Lock a screen in place (kiosk / Single App Mode)

For unattended signage you usually want the Apple TV to stay on Billboard and prevent anyone opening other apps or reaching the Home screen. Apple calls this Single App Mode (also known as kiosk or app-lock mode). This page explains the concept once, then links to the exact steps for each tool.

What it does and what you need

Single App Mode forces one chosen app to stay open on the device. For Billboard, lock to the bundle identifier app.BillboardScreen.

The Apple TV must be supervised. Single App Mode is only available on supervised devices, whether you supervise with Apple Configurator or enrol through an MDM.
It's separate from Billboard's own guards. Even without Single App Mode, Billboard resists accidental exit (it takes five quick Back presses to leave). Single App Mode is the stronger, device-level lock that stops exit entirely.

Prepare the Apple TV first

Do this before you lock the device. Once Single App Mode is on, you can't easily get back into tvOS Settings, so sort out these device-level settings first. All of them live in the Apple TV's own Settings app.

Turn off the screen saver. Go to Settings → General → Screen Saver → Start After and set it to Never. Otherwise Apple's screen saver can slide over your content after a few minutes of no remote activity, which on unattended signage is all the time.
Stop the Apple TV sleeping. Go to Settings → General → Sleep After and set a long value (several hours) or Never. Billboard already keeps the display awake while it's running, but this is a belt-and-braces backstop so the screen never powers down.
Leave automatic updates on. Under Settings → Apps → Automatically Update Apps (and Settings → System → Software Updates), keep updates on so Billboard and tvOS stay current. Updates may reboot the Apple TV, but Billboard resumes on its own and the Single App Mode lock survives a restart.
Name the device. Set a clear name under Settings → General → About → Name (for example "Main Lobby") so the AirPlay card and your dashboard label the screen correctly. If you deploy by MDM you can set this with deviceName instead.
Connect and confirm content. Join the correct Wi-Fi (check the Network requirements), install Billboard, enter your gallery code, and confirm your slideshow is playing.

Only once the screen is playing the right content should you apply the lock below.

Choose your method

You only need one of these, depending on how you manage your Apple TVs.

Apple Configurator (no MDM)

Best for a handful of screens or a one-time setup from a Mac.

Supervise the Apple TV and install Billboard.
Select the device (or your Blueprint), choose Actions → Single App Mode, and pick Billboard Screen.

Full walkthrough, including Blueprints to reuse across devices: Apple Configurator 2. Apple's own reference is Set Single App Mode in Apple Configurator.

Jamf Pro

Best for a managed fleet.

Create a configuration profile with the Single App Mode (app lock) payload.
Set the app to app.BillboardScreen and scope the profile to your Apple TVs.

This sits alongside the app and its App Configuration; see Deploy with Jamf Pro for installing and pointing screens at a gallery.

Microsoft Intune

Best if you already manage Apple devices in Intune.

Create a device configuration / restrictions profile for tvOS.
Enable the single-app / autonomous app-lock setting and target Billboard Screen (app.BillboardScreen).

See Deploy with Microsoft Intune for installing the app and delivering the gallery.

Turning it off

To update or re-provision a locked Apple TV, set Single App Mode back to None (Configurator) or remove/disable the lock profile (Jamf/Intune), make your change, then re-enable it.

Troubleshooting

The option is greyed out or won't apply. The Apple TV isn't supervised. Supervise it first (Apple Configurator's Prepare, or MDM enrolment).
The screen still shows Billboard's own exit hint. That's Billboard's soft guard, not Single App Mode. Apply the device-level lock above to prevent exit completely.
Wrong app is locked. Confirm the bundle identifier is exactly app.BillboardScreen.