Overview
Lock and Unlock lets teachers remotely lock a student's screen, displaying a full-screen message that prevents interaction with the device. This is useful for getting students' attention, transitioning between activities, or managing behavior.
When a device is locked, the student sees a lock screen with a message from the teacher. They cannot close it, switch apps, or use the device until the teacher unlocks it.
Prerequisites
- Teacher account in KyberClassroom with an active class
- Students on managed devices connected to KyberGate
- Devices must be online (lock commands are delivered in real-time)
Steps
Step 1: Open Your Class
Log in to teachers.kybergate.com and select your active class.
Step 2: Lock All Devices
To lock every device in the class, click the Lock All button in the class toolbar (it looks like a padlock icon). A lock screen immediately appears on all student devices.
Step 3: Lock Individual Devices
To lock a specific student's device:
- Find the student in the class roster
- Click the lock icon next to their name
- Their device is locked immediately
This is useful for managing individual behavior without disrupting the entire class.
Step 4: Customize the Lock Message (Optional)
Before locking, you can customize the message students see. Click the dropdown arrow next to the Lock button and enter a message. Examples:
- "Eyes up front, please!"
- "Time to transition — close your Chromebooks."
- "Testing begins in 2 minutes. Please wait."
- "Class discussion time — devices down."
If you do not set a custom message, students see the default: "Your device has been locked by your teacher."
Step 5: Unlock Devices
When you are ready to return devices to students:
- Click Unlock All to unlock every device in the class
- Or click the unlock icon next to an individual student to unlock just their device
Devices return to normal operation immediately. Any tabs or work the student had open before the lock are still there.
What Students See
When locked, the student's screen displays:
- A full-screen overlay that cannot be closed or minimized
- The teacher's name and class name
- The custom message (or default message)
- A subtle animation indicating the device is locked, not broken
- The school's logo (if configured in dashboard settings)
Students cannot:
- Close the lock screen
- Switch to other apps or tabs
- Use keyboard shortcuts to bypass the lock
- Access the taskbar, dock, or system tray
Tips
- Use Lock as an attention signal — it is faster than saying "close your Chromebooks" and ensures compliance
- Set up a keyboard shortcut in KyberClassroom to lock/unlock with one keystroke
- Lock + Unlock is great for "call and response" moments: lock devices, deliver instructions, then unlock
- Locking does not close or lose student work — everything is preserved behind the lock screen
- If a device is offline when you lock, the command will be delivered as soon as it reconnects
- IT admins can also lock devices from the admin dashboard for security purposes (e.g., lost/stolen device)
FAQ
Q: Can a student bypass the lock screen? A: On supervised/managed devices, no. The lock overlay runs at the system level and cannot be closed by the student. On unmanaged BYOD devices, enforcement depends on the device platform.
Q: What happens if I forget to unlock devices at the end of class? A: If a bell schedule is configured, devices are automatically unlocked when the period ends. Otherwise, the lock persists until you manually unlock or until the device is restarted (at which point normal policy resumes).
Q: Does locking affect the device's network connection? A: No. The device remains connected to the network and KyberGate. Only the screen interaction is blocked. Background processes (like syncing) continue normally.
Q: Can I schedule a lock in advance? A: Not currently. Lock is a real-time action. For scheduled restrictions, use Bell Schedule Enforcement or Focus Mode instead.
Q: Is lock/unlock activity logged? A: Yes. Every lock and unlock event is recorded with the teacher, student, timestamp, and duration. IT admins can view this in Activity → Device Commands.