POPcomms Windows Kiosk App: Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcuts (Kiosk Controls)

The following keyboard shortcuts are registered globally for kiosk control and debugging, arranged by severity of reload or control action:

ShortcutAction
Alt + F2Open config file in default editor
Alt + F3Open RFID settings
Alt + F5Soft reload (retain cache and state)
Alt + F6Hard reload (bypass HTTP cache, retain state)
Alt + F7Clear HTTP cache and CacheStorage, reload, and trigger SW update
Alt + F8Quit and immediately restart the app
Alt + F9Quit the app
Ctrl + Alt + F10Clear all storage and relaunch the app
Alt + F11Reload the app using the current config URL
Alt + F12Toggle Developer Tools

📘 Shortcut Use Case Details

Alt + F2: Open Config File

Your app will come preloaded with the correct experience URL and page scaling/zoom factor (as per installer version 1.4.0).

The POPcomms team may instruct you to change the URL, experience ID number or page scaling and this shortcut will enable this.

V1.6.2 onwards, this opens config.txt using the system default editor.

V1.6.1 and lower, opens config.json using the system default editor.


Alt + F3: RFID Settings

If your experience has RFID settings enabled, this will allow you to access the RFID Settings page within an experience to pair a device.


Alt + F5: Soft Reload

Reloads the current page without clearing cache or storage.
✅ Keeps: cache, localStorage, cookies, service workers


Alt + F6: Hard Reload

Bypasses HTTP cache to force fresh asset loading, similar to Ctrl + Shift + R.
✅ Keeps: localStorage, cookies, session data


Alt + F7: Deep Asset Refresh + SW Update

  • Clear of HTTP cache (JS, CSS, images)
  • Clear of CacheStorage (offline PWA assets)
  • Reload ignoring cache
  • Service worker update trigger

✅ Keeps: localStorage, cookies, IndexedDB


Alt + F8: Quit and Restart App

Cleanly shuts down and relaunches the app.
✅ Keeps: everything (no data loss)
🧠 Use for: applying updated config or refreshing environment


Alt + F9: Quit App

Fully exits the app without relaunch.
✅ Keeps: everything
🧠 Use for: manual shutdown or during maintenance


Ctrl + Alt + F10: Full Wipe and Relaunch

Please Note

This shortcut will clear all downloaded and cached data, this is only recommended when there are cache or offline issues, with a reliable internet connection available for redownload.

Clears all app storage including localStorage, IndexedDB, cookies, service workers, and caches.
🧠 Use for: full reset to “factory state” — removes logins, data, cache


Alt + F11: Reload From Config

Reloads the app using the current config file.
✅ Keeps: storage, cache, login sessions
🧠 Use for: applying URL or zoom/scaling changes made with Alt + F2

If the config needs to be updated on site:

  1. Initial install is configured to load with a predetermined URL.
  2. On site, update the URL or zoom/scaling by pressing Alt + F2 (view more)
  3. Press Alt + F10 to reload the app immediately using the new config.

This avoids restarting the entire application and retains any local storage or session data.


Alt + F12: Toggle Developer Tools

Opens or closes the Chromium DevTools pane.
🧠 Use for: advanced debugging, inspecting logs, checking storage