After setting up your Home Assistant dashboard, you can access it in various ways: through a browser on your phone or desktop, via companion apps for Android and iOS, and even on your car’s screen. One of the most useful ways to control the Home Assistant dashboard, however, is on a tablet mounted on a wall in your home. I’ve recommended a 3D printed plastic mount that allows you to do that here.
On the tablet, you can use a browser or the companion app, but I’ve found that the most convenient way to display the Home Assistant dashboard on Android tablets is with a software called Fully Kiosk Browser.
Fully Kiosk Browser allows you to open the Home Assistant dashboard and prevents kids from (accidentally or intentionally) exiting the dashboard, allows the screen to go to sleep and wake up automatically when someone is in front of it (which is really cool), and can become its own motion detector sensor for Home Assistant automations. It also enables remote control of the tablet and its settings, recovers the dashboard after tablet updates or unexpected errors, and much more. While there is a free version, I recommend the paid option as it is a one-time fee and well worth the upgrade.
Installing Fully Kiosk Browser
Fully Kiosk Browser is one of the most popular tools to transform your wall-mounted tablet into a control center for Home Assistant. It provides features like full-screen browsing, motion detection, and remote control options, making it a great option for your smart home setup.
To install Fully Kiosk Browser, follow the steps below:
- For Android: Download from Google Play Store
- Amazon Fire: for those using an Amazon Fire Tablet, it’s highly recommended to download the APK directly from the Fully Kiosk website. This method ensures compatibility and access to the latest features, which might not always be available on the Amazon App Store.
- For iOS: Fully Kiosk Browser is not available for iOS. Sorry! For wall mounting iPads I simply use the Home Assistant Companion app for iOS. It doesn’t have nearly the same features, but it at least allows showing the Home Assistant dashboard full screen (and there’s a way to lock it in Kiosk Mode using Apple Guide Access feature).
After downloading and installing the app, you can begin setting up your tablet as a dedicated dashboard for Home Assistant.
Important Settings in Fully Kiosk Browser Configuration
Once you’ve installed Fully Kiosk Browser, it’s time to optimize the settings for the best smart home experience. These settings can be accessed by swiping right from the main Fully Kiosk Browser main page.
- Start URL:
- This is where you input the URL of your Home Assistant dashboard. It ensures the dashboard loads automatically whenever Fully Kiosk Browser starts.
- How to Set: Navigate to Settings > Web Content Settings > Start URL, and enter your Home Assistant dashboard’s local IP or remote address.
- Black Wallpaper:
- To keep your dashboard looking sleek when idle, you can set a black wallpaper. This helps in reducing glare and gives your tablet a minimalistic look when it’s not in use.
- How to Set: Go to Settings > Device Management > Set Wallpaper, and choose a solid black wallpaper.
- I recommend setting a black wallpaper and NOT using the option to turn off the screen. Turning off the screen means it takes longer to turn on, sometimes not smoothly. Black wallpaper serves the purpose of saving energy, being aesthetic and is faster to wake up from.
- Stop Wallpaper on Motion:
- Fully Kiosk Browser supports motion detection using the tablet’s camera. With this setting, the wallpaper will disappear and the dashboard will automatically display when motion is detected. This is a great way to conserve energy while ensuring that your dashboard is available as soon as you approach it.
- How to Set: Enable Settings > Motion Detection (PLUS) > Stop Wallpaper on Motion. Ensure motion detection is enabled to use this feature effectively.
- Hide Navigation Bar:
- To give a full-screen experience, you can hide the Android navigation bar so that your Home Assistant dashboard takes up the entire display.
- How to Set: Enable Settings > Web Browsing Settings > Hide System Navigation Bar.
- Remote Administration:
- Fully Kiosk Browser allows you to control the tablet remotely via its built-in remote administration feature. You can reboot, change the URL, and tweak other settings without physically accessing the device.
- How to Set: Go to Settings > Remote Administration (PLUS), and enable remote control. You’ll need the Fully Kiosk Plus license for this feature.
These settings allow you to customize the Fully Kiosk Browser for your specific needs, making your Home Assistant dashboard even more responsive and efficient when accessed from your wall-mounted tablet.
Known Issue
There’s an issue I’ve encountered that I haven’t been able to fully resolve — the dashboard displayed on Fully Kiosk Browser never looks exactly the same as it does on a Chrome browser on your computer. It seems to be related to different built-in layout rules in Fully Kiosk Browser, leading to slight pixel mismatches. For example, two columns of buttons that appear perfectly aligned in Chrome may not line up as neatly in Fully Kiosk Browser. Because of this, I always fine-tune my dashboard to look perfect on Fully Kiosk Browser first, rather than focusing on how it appears in Chrome. This involves a bit of trial and error, adjusting icon sizes and tweaking layout boxes until everything fits just right. If you’ve figured out what’s causing this or know a solution to make both setups identical, feel free to share in the comments below!
Summary
Using a wall-mounted tablet to control your Home Assistant dashboard enhances accessibility and convenience. Fully Kiosk Browser on Android tablets offers features that make it an ideal solution, including screen management, motion detection, and remote control capabilities.
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