Using Security Settings

Learn how to use the Security feature added in LaunchBox for Android 1.22 to protect settings and library actions with a four-digit PIN.

Written By Brian Faeran

Last updated 12 days ago

LaunchBox for Android 1.22 adds a new Security feature that lets you protect important settings and library management actions behind a four-digit PIN.

Security is useful when LaunchBox is being used on a shared device, a family device, a kids setup, an arcade cabinet, or any situation where you want people to play games without accidentally changing your library, emulator setup, themes, media, or other important settings.

🔒 What are these Security Settings?

Security settings lets you set a four-digit PIN and decide which parts of LaunchBox should be protected or hidden.

You can use it to:

  • Require a PIN before opening certain areas of LaunchBox

  • Block game and platform management actions

  • Prevent changes to emulator settings, media, metadata, playlists, ratings, progress, and more

  • Make LaunchBox safer for shared, family, or cabinet-style setups

Security does not stop users from launching games. Its main purpose is to protect your LaunchBox setup from unwanted changes.

🤷 Why should I care?

Security is helpful if:

  • Kids use your LaunchBox device and you want to keep them away from settings

  • Your family shares the same Android handheld, tablet, TV box, or NVIDIA Shield

  • You have an arcade cabinet or kiosk-style setup

  • You want guests to browse and play games without editing or deleting anything

  • You want to prevent accidental changes to emulators, metadata, media, playlists, or ROM paths

For example, you can let someone browse platforms and launch games, while blocking access to Options, Manage Emulators, Import Games, Add Game, Exit, and delete/edit actions.

🔑 How to turn on Security

  1. Open LaunchBox for Android.

  2. Go to Options.

  3. Select Security.

  4. Turn on Enable Security.

  5. Enter a four-digit PIN.

  6. Confirm the PIN.

Once Security is enabled, review the available options and choose what you want to protect.

📄 Protected pages

These options require a PIN before opening specific areas:

  • Options

  • Manage Themes

  • Manage Emulators

  • Sync Status

  • Licensed

  • Import Games

  • Add Game

  • Exit

If you are building a family, kids, or cabinet-style setup, protecting Options, Manage Emulators, Import Games, Add Game, and Exit is a good starting point.

⚠️ Blocked actions

Security can also remove or block specific actions from LaunchBox menus.

Game and platform actions

  • Edit Metadata

  • Edit Media

  • Download All Media

  • Emulator Settings

  • Update Games and Update Games Options

  • Delete Platforms and Games

  • Download Theme Videos

  • NAS feature: Delete Local File

Viewing and list actions

  • Sort By

  • Change View

  • View Settings

Library management actions

  • ROM Folder Path changes

  • Add to Playlist

  • Create New Playlist

  • Remove from Playlist

Game state actions

  • Favorite

  • Manual progress changes

  • Mark as Broken

  • Star Rating

Some protection options are enabled by default when Security is first set up, but you should still review the full list and customize it for your setup.

🔓 Changing or disabling Security

To change your PIN:

  1. Go to Options > Security.

  2. Select Change PIN.

  3. Enter and confirm the new four-digit PIN.

To disable Security:

  1. Go to Options > Security.

  2. Turn off Enable Security.

If Security is enabled, entering the Security page itself may require your PIN, depending on how you configured the protected Options page.

🤔 Things to keep in mind

  • Security is designed to protect LaunchBox settings and library actions. It is not a replacement for Android system security, Android user profiles, app pinning, or device-level parental controls.

  • Blocked actions are usually hidden or removed from LaunchBox menus while Security is enabled. They may not appear as disabled buttons.

  • Your PIN should be memorable. There is no built-in “forgot PIN” recovery flow inside the app.

  • For a stronger kiosk-style setup, combine Security with LaunchBox's Home Screen Launcher Mode.

🧰 Troubleshooting

I forgot my PIN

If you forget your PIN, close LaunchBox completely and edit your LaunchBox settings file:

LaunchBox/Data/Settings.xml

Find the Security settings and either remove the saved PIN or set Security to disabled. The important fields are:

SecurityEnabled
SecurityPin

Set SecurityEnabled to false and clear or remove the SecurityPin value, then reopen LaunchBox.

If you cannot safely edit the file, you can delete Settings.xml to reset LaunchBox settings, but this will reset more than just Security. Your platform and game data are stored separately, but app settings will need to be configured again.

Security turned off after restarting

Security requires a PIN. If Security is enabled but no PIN is saved, LaunchBox will automatically disable Security on startup.

Go back to Options > Security, enable Security again, and set a four-digit PIN.

I do not see an action anymore

That usually means the action is blocked by Security. Go to Options > Security and review the blocked action settings.

For example, if Block Edit Metadata is enabled, the Edit Metadata option will be removed while Security is active.

I can still launch games

That is expected. Security is meant to protect settings and management actions, not prevent normal game launching.

I want a kiosk-style setup

For a more kiosk-like setup, combine Security with LaunchBox's Home Screen Launcher Mode.

Security lets you protect LaunchBox settings, imports, emulator management, editing tools, exit options, and other library actions behind a PIN. Home Screen Launcher Mode lets LaunchBox act as the device's home screen launcher, making the device feel more like a dedicated LaunchBox system.

A good kiosk-style setup is:

  1. Enable Home Screen Launcher Mode from Options.

  2. Enable Security from Options > Security.

  3. Require a PIN for Options, Manage Emulators, Import Games, Add Game, and Exit.

  4. Block editing, deleting, media downloads, ROM folder path changes, and other actions you do not want guests to use.

This combination is useful for arcade cabinets, TV boxes, family setups, and shared handhelds where you want users to browse and play games without changing the LaunchBox configuration.