How To Launch Web Browsers In Kiosk Mode (Full Screen) From CLI In Linux

Some times you might want to run an application (especially a web application) 24/7 in full-screen mode. In this guide, we will see how to launch web browsers in kiosk mode (full screen) from command line in Linux.

What is Kiosk Mode?

In big shopping malls, you might have noticed a Computer monitor, usually hanged on a wall, displays a specific application in full screen all day, every day.

Not just in malls, you might have seen this in many places, such as Restaurants, Libraries, and Public transportation etc. You will not see the desktop environment or the OS, but only the app running in full-screen or kiosk mode.

Running the apps in kiosk mode provides an easy-to-understand experience for the users by putting in front of them only the things they need to use, and removing from their view the things they don’t need to access.

You could, of course, simply hit the F11 key to display the browser in full screen. However, you need to manually do it every time after launching the browser.

By running browser in Kiosk mode, the app will automatically launch in full screen. The users can't bring it back to normal window by pressing F11 key.

When you run browsers in Kiosk mode,

• you will not see the desktop or OS details,
• the X (close) button will be hidden,
• F11 key will not work,
• the menu bars, tool bars will not be visible,
• the status bar at the bottom will not be visible.
• the right-click context menu won't work.
• the destination links will not visible when hovering over links.

Launch Web Browsers in Kiosk Mode (Full Screen)

For the purpose of this guide, we will see how to launch Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome and its open source version Chromium, and Microsoft Edge browsers in kiosk mode.

Run Mozilla Firefox in Kiosk Mode

To run Mozilla Firefox in kiosk mode or full-screen, simply run the following command from the Terminal:

$ firefox -kiosk https://ostechnix.com

You can also use double dashes (--) for kiosk option.

$ firefox --kiosk https://ostechnix.com

Replace the URL with your own.

Now the web browser will open the given website in full-screen mode. The address bar, menu bar, tool bar and status bar will not be visible.

You can't use F11 key to bring the browser back to normal mode. The browser will keep running until you press ALT+F4 key to manually close the browser window.

If the above command doesn't work, try the following command:

$ firefox --kiosk --app=https://ostechnix.com

You can also start a private browser window (incognito) in Kiosk mode like below:

$ firefox -kiosk -private-window https://ostechnix.com

Run Google Chrome / Chromium in Kiosk Mode

To run Google Chrome or Chromium browsers in Kiosk mode, do:

$ google-chrome -kiosk https://ostechnix.com

$ chromium-browser -kiosk https://ostechnix.com

Similarly, you can launch a private browser window using commands:

$ google-chrome -kiosk -private-window https://ostechnix.com

$ chromium-browser -kiosk -private-window https://ostechnix.com

If you can't start Chrome/Chromium in Kiosk mode using above commands, try the following command instead:

$ google-chrome --kiosk --app=https://ostechnix.com

$ chromium-browser --kiosk --app=https://ostechnix.com

Press ALT+F4 key to manually close the browser window.

Run Microsoft Edge in Kiosk Mode

To run Microsoft Edge browser in Kiosk mode, do:

$ microsoft-edge --kiosk https://ostechnix.com/

Similarly, you can launch a private browser window using commands:

$ microsoft-edge -kiosk -private-window https://ostechnix.com

Microsoft Edge browser supports a few additional parameters. Look at the following example.

$ microsoft-edge --kiosk https://ostechnix.com --edge-kiosk-type=public-browsing --kiosk-idle-timeout-minutes=1

Here, the --edge-kiosk-type=public-browsing parameter is used to run a limited multi-tab version of Microsoft Edge in kiosk mode. This will open Microsoft Edge in kiosk mode with support for limited tabs and a Microsoft Edge InPrivate session, which protects user data.

And the --kiosk-idle-timeout-minutes parameter is used to change the time (in minutes) from the last user activity before Microsoft Edge kiosk mode resets the user’s session by closing the browser.

The following values are supported:

Default values:

• Full screen - turned off
• Public browsing - 5 minutes

Allowed values:

• 0 - turns off the timer
• 1-1440 minutes for reset on idle timer

Press ALT+F4 key to manually close the browser window.

Hide Mouse pointer in Kiosk devices

One common problem in Kiosk devices is the mouse pointer. The mouse cursor may distract the user or obstruct the screen area the users looking at. To fix this issue, you can automatically hide the mouse pointer after a certain period of time. For more details, refer the following guide:

• Auto Hide Mouse Pointer Using Unclutter After A Certain time

Disable screen lock and power saving

If you want to run your system in Kiosk mode, you need to prevent the screen from automatically turning off or going idle after a specific time.

In GNOME desktops, the screen will go blank after 5 minutes of inactivity. To disable the Screen lock, go to Settings -> Privacy -> Screen Lock and set "Never" for Blank Screen Delay option. Also disable Automatic Screen Lock option and disable notifications on Lock screen.

And then go to Settings -> Power section and disable "Dim Screen When Inactive" option and set "Never" for Blank Screen option.

If you are running any third-party app indicators, or screensaver applications, you need to disable them as well.

Visual demo

Here is a short visual demonstration to run web browsers in kiosk or full-screen mode from command line in Linux and Unix-like operating systems.

Hope this helps.