Windows 10 IoT Core can be configured for either headed or headless mode.
Headed mode
A UI is provided. A single UI app will be launched at system boot and there can additionally be 0 or more “Background Apps” (StartupTasks).
Headless mode
There is no UI. The UI stack is disabled and UI apps will not launch. This reduces the amount of system resources used. If you attach a monitor to your device, the screen will be black.
Setting the Headed / Headless Mode
Use these with the command line
Display the current state of your device
setbootoption.exe
Enable headless mode
setbootoption.exe headless
shutdown /r /t 0
Enable headed mode
setbootoption.exe headed
shutdown /r /t 0
Finding A Headless Device
An IoT Core device that is in headless mode can be discovered using the Windows 10 IoT Core Dashboard application which listens for pings from any IoT Core devices on the local network and displays device information such as the name, IP address, and more. Download here.
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