HP Smart Shell Administrator Guide
SUMMARY
This guide provides basic information related to the administration of the HP Smart Shell software.
Legal information
© Copyright 2025 HP Development
Company, L.P.
First Edition: September 2025
Document Part Number: P76136-001
Table of contents
1 User input syntax key......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
2 Getting started...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
3 Supported operating systems, connection types, and applications............................................................................................................ 3
4 Obtaining and opening HP Smart Shell .............................................................................................................................................................................. 4
5 Configuration.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................5
6 Adding an application......................................................................................................................................................................................................................6
7 Adding a connection.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................8
8 Adding a website...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................10
9 Creating a kiosk ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................11
10 Deployment.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14
Deploying a preconfigured thin client image..........................................................................................................................................................14
Deploying HP Smart Shell to existing thin client images ............................................................................................................................... 14
11 Tips and best practices...............................................................................................................................................................................................................16
Index.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................0
iii
User input syntax key1
The use of a fixed width font indicates text that you must enter into a user interface.
Table 1-1
User input syntax key
Item Description
Text without brackets or braces
Items you must type exactly as shown.
<Text inside angle brackets>
A placeholder for a value you must provide; omit the
brackets.
[Text inside square brackets]
Optional items; omit the brackets.
{Text inside braces}
A set of items from which you must choose only one;
omit the braces.
|
A separator for items from which you must choose only
one; omit the vertical bar.
...
Items that can or must repeat; omit the ellipsis.
User input syntax key 1
Getting started2
HP Smart Shell allows you to configure connections, websites, and applications for kiosk-style
deployments of HP thin clients based on Windows® operating systems. You can also customize the kiosk
interface that is presented to standard users and enable or disable user access to specific Control
Panel settings.
The configured environment can be deployed to multiple thin clients using remote manageability tools
such as HP Device Manager (HPDM) or HP Cloud Endpoint Manager (HPCEM).
NOTE: Enabling user access to Control Panel settings might also give the user access to File
Explorer.
Many thin client deployments need to provide either a single- or limited-purpose environment to users,
such as an environment for web browsing or remote desktop access. HP Smart Shell simplifies this
type of thin client deployment by hiding the standard Windows interface, restricting users to certain
applications and functions, and locking down the system against user modification.
Prerequisite software requiremetns
HP Smart Shell requires that certain software be installed before use:
● Microsoft .NET 8
● Microsoft .NET 4.7.2
● Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable
For more information on these required software packages, refer to the documentation provided by
Microsoft.
2
Chapter 2 Getting started
Supported operating systems, connection
types, and applications
3
The following table describes the operating systems, connection types, and applications supported by
HP Smart Shell.
Table 3-1
Supported operating systems, connection types, and applications
Item Description
Operating systems Windows 10 IoT Enterprise
Windows 10 Edu
Windows 10 Enterprise
Windows 11 IoT Enterprise
Windows 11 Edu
Windows 11 Enterprise
Connection types Web browser
Citrix
RDP
Omnissa
HPAnyware
Applications All traditional desktop applications that are supported by the
operating systems listed above should work with HP Smart
Shell
HP Smart Shell does not support Windows Store apps
Supported operating systems, connection types, and applications 3
Obtaining and opening HP Smart Shell4
HP Smart Shell is typically preinstalled on HP thin clients. It can also be downloaded or updated via HP
ThinUpdate.
NOTE: For more information, see the administrator guide for HP ThinUpdate.
To open HP Smart Shell in Windows 11 IoT Enterprise and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise:
● Type Smart Shell into the taskbar search box, and then select the HP Smart Shell app.
To open HP Smart Shell Configurator:
● Open the Windows
Control Panel
, then select HP Smart Shell.
● Using the Windows
Command Prompt
, type HPSmartShell.exe /config.
NOTE: You are prompted for administrator credentials if you are logged on to Windows as a standard
user.
