ZillaBooth

Kiosk Mode

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Guided Access keep-awake lockdown, Hide Settings, and optional Single App Mode auto-launch after restart. Requires ZillaBooth Pro.

Run ZillaBooth as a locked-down booth: hide Settings from guests, keep the screen awake with Guided Access, and optionally use Apple Configurator Single App Mode so ZillaBooth auto-launches after a restart or power restore.

🔒 Hide Settings Button

Lock down the camera screen for event use by hiding the settings gear icon. Guests see only the camera view and shutter button — no access to app configuration, no accidental changes, no distractions.

How it works: When enabled, the settings icon is completely removed from the camera screen. Guests using the booth have no way to access or change app settings — the booth experience is exactly what you configured it to be, start to finish.

How to enable: The Hide Settings Button toggle is located in the iOS Settings app under ZillaBooth, not in ZillaBooth’s in-app settings. ZillaBooth Settings → Pro → Hide Settings Button includes a direct link that will open the correct location in iOS Settings — just tap it and toggle the setting on.

How to access settings when this is enabled: With the in-app settings button hidden, you can unhide it by going to the iOS Settings app → ZillaBooth. Disable the Hide Settings toggle, make your adjustments in ZillaBooth, then re-enable it.

Recommended event workflow:

  1. Configure all Pro features and verify everything is working correctly.
  2. Enable Hide Settings Button.
  3. Run a full test session from start to finish — confirm all features work as expected.
  4. Start Guided Access (see Keep Awake section above).
  5. Your booth is fully locked down and ready for guests.

🔋 Keep Awake — Kiosk Mode via Guided Access

Prevent your device from going to sleep during an event — keeping the screen on, the app in the foreground, and the booth running continuously all night. This is achieved using iOS’s built-in Guided Access feature, which also locks the device to ZillaBooth so guests can’t accidentally exit the app or access other features.

Full Guided Access Setup Guide

Guided Access is a built-in iOS accessibility feature that locks your device to a single app and prevents sleep. It’s the most reliable way to run an unattended photo booth. Here’s the complete setup:

Step 1 — Enable Guided Access on Your Device

  1. Open the iOS Settings app.
  2. Go to Accessibility → Guided Access.
  3. Turn on the Guided Access toggle.

Step 2 — Set a Guided Access Passcode

  1. In Guided Access settings, tap Passcode Settings → Set Guided Access Passcode.
  2. Create a 4-digit passcode. This is what you’ll use to exit Guided Access at the end of the event — make sure you remember it.
  3. You can also enable Face ID or Touch ID to exit Guided Access if your device supports it.

Step 3 — Set Display Auto-Lock to Never

  1. Still in Guided Access settings, tap Time Limits.
  2. Set Display Auto-Lock to Never. This prevents the screen from sleeping while Guided Access is running.

Step 4 — Add Guided Access to Accessibility Shortcut

  1. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Accessibility Shortcut (at the very bottom of Accessibility settings).
  2. Select Guided Access. This enables you to start and stop Guided Access by triple-clicking the Side button (iPhone X and later) or Home button (older devices and some iPads).

Step 5 — Configure ZillaBooth for Event Use

  1. In ZillaBooth Settings → Pro, enable Hide Settings Button (see the next section for details). This prevents guests from accessing the settings gear icon on the camera screen.
  2. Configure all other Pro features (Simplified Sharing, Auto-Print, Graphic Overlay, etc.) as desired.
  3. Navigate back to the main camera screen in ZillaBooth.

Step 6 — Start Guided Access

  1. With ZillaBooth open on the camera screen, triple-click the Side or Home button.
  2. The Guided Access configuration screen appears. Set the following options:
    • Sleep/Wake Button: Off (prevents guests from locking the screen)
    • Volume Buttons: Off (prevents accidental volume changes)
    • Motion: Off (disables rotation if you want a fixed orientation)
    • Software Keyboards: On (required for guests to enter their email address)
    • Touch: On
    • Time Limit: Off
  3. Tap Start in the top-right corner. Guided Access is now active.

Step 7 — Ending the Event / Exiting Guided Access

  1. Triple-click the Side or Home button.
  2. Enter your Guided Access passcode (or use Face ID/Touch ID if configured).
  3. Tap End to exit Guided Access and return to normal device operation.

