Navigation bar reappears in Kiosk mode after screen wake — how to fix

Android

When a device enrolled in Kiosk mode wakes from a screen-off idle period, the navigation bar can reappear even though hideNavBarInKioskMode is set to true in the applied blueprint.

Why this happens

Android dismisses certain system UI flags when the display powers off and back on. The Esper Agent re-applies the hideNavBarInKioskMode flag at boot, but a mid-session screen wake does not trigger the same re-application, so the navigation bar becomes visible again until the flag is explicitly reissued.

Fix 1: Run Converge on the affected device (recommended)

Converge re-pushes the active blueprint configuration to the device without a reboot, which causes the Esper Agent to re-apply the navigation bar flag immediately.

1. Open the Esper Console and go to Devices & Groups.
2. Select the affected device.
3. Open the Actions menu and select Converge.
4. Wait for the Converge operation to complete. The status indicator on the device tile returns to In Sync when finished.
5. Observe the device screen. The navigation bar should disappear within seconds of Converge completing, with no reboot required.

Verify: The navigation bar is no longer visible on the device screen. If the device has a live view, confirm through Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Remote View. The device should show In Sync in the Console within 2 minutes.

Fix 2: Reboot the device (alternative)

Use this option if the device is offline or Converge is unavailable.

1. Physically reboot the device, or issue a remote reboot from Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Actions → Reboot.
2. Allow the device to fully restart and re-enter Kiosk mode.

Verify: The navigation bar is hidden immediately after the device returns to the Kiosk mode home screen. Note that this fix is temporary — the bar may reappear after the next extended idle period until the Esper Agent is updated.

Fix 3: Update the Esper Agent

Updating to the latest Esper Agent version includes a correction that re-applies the navigation bar flag on screen wake, preventing the issue from recurring.

1. Go to Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Apps.
2. Locate Esper Software Updates and apply any available Esper Agent update.
3. Allow the device to apply the update and return to Kiosk mode.
4. Leave the device idle for at least one full screen-off cycle — ideally overnight — to confirm the navigation bar remains hidden after the screen wakes.

Verify: After the device wakes from an extended idle period, the navigation bar remains hidden. No Converge or reboot should be needed to restore the correct state.

If this doesn't resolve it

If the navigation bar continues to reappear after updating the Esper Agent and running Converge, contact Esper Support. Before reaching out, collect the following:

• A bug report from the device: go to Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Logs, select Request Bug Report, and download the file once it generates.
• The Esper Agent version installed on the device, visible under Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Apps.
• The Android OS version and device model, visible under Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Device Details.
• A description of how long the screen was off before the navigation bar reappeared.

Still need help?

If the navigation bar continues to reappear after screen wake in Kiosk mode despite following these steps, submit a support ticket and include your device model, Android version, Esper MDM version, and the specific trigger that causes the navigation bar to reappear.