An administrator can open HP Smart Shell configuration from within HP Smart Shell to make
configuration changes without having to log off from the standard user account.
1. In HP Smart Shell, select the Start menu and then select the gear icon .
2. Use the User Account Control dialog to log on as an administrator.
3. Configure changes as necessary and then close the dialog.
The changes are implemented immediately.
4
Chapter 4 Obtaining and opening HP Smart Shell
Configuration5
The following table describes items available in the configurator.
Table 5-1
Configuration
Section Description
Create profile kiosk button This button launches the kiosk wizard, which allows creating a
new kiosk.
List of created kiosks The main page loads a list of kiosks configured in the
application.
Create [Resources] button Launches the resource configuration wizard based on the
resource type selected.
● App
● Connection
● Website
List of created resources The main page loads a list of created resources of different
types. Clicking each resource allows launching, editing, or
deleting.
Kiosk mode toggle Enables Kiosk mode on the device.
Configuration 5
Adding an application6
The editor wizard provides guided setup for applications by administrators.
Page 1: Identification
The following table describes the settings available in the application editor wizard.
Table 6-1
Add Application Wizard: Identification Settings
Setting Description
Application name Specifies a custom name to be displayed on the launch icon
for the application.
Application path Specifies the full path to the application.
Page 2: Appearance
The setup wizard displays a preview window that allows the administrator to see a visual representation
of the application icon.
Table 6-2
Add Application Wizard: Appearance Settings
Setting Description
Size Set the size of the icon, either small or large.
Color Set the background color of the launch icon for the
application.
Style Set the icon visual: 2 character initials, preset icon, or custom
image.
Page 3 Settings
Table 6-3
Add Application Wizard: Other Settings
Setting Description
Arguments Allows you to specify command-line arguments
Launch delay Sets the delay, in seconds, before an application is launched.
Autolaunch When enabled, the application launches automatically when
the user logs on to Windows.
6 Chapter 6 Adding an application
Table 6-3 Add Application Wizard: Other Settings (continued)
Setting Description
Admin only When enabled, the application is available only for
administrators.
Maximized When enabled, the application maximizes automatically when
opened.
App tracking When enabled, HP Smart Shell indicates when the application
is active. Clicking the icon again brings forward the existing
instance of the application.
NOTE: Not all applications support app tracking. Make sure
the test applications before propagating these settings to
devices.
Hide missing app When enabled, if HP Smart Shell cannot find the executable at
the indicated path, the application icon is hidden from users.
Wait for network When enabled, the application does not autolaunch until a
network connection is found.
Wait for internet When enabled, the application does not autolaunch until an
Internet connection is found.
Exit action Sets the action to take when the application is closed (None,
Log off, Restart, Shut down).
Persistent When enabled, the application reopens automatically when
closed.
NOTE: This setting can be set only if the Exit action is set to
None.
NOTE: This setting only works if app tracking is enabled and
supported.
Adding an application 7
Adding a connection7
The editor wizard provides guided setup for connections by administrators.
Page 1: Identification
The following table describes the settings available in the application editor wizard.
Table 7-1
Add Connection Wizard: Identification Settings
Setting Description
Connection type Select from a preset of supported connection types, including:
HP Anyware, RDP, Citrix, Omnissa.
Connection name Specifies a custom name to be displayed on the launch icon
for the connection.
Software path Specifies the full path to the connection type.
Page 2: Appearance
The setup wizard displays a preview window that allows the administrator to see a visual representation
of the application icon.
Table 7-2
Add Connection Wizard: Appearance Settings
Setting Description
Size Set the size of the icon, either small or large.
Color Set the background color of the launch icon for the
application.
Style Set the icon visual: 2 character initials, preset icon, or custom
image.
Page 3 Settings
NOTE: For information about other advanced connection settings that vary by connection type, refer
to the documentation for the software provided by the third-party software vendor such as Citrix or
Microsoft.
