, but opening a dashboard in a browser is only the first step. A useful kiosk should return to the right screen, stay awake when needed, recover after interruptions, and avoid exposing controls or account details to every passerby.
This guide explains the main kiosk options and a practical setup path. Menu names vary by Android version and kiosk app, so treat the steps as a checklist rather than an exact map of every screen. If you are still choosing hardware, see our guides to choosing a tablet for a Home Assistant wall dashboard and Android tablets versus iPads for a wall dashboard.
What “kiosk mode” means for Home Assistant
Kiosk mode can mean two different things. At the dashboard level, it hides interface elements such as the Home Assistant sidebar and top bar. At the device level, it keeps the tablet focused on a particular app or web page and limits access to Android’s home screen and other apps. A polished wall panel often needs both.
Home Assistant’s standard web interface does not, by itself, lock Android into a dashboard. You can use a browser or a dedicated kiosk browser to display the interface, then configure Android or the kiosk app to manage screen behavior and access. A custom Lovelace option such as the HACS “kiosk-mode” integration can hide Home Assistant navigation, but it does not lock down the tablet.
Choose how the tablet will display the dashboard
Home Assistant Companion app
The official Android app is a straightforward choice if you want Home Assistant features that use the phone or tablet operating system, such as device sensors and app notifications. It can open your dashboard, but it is not a complete dedicated-device lock by itself. Android’s screen pinning may keep the app in front for casual use; it is not the same as centrally managed kiosk lockdown.
A kiosk browser
A kiosk browser is useful when the tablet’s main job is to show one dashboard continuously. Depending on the app and Android version, it may offer options for full-screen display, keeping the screen awake, reloading a page, or starting after a reboot. Check which features are available in the version you install, and review permissions before enabling them.
For a personal home panel, a kiosk browser plus a restricted Home Assistant dashboard is often a practical balance. For a shared office or reception area, consider whether you need Android’s managed lock-task setup rather than a simple pinned app. Google explains the distinction and requirements in its documentation on Android dedicated devices and lock task mode.
Home Assistant kiosk mode Android tablet setup
1. Prepare a dedicated dashboard
Before configuring the tablet, make a dashboard that suits its location. A kitchen panel might prioritize lights, timers, climate, and a few room scenes. A hallway panel may need only lighting, alarm status, and a camera preview. Put frequently used controls near the top and avoid making the first view a dense collection of tiny cards.
Use a separate Home Assistant user for the tablet if your setup allows it. Give that user only the access it needs, and test the dashboard while signed in as that user. A wall-mounted screen is easy for guests, children, or visitors to reach; it should not casually expose administrative settings or private information. Remember that hiding a card is not a substitute for restricting access to sensitive entities.
2. Set up the display app
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Install the Home Assistant Companion app or your chosen kiosk browser from a trusted app source.
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Open Home Assistant and sign in using the tablet’s dedicated account. If using a browser, enter your normal Home Assistant address. For access away from home, use your established secure remote-access method rather than exposing an unprotected instance to the internet.
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Navigate to the dashboard and view you want to use. In the kiosk app, set that page as the start page or start URL if the feature is available.
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Enable full-screen or immersive display if you want to hide Android’s status and navigation bars. Test how you will exit the app before mounting the tablet.
Some kiosk browsers can automatically reload a page after a crash or at a chosen interval. Avoid aggressive refresh schedules: frequent reloads can interrupt a person using a control and may conceal an underlying connection problem rather than fix it.
3. Keep the tablet available without overheating it
Decide whether the screen should stay on all day, wake when tapped, or turn off on a schedule. Continuous display is convenient but increases power use and can contribute to image retention on some screens. If your tablet supports a screen saver, dimming, or scheduled sleep, test those features in the actual mounting location.
Android’s developer settings may include a “stay awake while charging” option, but it is not present or labeled identically on every device. A kiosk app may also have screen-on controls. Use one method first, then check whether the tablet sleeps after a real period of inactivity. Set brightness as low as remains readable from the normal viewing distance.
Plan charging before mounting. A cable should not pull against the connector, and the tablet should have some airflow. If the screen is warm or the battery swells, stop using it and address the hardware issue; kiosk settings cannot make an unsuitable or damaged tablet safe.
4. Limit accidental exits
For light household use, Android screen pinning can make it harder to leave the current app accidentally. Look in Android settings for “App pinning” or “Screen pinning”; the exact path depends on the manufacturer. Enable the option, open the dashboard app, and use Android’s recent-apps screen to pin it. Learn the unpin gesture and protect it with a device PIN if appropriate.
Screen pinning is not strong kiosk security. Someone who knows the unpin method or device credentials may still leave the app. In a workplace where the panel is shared, a managed Android device configured for lock task mode may be more suitable, though it takes additional setup and device-management knowledge. Do not assume a consumer tablet offers the same controls as an organization-managed device.
Make the dashboard readable and dependable
Use larger touch targets than you would on a desktop dashboard, and leave space between controls to reduce mis-taps. Test the layout in portrait and landscape if the tablet might rotate. Avoid relying on color alone to communicate a device’s state; labels and clear icons help people with different levels of vision or smart-home experience.
Keep the panel focused. A wall display is not the best place for every entity in the house, and a live camera feed may raise privacy concerns in a shared area. For a small business, such as a studio or reception desk, make controls limited to the staff’s actual tasks and avoid displaying household-style personal data. Confirm who can see the screen and who can change its configuration.
Finally, test recovery. Restart the tablet, interrupt Wi-Fi briefly, and reopen the dashboard. Confirm it returns to the correct view and that controls recover when the network comes back. A dashboard that looks good only immediately after setup is not yet a dependable wall panel.
Troubleshooting common problems
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The page shows a login screen: Check whether the session expired, the tablet’s date and time are correct, or the app’s stored session was cleared. Sign in again and verify the tablet account has the required permissions.
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The tablet returns to the home screen: Check battery optimization and app power settings for the chosen display app. Confirm screen pinning or kiosk settings are enabled, then test after a reboot.
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Home Assistant controls appear stale: Check Wi-Fi strength where the tablet is mounted. Reload the page once and look for broader Home Assistant or network issues before increasing automatic refresh frequency.
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Navigation bars remain visible: Confirm full-screen mode is enabled in the app and check whether Android’s gesture or system-bar behavior limits immersive display on that device.
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The screen is hard to use: Increase card and text sizes, reduce the number of controls on the view, and adjust brightness. Test from the distance people will actually stand.
FAQ
Can I use the Home Assistant Companion app as a kiosk?
Yes, it can display a Home Assistant dashboard, but the app alone does not necessarily prevent access to other Android apps or settings. Pair it with screen pinning or suitable device-management controls if limiting exits matters.
Does Lovelace kiosk-mode lock Android?
No. It can hide parts of Home Assistant’s interface, depending on how it is installed and configured, but it does not lock the tablet to Home Assistant. Device-level controls are a separate setup.
Will a kiosk dashboard work without internet?
It may work over your local network if the tablet can reach Home Assistant and your setup does not depend on an external connection. Test locally with the internet connection unavailable; remote access, cloud services, and some integrations may not work.
Should I leave the tablet screen on all the time?
That depends on how quickly you need the panel available, the display type, and the mounting environment. Try dimming, a screen saver, or scheduled sleep, and check temperature and charging behavior during normal use.
Is screen pinning secure enough for a shared business space?
It can prevent accidental app switching, but it is not equivalent to a managed dedicated device. If visitors or staff should not be able to exit the dashboard or reach device settings, investigate Android lock-task deployment and limit what the Home Assistant account can control.