Setting Up a Kiosk
Turn any tablet or computer with a camera into a clock-in station using TempClock's kiosk mode.
What Is a Kiosk?
A quick overview of what a TempClock kiosk is and how it works.
A kiosk is simply any device with a camera and a web browser that you set up at a location entrance for workers to clock in and out. There is no special app to install — everything runs in the browser.
Tablets (iPad, Android), laptops, or desktop computers all work. The only requirement is a camera and a modern browser.
The kiosk runs as a web page in the browser. No downloads, no installation, no app store.
The kiosk uses the device camera to recognise workers by their face. Clock-ins are hands-free and take a few seconds.
Each location gets its own unique kiosk URL. You can have multiple kiosks at the same location if needed.
Before You Start
Make sure you have these things ready.
Before you start
- A TempClock account with at least one location set up
- At least one worker assigned to that location
- A tablet, laptop, or computer with a front-facing camera
- A stable internet connection at the location
- The device should have a modern browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox)
Generating Your Kiosk URL
Each location gets a unique kiosk URL from the manage portal.
Log in to the manage portal
Go to tempclock.co.uk/manage and sign in.
Navigate to Settings > Kiosk Setup
Click Settings in the sidebar, then click Kiosk Setup. You will see a list of your locations, each with its own kiosk settings.
Find your location
Locate the site you want to set up a kiosk for. Each location row shows its unique kiosk URL and a set of configuration options.
Copy the kiosk URL
Click the Copy URL button next to your location. This copies the unique kiosk URL to your clipboard. You will open this URL on the device at your location.
Each kiosk URL is unique and tied to a specific location. Do not share kiosk URLs publicly — anyone with the URL could access the clock-in screen for that site.
Opening the Kiosk on Your Device
Set up the kiosk on the tablet or computer at your location.
Open the browser on the device
On the tablet or computer you want to use as a kiosk, open a web browser. Chrome or Safari work best, but any modern browser will do.
Go to the kiosk URL
Type or paste the kiosk URL you copied from the manage portal. For example: tempclock.co.uk/kiosk/bw-a7x9k2
Allow camera access
The browser will ask for permission to use the camera. You must tap Allow for the kiosk to work. Without camera access, facial recognition cannot function.
Wait for the kiosk to load
The kiosk screen will appear showing your location name and a live camera feed. The status will show Ready for Clock-In when everything is working.
On iPads and Android tablets, we recommend adding the kiosk page to the home screen. This opens it in full-screen mode without browser controls, which looks much more professional. On iPad, tap the share icon then "Add to Home Screen". On Android, tap the three-dot menu then "Add to Home screen".
How Workers Clock In
What happens when a worker approaches the kiosk.
Once the kiosk is running, the clock-in process for workers is quick and simple:
The worker approaches the kiosk
The camera detects movement and begins looking for a face. The worker just needs to stand in front of the screen — no buttons to press.
The kiosk recognises them
Using facial recognition, the kiosk identifies the worker and displays their name on screen. This typically takes 1–2 seconds.
The worker confirms and clocks in or out
The worker sees their name and photo, then taps Clock In or Clock Out. A confirmation message appears with the time recorded.
If a worker has not registered their face yet, the kiosk will guide them through a quick registration process. They select their name from a list, look at the camera, and they are set up in about 10 seconds.
Lock Mode for Dedicated Devices
Prevent workers from navigating away from the kiosk screen.
If you are using a dedicated tablet or computer as a kiosk, you probably do not want people closing the browser or opening other apps. Lock mode helps with this.
Lock mode hides the browser address bar and navigation controls, and prevents users from swiping away or opening other apps.
In Settings > Kiosk Setup, click Settings next to your location and toggle on Lock Mode. The kiosk page will reload in full-screen mode.
For iPads, we also recommend enabling Guided Access in iOS Settings > Accessibility. This locks the iPad to the kiosk app and disables the home button.
On Android tablets, use the built-in Screen Pinning feature (Settings > Security > Screen Pinning) to lock the browser in place.
For the best experience with a dedicated kiosk device, combine TempClock's lock mode with your device's built-in kiosk or guided access feature. This prevents workers from accidentally (or intentionally) navigating away.
QR Code Setup
Quickly set up a new kiosk device by scanning a QR code.
Instead of typing the kiosk URL manually on a device, you can generate a QR code and scan it. This is especially useful when setting up multiple kiosks or when your site manager needs to get a new device running quickly.
Go to Settings > Kiosk Setup
Find the location you want to set up and click the QR Code button.
A QR code appears on screen
The manage portal displays a large QR code that encodes the kiosk URL for that location.
Scan with the kiosk device
Open the camera app on the tablet or phone you want to use. Point it at the QR code. Tap the link that appears to open the kiosk page directly.
You can also print the QR code and stick it near the kiosk location. If the device ever needs replacing, the site manager can scan the printed code on a new tablet and be up and running in seconds.
Hardware Recommendations
Tips on choosing and setting up the right device.
TempClock works on any device with a camera and a browser, but here are our recommendations for the best experience:
A 10-inch tablet (iPad or Android) is the most popular choice. It is portable, has a good built-in camera, and is easy to wall-mount.
A front-facing camera with at least 2 megapixels works well. Most tablets made in the last 5 years will be fine. Better cameras mean faster face recognition.
Mount the tablet at roughly chest-to-head height near the entrance. Wall mounts or desk stands with locks are ideal. Make sure the camera is at face level.
The device needs a stable internet connection — Wi-Fi is fine. If Wi-Fi is unreliable at your site, consider a tablet with mobile data (4G/5G).
Keep the device plugged in at all times. Running the camera and screen all day will drain the battery. Use a secure charging cable near the mount.
At least 8 inches is recommended so workers can easily see and tap the buttons. 10-inch tablets offer the best balance of size and cost.
You do not need to buy expensive equipment. A basic iPad (9th generation or newer) or a Samsung Galaxy Tab A series tablet will work perfectly and cost under £350.
What's Next?
Your kiosk is live and workers can clock in. Here is what to do next.
With your kiosk set up, workers can now start clocking in and out using facial recognition. The final step is to invite the rest of your team to the manage portal so they can help run things.
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