8
Chapter 7 Adding a connection
Table 7-3 Add Connection Wizard: Other Settings
Setting Description
Hostname [broker] Address for the connection.
Launch delay Sets the delay, in seconds, before a connection is launched.
Autolaunch When enabled, the connection launches automatically when
the user logs on to Windows.
Wait for network When enabled, the application does not autolaunch until a
network connection is found.
Wait for internet When enabled, the application does not autolaunch until an
Internet connection is found.
Adding a connection 9
Adding a website8
The editor wizard provides guided setup for websites by administrators, using Microsoft Edge as the
browser platform.
Page 1: Identification
The following table describes the settings available in the website editor wizard.
Table 8-1
Add Website Wizard: Identification Settings
Setting Description
Website name Specifies a custom name to be displayed on the launch icon
for the website.
Website path Specifies the full path to the website.
Page 2: Appearance
The following table describes the appearance settings available in the website editor wizard. This page
comes with a preview window that displays a visual representation of the application icon.
Table 8-2
Add Website Wizard: Appearance Settings
Setting Description
Size Set the size of the icon, either small or large.
Color Set the background color of the launch icon for the
application.
Style Set the icon visual: 2 character initials, preset icon, or custom
image.
10 Chapter 8 Adding a website
Creating a kiosk9
The kiosk wizard guides the admin through a series of options that customize the end device experience
with different wallpapers, launchable resources, and accessible settings. The wizard has a preview
window that displays changes live.
NOTE: HP recommends that HP Smart Shell administrators add applications, connections, or
websites to the app configuration prior to creating a kiosk. These resources will be assigned during the
creation of the kiosk. For more information on creating and adding these resources, refer to the
following sections of this guide.
● To add an application, see Adding an application on page 6.
● To add a connection, see Adding a connection on page 8.
● To add a website, see Adding a website on page 10.
NOTE: In most deployments, using only the default Smart Shell profile suffices, so editing this profile
is the simplest solution. However, you can create custom profiles, if you need to assign different
settings to different users and domains. The default profile is used for any users or domains that are
not assigned to a custom Smart Smell profile.
Page 1
This page allows the administrator to configure the kiosk name and set the background color or
wallpaper of the environment.
Page 2
This page allows the administrator to enable or disable settings for the end user.
Table 9-1
Kiosk settings
Setting Description
Date and time Displays the date and time on the taskbar.
Device name and IP address Display device name and IP on the top right of the user
window.
Display sound icon If set to On, the sound icon is displayed on the taskbar.
Enable sound interaction If set to On, the system volume can be adjusted via the
sound icon on the taskbar.
Display battery icon If set to On, the battery icon is displayed on the taskbar.
NOTE: This setting is always read-only.
Creating a kiosk 11
Table 9-1 Kiosk settings (continued)
Setting Description
Low battery level Set the percentage that triggers when the low battery
warning message displays.
Critical battery level Set the percentage that triggers when the critical
battery warning message displays.
Display Wi-Fi icon If set to On, the Wi-Fi icon is displayed on the taskbar.
Enable Wi-Fi interaction If set to On, Wi-Fi settings can be accessed via the Wi-Fi
icon on the taskbar.
Device name and IP address [Launcher feature] Display device name and IP in the taskbar launcher.
Log off If set to On, users can log the current user account off
using the drop-down menu for the power button, located
in the taskbar launcher.
Lock If set to On, users can lock the current user account
using the drop-down menu for the power button, located
in the taskbar launcher.
Restart If set to On, users can restart the computer using the
drop-down menu for the power button, located in the
taskbar launcher.
Shutdown If set to On, users can shut down the computer using
the drop-down menu for the power button, located in the
taskbar launcher.
Keyboard If set to On, users can launch the control panel keyboard
settings. Located in the taskbar launcher.
Mouse If set to On, users can launch the control panel mouse
settings. Located in the taskbar launcher.
