Comparisons · The restrictions, edition conditions, switching route and irreversibility, and the Snapdragon limitations published in Microsoft Support, Windows 10 and Windows 11 in S mode FAQ and Switching out of S mode in Windows (read 2026-09-21)

What S mode takes away on a cheap laptop: switching out is free, and permanent

Inexpensive laptops often ship with Windows 11 Home in S mode. It is easy to miss on a shelf, and it changes which apps you can install, which browser is the default, and how the machine can join a network. Switching out is free and takes a minute. Microsoft also states repeatedly that it is one-way and cannot be undone. This guide was written on 2026-09-21 from the FAQ and the switching page, and sets out what S mode restricts, what switching gains and costs, and the extra conditions that apply on a Snapdragon machine.

Published 2026-09-21 · Updated 2026-09-21 · FaultNote editorial policy

What S mode takes away on a cheap laptop: switching out is free, and permanent overview: 1. What S mode is, and which edition has it, 2. The restrictions that bear on a purchase, 3. Free to switch out, impossible to switch back, 4. A Snapdragon machine adds its own conditions, 5. Deciding before you buy, 6. What this guide does not say — An overview of this guide’s steps and checks, not a screenshot of the app.

Who this guide is for and what to prepare

Anyone shopping on price who wants to know what the S mode label means
Anyone already on an S mode device deciding whether to switch out
Anyone checking the conditions for a work or school machine: domain join, mandated antivirus

What you need

Check whether the product specification says in S mode
Check whether the apps you intend to install are in the Microsoft Store
Check whether the processor is Intel, AMD or Qualcomm Snapdragon (Settings, About)

1. What S mode is, and which edition has it

Microsoft's FAQ describes it: Windows 11 in S mode is a version of Windows 11 that's streamlined for security and performance, while providing a familiar Windows experience. For better security, it allows users to only install the apps from Microsoft Store and requires Microsoft Edge for safe browsing.

So the installable apps are limited to the Microsoft Store, and Microsoft Edge is required for browsing.

The edition condition is stated plainly: Windows 11 in S mode is only available in the Windows 11 Home edition. Devices running the Pro, Enterprise or Education editions of Windows 10 in S mode are stated to need to switch out in order to upgrade to Windows 11.

How you end up with it is covered too: an OEM can preinstall Windows 11 Home in S mode, and a Windows 10 Home in S mode PC that meets the hardware specifications is offered a free upgrade to Windows 11 Home in S mode through Windows Update.

2. The restrictions that bear on a purchase

The table collects the restrictions in the FAQ that can change a buying decision. Every entry is the source's statement, not a rating by this site.

The browser row is the most misread. Microsoft states that in S mode Microsoft Edge is always the default browser and Bing the default search engine, and also that other browsers and search engines remain usable: any browser available in the Store can be installed, and any search engine's website can be visited. What cannot change is the default.

The antivirus row is specific as well. The FAQ says the only antivirus software known to be compatible with Windows 11 in S mode is the version that comes with it, Windows Defender Security Center, and suggests asking another vendor whether they offer a product that runs in S mode.

Scroll horizontally to see the full table →

2. The restrictions that bear on a purchase
Item	How the source describes it in S mode	How it bears on the decision
Where apps come from	Microsoft Store apps only	Check first whether the apps you need are in the Store
Default browser and search engine	Microsoft Edge is always the default and Bing the default search engine; other browsers and search engines can still be used	Changing the default requires switching out
Antivirus software	The only software known to be compatible is the included Windows Defender Security Center	Matters where a specific product is mandated
Domain join	Not available in Windows 11 Home in S mode; Azure AD or on-premises domain join requires switching out and upgrading to Pro or Enterprise	Can be decisive for a work or school machine
Peripherals	Many accessories that work with Windows 11 Home also work, though sometimes with limited functionality	The FAQ points to the accessory manufacturer for printers and the like
Store apps bought on another PC	In most cases installable if you sign in with the same Microsoft account	A Store-centred setup moves across easily

3. Free to switch out, impossible to switch back

Both halves are stated together: Switching out of S mode is one-way. If you make the switch, you won't be able to go back to Windows 10 or Windows 11 in S mode. There's no charge to switch out of S mode.

