6 Things to Know About Windows 10 S and Windows 10 in S Mode.

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Switching from Windows S Mode to Windows Home | Using Your Windows 10 PC | InformIT 

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On the initial setup screen, enter your language and other preferences, and then select Next. If you're not seeing the setup screen, your PC might not be set up to boot from a drive. Check your PC manufacturer's website for information on how to change your PC's boot order, and then try again. On the Enter the product key to active Windows page, enter a product key if you've one.

If you upgraded to Windows 10 for free, or bought and activated Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store, select Skip and Windows will automatically activate later. For more information, see Activate Windows. On the License terms page, select I accept the license terms if you agree, and then select Next. On the Which type of installation do you want? On the where do you want to install Windows?

Make sure you read the important pre-installation information and all the above information. When you're ready, you can download the Windows 10 in S mode installer by clicking the Download installer button below:. Download installer. Because you're installing Windows 10 in S mode on a running version of Windows 10, you've already accepted the Windows 10 Terms and Conditions. Thank you for testing Windows 10 in S mode. Your best experience will be running on a supported device as mentioned above.

However, we invite you to try Windows 10 in S mode on existing devices with an eligible operating system. If you're having difficulty installing or running Windows 10 in S mode, use the Windows Feedback Hub to report your experience to Microsoft. This feedback is the best way to help improve Windows 10 in S mode with your feedback.

Testing Windows 10 in S mode on a device running Windows 10 Home isn't recommended and supported at this time. There's no charge to switch out of S mode. If you also see an "Upgrade your edition of Windows" section, be careful not to click the "Go to the Store" link that appears there. On the Switch out of S mode or similar page that appears in the Microsoft Store, select the Get button.

After you see a confirmation message on the page, you'll be able to install apps from outside of the Microsoft Store. Open Microsoft Store. Windows 10 in S mode is designed for security and performance, exclusively running apps from the Microsoft Store. If you make the switch, you won't be able to go back to Windows 10 in S mode.

I took them to the test bench -- and here's what I found. Microsoft is officially acknowledging that Windows 10 S Mode will be coming 'soon' to all editions of Windows 10 -- and moving off it to a fully-featured version of the OS will be free for all users. Show Comments. Log In to Comment Community Guidelines. Related Microsoft enters the final test phase for Windows 10 22H2 before it's ready to rollout.

It is, however, free to switch. And if you find you need greater flexibility, you can still switch to the full version of Windows 10 at no cost anytime. We are a Microsoft Certified Partner and a BBB Accredited Business that cares about bringing our customers a reliable, satisfying experience on the software products they need. Many hardware accessories and peripherals such as printers that work with Windows 11 will also work with Windows 11 in S mode, but might have limited functionality.

See Windows 10 in S mode Accessory Compatibility for more info on Microsoft hardware accessories, and for links to contact third parties if you have questions about using their accessories with Windows 11 in S mode. If you don't find information on a specific model, check with your accessory manufacturer. If you try to use an app that's not in Microsoft Store, you'll get a reminder that the app isn't an option when you're using Windows 11 in S mode.

We'll often suggest a category of similar apps or a specific app that's already available in Microsoft Store. If you still want to download an application that's not in Microsoft Store or has compatibility issues, you can switch out of S mode, but you won't be able to switch back again. The number of compatible apps and devices will continue to grow.

For the most up-to-date information, you can always check back at this website, at Microsoft Store in Windows, or with the hardware or software manufacturer. If you absolutely need to use an app or device that's not compatible, it's easy to switch out of S mode—you just won't be able to switch back.

Windows provides a number of built-in accessibility features to help you do more. If you need to use assistive technology apps that aren't available through Microsoft Store, and aren't downloadable on a Windows 11 device in S mode, you'll need to switch out of S mode and you won't be able to switch back.

Windows 10 in S mode is a version of Windows 10 that's streamlined for security and performance, while providing a familiar Windows experience. When you upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, the upgrade will attempt to install the same edition in Windows 11 as you have on your Windows 10 device.

If you have the Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions of Windows 10 in S mode, Windows Update will not offer Windows 11 because S mode is not available in those editions of Windows Therefore, if you have the Pro, Enterprise or Education editions of Windows 10 in S mode, you'll need to switch out of S mode to upgrade to Windows To increase security and performance, Windows 10 in S mode runs only apps from Microsoft Store.

If you want to install an app that isn't available in Microsoft Store, you'll need to permanently switch out of S mode. You can find important info in What limitations should I be aware of when using a PC running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor?

If you have an existing Windows 10 S device and you install the April Update or later, you'll have a Windows 10 Pro device in S mode. Windows 10 in S mode on a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. If you make this switch, it's permanent, and bit x64 apps still won't run. In most cases, if you install an app from Microsoft Store on another Windows 10 PC, you should be able to install it on your PC with Windows 10 in S mode if you sign in with the same Microsoft account.

There are important limitations regarding apps and switching out of S mode on Windows 10 Snapdragon devices. It depends on the type of Domain join you use and which edition of Windows 10 your device is running. It's not available in Windows 10 Home in S mode. On-premise Domain join is not available in S mode for any edition of Windows.

To enable On-premise Domain join, switch the device out of S mode and run a Windows edition that includes the Domain join feature Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise. When you're using Windows 10 in S mode, Microsoft Edge is always the default web browser, and Bing is the default search engine. Currently, the only antivirus software known to be compatible with Windows 10 in S mode is the version that comes with it: Windows Defender Security Center.

Windows Defender Security Center delivers a robust suite of security features that help keep you safe for the supported lifetime of your Windows 10 device. For more info, see Windows 10 security. Also note that by exclusively using apps from Microsoft Store and browsing safely with Microsoft Edge, Windows 10 in S mode keeps you running more quickly and securely day in and day out. If you want to use another antivirus software provider, you can ask if they offer a product that runs on a Windows 10 device in S mode.

Many hardware accessories and peripherals such as printers that work with Windows 10 Home and Pro also work with Windows 10 in S mode, though sometimes they only offer limited functionality. Whether you're running Windows 10 in S mode or not, there are some limitations when you run a PC on a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor:.

Drivers for hardware, games and apps will only work if they're designed for a Windows 10 PC running on a Snapdragon processor. You can usually find bit x86 versions of apps, but some app developers only offer bit x64 apps. The organization that develops the app detemines whether their app will work on a Windows 10 PC running on a Snapdragon processor.