How to Use Kiosk Mode in Microsoft Internet Explorer

ID: Q154780

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0, 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows 95
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows 98
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows NT 4.0

SUMMARY

Internet Explorer includes a Kiosk mode feature that allows you to only access Web pages. This article describes how to use the Kiosk mode feature in Internet Explorer. The following topics are discussed:

Starting Internet Explorer in Kiosk mode
Quitting Internet Explorer when running in Kiosk mode
Keyboard shortcuts for Kiosk mode

MORE INFORMATION

When you run Internet Explorer in Kiosk mode, the Internet Explorer title bar, menus, toolbars, and status bar are not displayed and Internet Explorer runs in Full Screen mode. The Windows 95 taskbar is not displayed, but you can switch to other running programs using the ALT+TAB or CTRL+ALT+DEL key combinations. Because Internet Explorer is running in Full Screen mode, you cannot access the Windows 95 desktop until you quit Internet Explorer.

Starting Internet Explorer in Kiosk Mode

To start Internet Explorer in Kiosk mode, click Start, click Run, type the following command in the Open box, and then click OK:

   iexplore -k <page>

where <page> is the Web page that you want to appear when Internet Explorer starts. If you do not specify a Web page in the command line, Internet Explorer uses the current start page. Note that the Web page you specify on the command line can be a Web page on the Internet, your computer, or another computer on the network.

For example, to start Internet Explorer in Kiosk mode and cause the Microsoft World Wide Web site to appear, type the following command in the Open box:

   iexplore -k www.microsoft.com

To start Internet Explorer in Kiosk mode and cause a Web page called HomePage.htm located in the My Documents folder on your computer to appear, type the following command line in the Open box:

   iexplore -k "c:\my documents\homepage.htm"

To start Internet Explorer in Kiosk mode and cause a Web page called HomePage.htm located on another computer on the network to appear, type the following command line in the Open box

   iexplore -k \\<server>\<share>\homepage.htm

where <server> and <share> are the network server and share on which the Web page is located.

Quitting Internet Explorer When Running in Kiosk Mode

To quit Internet Explorer when it is running in Kiosk mode, use the ALT+F4 key combination. Note that you cannot quit Kiosk mode without quitting Internet Explorer.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Kiosk Mode

   Key combination   Function
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   CTRL+A            Select all (editing)
   CTRL+B            Organize favorites
   CTRL+C            Copy (editing)
   CTRL+F            Find (on current page)
   CTRL+H            View History folder
   CTRL+L            Open Location dialog box
   CTRL+N            New window (opens in non-Kiosk mode)
   CTRL+O            Open Location dialog box (same as CTRL+L)
   CTRL+P            Print
   CTRL+R            Refresh
   CTRL+S            Save
   CTRL+V            Paste (editing)
   CTRL+W            Close (same as ALT+F4)
   CTRL+X            Cut (editing)
   ALT+F4            Close
   ALT+LEFT ARROW    Back
   ALT+RIGHT ARROW   Forward
   ESC               Stop
   F5                Refresh

Additional query words: 4.00 5.00

Keywords          : msiew95 msient msiew98 
Version           : 4.0,4.01,5.0,98
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: March 18, 1999