What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Windows 11 in S mode is not a separate installer that you can normally download and apply to any PC. The supported options are to buy a PC supplied with Windows 11 Home in S mode, or upgrade an eligible Windows 10 Home in S mode installation through Windows Update. If you need a non-Microsoft Store app, you must leave S mode first—and that change is free but permanent.
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, so Windows 10 should now be treated as a legacy or compatibility choice rather than the preferred new installation.
Choose the correct path
| Your current situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Windows 10 Home in S mode | Check Windows Update for an upgrade to Windows 11 Home in S mode. |
| Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education in S mode | Leave S mode first. Windows 11 in S mode is available only with Home. |
| You need Chrome, Firefox, a developer tool, a traditional desktop app, or a specialist driver | Leave S mode permanently through Microsoft Store. |
| You want to install S mode from a normal Windows 11 ISO | Do not assume this is supported. A generic ISO is not a reliable S-mode conversion or restoration method. |
| You want Windows 10 in 2026 | Use it only for a specific legacy, hardware, business, or compatibility requirement, because support ended October 14, 2025. |
Microsoft’s S mode documentation describes S mode as a restricted Windows configuration, not a universally downloadable edition.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →What S mode changes
S mode limits software installation primarily to apps from Microsoft Store. Microsoft Edge remains the default browser in S mode, and some traditional desktop applications, developer tools, accessibility software, peripherals, and drivers may not work or may offer reduced functionality.
#1 Best Overall
- Less chaos, more calm. The refreshed design of Windows 11 enables you to do what you want effortlessly.
- Biometric logins. Encrypted authentication. And, of course, advanced antivirus defenses. Everything you need, plus more, to protect you against the latest cyberthreats.
- Make the most of your screen space with snap layouts, desktops, and seamless redocking.
- Widgets makes staying up-to-date with the content you love and the news you care about, simple.
- Stay in touch with friends and family with Microsoft Teams, which can be seamlessly integrated into your taskbar. (1)
Microsoft presents the restricted app model as a way to support security and performance. That does not mean S mode makes a computer immune to malware or guarantees that every PC will be faster. Its practical benefit is control over the software that can be installed.
Windows 11 in S mode is available only with the Home edition. Leaving S mode does not automatically upgrade Windows Home to Pro; it changes the software restrictions while the edition normally remains Home.
Check your Windows edition and S-mode status
Windows 11
- Open Settings.
- Select System, then Activation.
- Look for the displayed edition and any reference to S mode.
Windows 10
- Open Settings.
- Select Update & Security, then Activation.
- Check the edition and whether S mode is shown.
Labels can vary by Windows version and edition. Confirm whether the PC says Home in S mode, Pro in S mode, Enterprise in S mode, or Education in S mode. Also check whether the processor is Intel/AMD x64 or ARM-based Snapdragon, because installation tools and app compatibility differ.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallUpgrade Windows 10 Home in S mode to Windows 11 Home in S mode
This is the supported route for an existing Windows 10 PC that wants to retain S mode.
- Back up important files.
- Connect the PC to power.
- Open Settings > Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- If Windows 11 is offered, select Download and install.
- Allow the computer to restart as required.
- Afterward, check Settings > System > Activation to verify the edition and S-mode status.
Windows Update may not offer the upgrade. Common reasons include incompatible hardware, an active compatibility safeguard hold, missing drivers or firmware support, incomplete updates, or Microsoft’s rollout and validation process not yet covering the device.
Use Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page and PC Health Check or the Windows Update eligibility result to assess compatibility. Do not force an unsupported installation as the first response. Microsoft warns that unsupported Windows 11 installations can have compatibility problems and may not be entitled to support or updates.
Microsoft’s current download page labels the current release as the 2025 Update, version 25H2, but release numbers can change. They should not be hard-coded into otherwise evergreen instructions.
What if the PC runs Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education in S mode?
Windows 11 in S mode is Home-only. Therefore, Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education installations in S mode do not have the normal direct upgrade path to Windows 11 while retaining S mode.
