# Kiosk Mode

Kiosk Mode is designed for shared, public, or commercial setups where you want to prevent users from changing configuration. When active, it hides all tabs except the main source selection tab, giving users a simplified interface that only allows them to start and stop motion.

## What Kiosk Mode Does

When Kiosk Mode is enabled:

* All configuration tabs are hidden — **Profile Editor**, **Sim Config**, **Output**, and **Settings** are removed from view.
* All dock panels (Source Data, Debug Log, Sim Position, Manual Control, Sim Visualization, Gain Display) are hidden.
* Only the **Source** tab remains visible, allowing users to select a game and start/stop motion.
* A **+** tab appears at the end of the tab bar to exit Kiosk Mode (optionally password-protected).

When Kiosk Mode is disabled, all tabs and dock panels are restored to their previous state, including any docks that were detached as independent windows.

***

## Restricted Features in Kiosk Mode

The following features are **not accessible** while Kiosk Mode is active:

| Feature                           | Status in Kiosk Mode                                                                                   |
| --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Profile Editor tab                | Hidden                                                                                                 |
| Sim Config tab                    | Hidden                                                                                                 |
| Output tab                        | Hidden                                                                                                 |
| Settings tab                      | Hidden                                                                                                 |
| Source Data dock                  | Hidden                                                                                                 |
| Debug Log dock                    | Hidden                                                                                                 |
| Sim Position dock                 | Hidden                                                                                                 |
| Manual Control dock               | Hidden                                                                                                 |
| Sim Visualization dock            | Hidden                                                                                                 |
| Gain Display dock                 | Hidden                                                                                                 |
| Right-click context menu settings | Still accessible (by design — context menu actions like Browse Profiles, About, etc. remain available) |
| Keyboard/controller shortcuts     | Still active (gain adjustment, start/stop, pause/resume shortcuts continue to work)                    |

Users in Kiosk Mode **can** still:

* Select a game from the Sources tab.
* Start and stop motion.
* Use keyboard and controller shortcuts for gain adjustment and motion control.

***

## Entering Kiosk Mode

There are two ways to enter Kiosk Mode:

### From Settings

1. Go to the **Settings** tab.
2. Scroll down to the **Kiosk Mode** section.
3. Click **Enter Kiosk Mode**.

### Using the Toggle Tab

Click the **−** tab at the far right end of the tab bar. This immediately enters Kiosk Mode.

### Launch in Kiosk Mode

To start DR Sim Manager in Kiosk Mode automatically:

1. Go to **Settings** → **Kiosk Mode**.
2. Check **Launch in Kiosk Mode**.
3. The next time you start the application, it will open directly in Kiosk Mode.

***

## Exiting Kiosk Mode

While in Kiosk Mode, click the **+** tab at the end of the tab bar.

* If a password is set, you will be prompted to enter it before Kiosk Mode is disabled.
* If no password is set, Kiosk Mode exits immediately.

***

## Password Protection

You can require a password to exit Kiosk Mode, preventing unauthorized users from accessing the configuration tabs.

1. Go to **Settings** → **Kiosk Mode**.
2. Check **Require Password**.
3. Click **Set** to create a password.
4. Enter and confirm your password, then click **Save**.

Once set, anyone trying to exit Kiosk Mode will need to enter the correct password. The password can be changed at any time from Settings by clicking **Set** again — no old password is required to change it from the Settings page.

### Password Recovery

If you forget your Kiosk Mode password, you can reset it by manually editing the configuration file:

1. Close DR Sim Manager completely.
2. Navigate to `%localappdata%\DRSimManager\`.
3. Open `app.json` in a text editor.
4. Find the `"kiosk_password"` field and set its value to `""` (empty string).
5. Find the `"kiosk_mode_password_protected"` field and set its value to `false`.
6. Save the file and relaunch DR Sim Manager.

You can also contact support on [Discord](https://discord.gg/skn2HzpbQy) for assistance.

***

## Commercial / Venue Setup

For kiosks, arcades, VR arcades, and other commercial setups, combine Kiosk Mode with these features for a fully locked-down experience:

1. **Configure your simulator** — Set up Sim Config, Outputs, and a motion profile for each game you want to offer.
2. **Enable Kiosk Mode with password** — In Settings, check **Require Password**, set a strong password, and check **Launch in Kiosk Mode**.
3. **Enable auto-start** — Create a Windows shortcut with [command line arguments](/dr-sim-manager/advanced/command-line-arguments.md):

   ```
   "C:\Program Files\DR Sim Manager\DRSimManager.exe" -minimized -autostart -g <game> -p <profile>
   ```

   Place this shortcut in the Windows Startup folder (`shell:startup`).
4. **Minimize to tray** — Enable **Minimize to System Tray** and **Launch Minimized** in Settings so the application runs silently in the background.
5. **Hide the taskbar** — Use Windows kiosk features or a third-party tool to hide the desktop and taskbar if needed.

This combination ensures the simulator starts automatically when the PC boots, begins motion immediately, and presents a simple interface that end users cannot misconfigure.

{% hint style="info" %}
For venues with multiple games, don't use `-autostart` — instead let users select their game from the Sources tab. The rest of the configuration remains locked behind Kiosk Mode.
{% endhint %}


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