Important notes for event operators:

  • Keep the device plugged in: Keeping the screen on all night uses significant battery. Use a charging cable and power bank or wall outlet during the event.
  • Heat management: Extended high-brightness use can cause the device to warm up. Ensure adequate airflow around the device and consider reducing screen brightness slightly to reduce heat.
  • Test before the event: Always run through the complete Guided Access setup — start it, use the app, and exit it — before your event day. Don’t discover problems with your setup when guests are already arriving.
  • Don’t forget your passcode: You’ll need the Guided Access passcode to exit at the end of the event. Write it down or store it somewhere accessible.

Optional enhancement — Single App Mode (Apple Configurator)

For dedicated photobooth iPads or iPhones — especially permanent installs and rental kits — Single App Mode in Apple Configurator can lock the device to ZillaBooth so the app launches automatically after a restart or when the device powers on again after a dead battery. This is an optional enhancement on top of Guided Access, not a replacement for every event-day setup.

Why it helps: Guided Access locks the booth while you are running an event, but if the iPad reboots or is plugged in after sitting dead overnight, someone must open ZillaBooth again. With Single App Mode active, ZillaBooth reopens immediately after restart — Apple documents that behavior in their Configurator guide.

Guided Access vs Single App Mode

  • Guided Access: Built into iOS Accessibility. Best for temporary, per-event lockdown. You start and end it on the device with a passcode.
  • Single App Mode: Configured from a Mac with Apple Configurator on a supervised device. Survives restart and power restore. Ending it requires Configurator (or MDM) — not a triple-click on the device alone.

Requirements

  • A Mac with Apple Configurator installed.
  • USB connection to the iPhone or iPad.
  • ZillaBooth installed on the device.
  • The device must be supervised (Configurator can supervise during prepare). Single App Mode is not available on unsupervised consumer devices without that step.
  • No MDM enrollment is required for this local Configurator path — supervision via Configurator is enough.

How to enable (summary)

  1. In Apple Configurator, select the supervised device or Blueprint.
  2. Choose Actions → Advanced → Start Single App Mode (or Control-click → Advanced → Start Single App Mode).
  3. Select ZillaBooth as the only available app.
  4. Click Options to set which hardware buttons and features stay available, then Apply / Select App.

Follow Apple’s full steps here: Set Single App Mode in Apple Configurator for Mac.

Photobooth option tips

Apple’s option table is documented in Single App Mode features. For an unattended booth:

  • Sleep/Wake Button and Auto-Lock — disable these so guests (or a power blip) cannot put the booth to sleep as easily.
  • Volume Buttons / Side Switch — disable if you do not want guests changing volume or mute; leave enabled if an attendant uses volume as a shutter with Bluetooth Remote / hardware triggers.
  • Touch — keep enabled for guest taps on the shutter (disabling touch locks the screen to non-interactive).
  • Motion — disable auto-rotate if the booth is mounted in a fixed orientation.
  • Accessibility options (VoiceOver, Zoom, etc.) — leave off unless you intentionally need them for your venue.

Do not invent options beyond Apple’s published list — use Configurator’s Options panel as the source of truth.

Ending Single App Mode

Return to Apple Configurator on your Mac, select the device, and use Advanced controls to stop Single App Mode. Operators need Mac access (or MDM) to exit — plan that into your kit checkout/return workflow.

Related in ZillaBooth: Combine with Auto-Restart and System Monitoring for app-level session recovery and email alerts while the OS keeps ZillaBooth in the foreground.

  • Guided Access and/or Single App Mode for OS-level lockdown.
  • Hide Settings Button so guests stay in the camera experience.
  • Auto-Restart to return to the camera after inactivity.
  • Event Readiness Dashboard before doors open.
  • System Monitoring for admin email alerts during the event.
  • Auto-Restart — After inactivity, return to the camera view so the booth is ready for the next guest.
  • Event Readiness Dashboard — Live pre-flight checklist for power, storage, printer, network, and event settings.
  • System Monitoring — Email booth alerts and status digests to an admin; on-screen alerts with iPad Event Layout.
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