What you gain and lose is stated in one sentence as well: Switching out of S mode lets you install apps from sources other than the Microsoft Store, but you'll lose the security and performance benefits that come with S mode.

The route runs through the Microsoft Store. From Settings you reach a Switch out of S mode (or similar) page in the Store, select the Get button, and after the confirmation message you can install apps from elsewhere. The FAQ adds a warning: Don't select the link under Upgrade your edition of Windows . That's a different process that will keep you in S mode.

Organisation-owned devices are covered too: if you are blocked from switching and the device belongs to an organization, check with your administrator, since the organization can choose to keep all devices in S mode.

4. A Snapdragon machine adds its own conditions

S mode PCs can ship with an Intel, AMD or Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and the FAQ shows how to check: Settings, About, and read the Processor field.

For Snapdragon machines the FAQ lists limitations that apply whether or not you are in S mode. Drivers for hardware, games and apps only work if they are designed for a Windows 11 PC running on a Snapdragon processor. Games will not work if they use a version of OpenGL greater than 1.1 or rely on anti-cheat drivers. Apps that customise the Windows experience, including some input method editors, assistive technologies and cloud storage apps, might have problems.

It also states that third-party antivirus software cannot be installed on any edition of Windows 11 running on a Snapdragon processor, that Windows Fax and Scan is not available on any such edition, and that Client Hyper-V is not supported in S mode, being supported from Windows 11 on a Snapdragon processor when S mode is disabled.

The point of this section is one thing: on an inexpensive Snapdragon laptop, the S mode restrictions and the processor restrictions are separate. Switching out of S mode leaves the second set in place.

5. Deciding before you buy

The order is this. First, check whether the apps you intend to use are in the Microsoft Store. If they are, living with S mode is a real option.

Second, decide whether you want to choose the default browser yourself, and whether the environment requires domain join or a particular antivirus product. If any of those apply, switching out is a precondition. It costs nothing, so the issue is not money; the issue is that it cannot be undone.

Third, check the processor. On a Snapdragon machine, the limitations above survive the switch. App compatibility on Windows on Arm is covered in a separate guide on this site.

Note also that switching out leaves you on Home. Where Pro or Enterprise is required, such as for domain join, the FAQ states that an upgrade is needed in addition to switching out. The edition comparison is a separate guide here.

6. What this guide does not say

It does not judge whether S mode is safer or faster. The source uses the phrase security and performance; nothing was measured here.

It does not say which products ship in S mode. Check the specification.

It neither recommends nor discourages switching out. The answer depends on your use, and the choice cannot be reversed.

It does not say whether individual apps run on a Snapdragon machine. The FAQ itself directs you to the app developer, the game publisher or the hardware maker.

Limitations and requirements

Switching out of S mode is one-way and is repeatedly stated to be irreversible. There is no charge for it.
The FAQ warns against the Upgrade your edition of Windows link: that is a different process and keeps the device in S mode.
Windows 11 in S mode exists only in Home. On Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise or Education in S mode, switching out is stated to be required before upgrading to Windows 11.
The Snapdragon limitations remain after switching out of S mode.
Everything quoted here was read on 2026-09-21.

Frequently asked questions

Does switching out of S mode cost anything?

No. Microsoft states There's no charge to switch out of S mode. It is one-way, though: you cannot return to S mode.

Can I make Chrome the default browser while staying in S mode?

No. In S mode, Microsoft Edge is always the default browser and Bing the default search engine. You can install a browser available in the Store and visit other search engines' websites, but changing the default requires switching out.

Can the machine join a workplace domain?

Domain join is stated to be unavailable in Windows 11 Home in S mode. To enable Azure AD or on-premises domain join, the device must be switched out of S mode and upgraded to Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise.

What happens to performance and security after switching?

Microsoft states that you gain the ability to install apps from outside the Store and lose the security and performance benefits that come with S mode. No figures are given, and nothing was measured here.

Sources and verification date

Sources checked: 2026-09-21. These sources support the specifications, procedures or prices discussed here. Check each source for applicable conditions and current information.

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