How to Set Up a Check-in Kiosk on an Android Tablet

A check-in kiosk is a tablet on your front counter that clients tap to sign themselves in. It's handy for clients who don't want to scan a QR code with their own phone, and it looks polished at the desk. The screen clears itself after every check-in.

Turn on the kiosk

1. Click Turns & Checkins in the top menu (on phones, the Turns tab).
2. Tap the gear icon to open Turn Tracker Settings.
3. Under Customer Check-in, turn on Enable Front Desk Kiosk.

A kiosk QR code and the Tablet Setup Guide appear below the switch.

Install it on the tablet

You need an Android tablet running Android 8.0 or newer, with Chrome.

1. On the tablet, open the Camera app and scan the kiosk QR code. Tap the link to open it in Chrome.
2. In Chrome, tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner, then Install app, then Install.
3. Close Chrome and open the new app from the Home Screen. It runs full screen with no browser bars.

No camera handy? Under the setup guide, tap the copy icon next to the kiosk link and open that link on the tablet instead.

Lock the tablet to the kiosk

So clients can't wander off into other apps:

1. On the tablet, go to Settings, then Security, then App pinning, and turn it on. The exact path varies by tablet, so search "pin" in Settings if you can't find it.
2. Open the kiosk app, swipe up and hold to show Recent Apps.
3. Tap the app icon at the top of its card and choose Pin this app.
4. Place the tablet at the front desk, plugged in and facing clients.

Heads up: Keep the tablet plugged in. A kiosk that's on all day drains the battery fast.

What clients see

The kiosk shows the same check-in screen as QR code check-in, with your salon name and three choices:

• I Have an Appointment: they type their phone number and tap Check In.
• I'd Like a Specific Technician: they enter their name, pick a staff member and tap Join Waiting List.
• Anyone Available: they enter their name and tap Join Waiting List.

Check-ins show up on your Turns & Checkins page right away:

• Walk-ins (a specific technician or anyone available) join the Customer Check-in Queue. Tap Served when someone takes the client.
• Appointments go to the Checked In list under the queue. There's nothing to tap there. It just shows who has arrived.

How the kiosk resets itself

The kiosk is built to run all day without anyone touching it:

• After a check-in: the screen shows You're All Set!, then goes back to the start on its own after about 5 seconds. There's no Done button to tap.
• If someone walks away mid-check-in: after 45 seconds with no taps, it asks Still there? and counts down 15 seconds. Tapping I'm still here keeps their progress. Otherwise it resets.

QR code, kiosk or both?

• QR code: free, nothing to buy, works with any phone with a camera.
• Kiosk: better for clients who aren't comfortable scanning codes, and looks professional at the desk. Needs an Android tablet.
• Both: many salons put the tablet on the counter and a printed QR code by the door, so a line never forms at the tablet.