Sound If set to On, users can launch the control panel sound
settings. Located in the taskbar launcher.
Region and language If set to On, users can launch the control panel Region
and Language settings. Located in the taskbar launcher.
Network connection If set to On, users can launch the control panel network
connections settings. Located in the taskbar launcher.
Ease of Access If set to On, users can launch the control panel Ease of
Access settings. Located in the taskbar launcher.
Internet properties If set to On, users can launch the control panel Internet
properties settings. Located in the taskbar launcher.
Wireless configuration If set to On, users can launch Wi-Fi settings. Located in
the taskbar launcher.
Page 3
This page allows the administrator to add previously created resources onto the current kiosk being
configured. Highlighting the resources displays a button to add to the current kiosk.
Page 4
This page allows the administrator to set this kiosk as the default kiosk. Specific users can be assigned
to this kiosk, using local or domain-level access.
12
Chapter 9 Creating a kiosk
Page 5
This page displays all the changes made to the kiosk configuration.
Creating a kiosk 13
Deployment10
This chapter discusses the various methods that can deploy HP Smart Shell to multiple thin clients. The
best method depends on your use case and environment.
NOTE: The following methods discuss using HP Device Manager, HP Cloud Endpoint Manager, and HP
Thin Update for deployment. For more information, refer to HP's Thin Client Software guide.
Deploying a preconfigured thin client image
You can deploy HP Smart Shell by configuring it on a thin client image that will be captured and deployed
to other thin clients. The most efficient way to deploy an image to multiple thin clients is to use HPDM or
HPCEM, which have preset templates for capturing and deploying an image. Alternatively, you can use
HP Thin Update to manually copy and deploy an image.
Deploying HP Smart Shell to existing thin client images
Use the following instructions to deploy HP Smart Shell to an existing thin client images.
NOTE: Both devices must have the same version of Smart Shell to work seamlessly.
Copying settings from a version of Smart Shell to end device with the same version
1. Configure HP Smart Shell on a single system, and locate the file:
C:\ProgramData\HP\HPSmartShell\Database
2. Copy the database file to the system running the HPDM Console, using built in templates for copying
files.
NOTE: If the system is running HPCEM console, see HP Cloud Endpoint Manager for more
information.
3. Deploy file to target devices.
Copying settings from a older version of Smart Shell to a newer version:
1. Configure HP Smart Shell on a single system.
2. Update the current system and target systems to the latest version of Smart Shell.
3. Edit Smart Shell settings at least once. This will trigger an internal migration process which cleans
up any discrepancies between the old settings and the new settings of Smart Shell.
4. Locate the settings file: C:\ProgramData\HP\HPSmartShell\Database
14
Chapter 10 Deployment
5. Copy the database file to the system running the HPDM Console, using built in templates for
copying files.
If the system is running HPCEM console, see HP Cloud Endpoint Manager for more information.
6. Deploy file to target devices.
You can also deploy the database file to other thin clients the following way:
● Copy the database file directly to another device and place it in the correct location, overwriting any
preexisting database: C:\ProgramData\HP\HPSmartShell\Database
Deploying HP Smart Shell to existing thin client images 15
Tips and best practices11
Consider the following when using HP Smart Shell:
● Some applications might require a launch delay to function.
● HP Smart Shell does not filter the built-in web browser content. Keep this in mind when selecting the
websites.
● The desktop resolution settings available in the ICA and RDP connection editors and for certain
connection types, including RDP, are not indicative of the target monitor. It is best to use the default
setting (full-screen).
● For RDP connections, it is best to disable the RDP connection bar setting in the Display panel of the
connection editor when deploying in Kiosk mode. This setting is enabled by default, and users can
access the local desktop through the connection bar.
● To use USB redirection with an RDP connection when the Omnissa client is installed, you must first
disable the Omnissa USB service before connecting to an RDP session.
16
Chapter 11 Tips and best practices