Rank #2
- STREAMLINED & INTUITIVE UI, DVD FORMAT | Intelligent desktop | Personalize your experience for simpler efficiency | Powerful security built-in and enabled.
- OEM IS TO BE INSTALLED ON A NEW PC with no prior version of Windows installed and cannot be transferred to another machine.
- OEM DOES NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT | To acquire product with Microsoft support, obtain the full packaged “Retail” version.
- PRODUCT SHIPS IN PLAIN ENVELOPE | Activation key is located under scratch-off area on label.
- GENUINE WINDOWS SOFTWARE IS BRANDED BY MIRCOSOFT ONLY.
To continue toward Windows 11, the user must first leave S mode, then use the applicable Windows 11 upgrade or organizational deployment route if the hardware and licensing qualify. Leaving S mode is permanent through Microsoft’s supported process.
On a work or school device, an administrator may control or block the transition. Contact the organization rather than attempting a registry edit, unofficial script, or third-party workaround.
Leave S mode to install a non-Store application
Leaving S mode is free, but Microsoft does not provide a supported toggle to turn it back on afterward. Do this only when the broader software compatibility is more important than the restricted installation model.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWindows 11
- Open Settings.
- Select System > Activation.
- Find the section about switching to Windows 11 Pro or leaving S mode.
- Select Go to the Store.
- On the Microsoft Store page titled Switch out of S mode, or a similar title, select Get.
- Wait for confirmation that the switch is complete.
Use the dedicated S-mode Store page. Do not confuse it with the separate edition-upgrade process.
Windows 10
- Open Settings.
- Select Update & Security > Activation.
- Find Switch to Windows 10 Home or Switch to Windows 10 Pro.
- Select Go to the Store.
- On the Microsoft Store page for switching out of S mode, select Get.
- Wait for the confirmation.
Do not select the separate link under Upgrade your edition of Windows if your goal is only to leave S mode. Microsoft identifies those as different processes.
Microsoft documents these paths in its guide to switching out of S mode.
What changes after leaving S mode?
- You can install compatible applications from outside Microsoft Store.
- You can use traditional desktop installers and a wider choice of browsers.
- Drivers and peripheral utilities may be installed if they are compatible with the edition, processor, and Windows version.
- The device normally remains on the same Windows edition; leaving S mode is not a free upgrade from Home to Pro.
- The switch is permanent through the supported Windows setting.
Leaving S mode does not guarantee that every application will work. On Snapdragon or other ARM-based PCs, verify whether the software has an ARM64 version, works through supported x86 emulation, and has compatible drivers. Printers, scanners, VPN clients, accessibility tools, and specialist peripherals deserve particular attention.
Recommended Free Tools
Can you install Chrome or Firefox in S mode?
You can use another browser if an appropriate version is available through Microsoft Store, but Edge remains the default browser in S mode. To install a browser from outside Microsoft Store, you must leave S mode permanently.
Rank #3
- MICROSOFT WINDOWS 11 PRO (INGLES) FPP 64-BIT ENG INTL USB FLASH DRIVE
The same rule applies to conventional Win32 software, many developer tools, legacy utilities, and manufacturer control panels.
Can a normal Windows 11 ISO install S mode?
Microsoft’s ordinary Windows 11 download options include the Installation Assistant, installation media, and ISO or media-creation routes. They are not advertised as a general tool for converting any existing PC into Windows 11 in S mode.
A clean installation of standard Windows 11 should not be presented as equivalent to installing Windows 11 in S mode. If a new computer must have S mode, buying a model supplied by its manufacturer with Windows 11 Home in S mode is the straightforward option.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →If you have already left S mode and want the factory configuration back, check the manufacturer’s recovery instructions. A factory recovery image may restore the original setup on some devices, but this is device-specific. A generic ISO is not a reliable way to recreate the manufacturer’s S-mode state.
Reinstall Windows after leaving S mode
Reinstallation is separate from switching S mode on or off. Microsoft provides guidance for reinstalling Windows with installation media and for using Windows recovery options.
Understand the three different operations
- Upgrade: Moves an eligible existing installation to a newer Windows version and generally preserves files and applications when supported.
- In-place reinstall: Reinstalls Windows from within the current system. What it preserves depends on the option selected.
- Clean install: Starts over and can remove personal files, applications, settings, recovery partitions, and manufacturer customizations.
Back up documents, photos, browser data, license information, and application installers before using installation media. A clean installation can erase the system drive.
Match the installed edition to the license. If the device has a digital license for Windows Home, reinstalling Windows Home is the safest route for automatic activation. Installing Pro or another edition may require a valid product key or separate license. See Microsoft’s edition and product-key guidance.
Microsoft’s installation-media instructions explicitly include an installation option that can delete files, apps, and settings. Read each screen carefully rather than assuming every reinstall preserves data.
Rank #4
- Video Link to instructions and Free support VIA Amazon
- Great Support fast responce
- 15 plus years of experiance
- Key is included
Troubleshooting common problems
The “Go to the Store” link is missing
- Confirm the PC is actually in S mode under Activation.
- Check that Microsoft Store is available and sign in with the appropriate Microsoft account.
- Install pending Windows updates and restart.
- Check whether Store access is disabled by organization policy.
- If it is a work or school PC, contact the administrator.
- Use Microsoft’s Store-app troubleshooting and Windows recovery options before wiping the device.
Do not use registry edits or unofficial scripts to force the switch.
Windows 11 is not offered in Windows Update
Check the edition, S-mode status, hardware eligibility, Windows Update status, manufacturer drivers and firmware, and any compatibility safeguard hold. ARM-based systems also need the correct architecture-specific support.
The Windows 11 Installation Assistant requires Windows 10 version 2004 or later, administrator access, at least 9 GB of free space, and a supported x64 processor. Microsoft says the Installation Assistant does not run on Arm-based PCs. The media-creation route also has architecture limitations, so do not treat an x64 installer as an ARM solution.
The PC uses Snapdragon or another ARM processor
Windows 11 in S mode can run on ARM hardware, but leaving S mode does not make every x86 or x64 application, driver, or peripheral compatible. Before switching, check:
- Whether the application has an ARM64 build.
- Whether its x86 emulation is supported.
- Whether printers, scanners, VPN software, assistive technology, and other devices have compatible drivers.
- Whether the software vendor supports the specific Snapdragon model and Windows release.
Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page also notes that the x64 Installation Assistant and media-creation tools do not run on Arm-based PCs.
Should you stay in S mode?
| Stay in S mode when… | Leave S mode when… |
|---|---|
| Required apps are available through Microsoft Store. | A required application is unavailable through Microsoft Store. |
| The PC is used by a child, school, kiosk, or nontechnical user. | You need Chrome, Firefox, developer tools, traditional desktop software, or specialist utilities. |
| You prefer a restricted software-installation model. | A peripheral requires a non-Store driver or control panel. |
| You want fewer conventional desktop installers and background utilities. | You need Windows Pro features or organizational capabilities unavailable in Home S mode. |
The central trade-off is simple: S mode provides a more restricted software model, while leaving it provides broader compatibility at the cost of that restriction and the inability to return through a normal supported setting.
Windows 10 in 2026
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Keeping or installing Windows 10 may still be technically necessary for a legacy application, older hardware, or a controlled business or education deployment, but it should not be treated as equally current with Windows 11.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Before choosing Windows 10, verify application compatibility, device support, security requirements, licensing, and the organization’s support plan. For a general-purpose new installation, an eligible Windows 11 system is the more appropriate target.
Quick Recap
Official references
- Microsoft: Windows 10 and Windows 11 in S mode FAQ
- Microsoft: Switching out of S mode
- Microsoft: Download Windows 11
- Microsoft: Reinstall Windows with installation media
- Microsoft: Recovery options in Windows
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
