Some hardware peripherals (like older printers or specialized scanners) may not work if their drivers aren't compatible with S mode. Leaving S Mode
Your Windows 11 Home becomes regular, full-featured Windows 11 Home. You can install Chrome, Steam, Zoom desktop, or anything else.
Microsoft originally introduced S Mode with Windows 10 (then called “Windows 10 S”) as a response to Chromebooks—simple, secure, fast laptops that only run web apps and store apps.
When a PC is in S Mode, Windows 11 runs in a restricted state. The primary goal is security. Microsoft designed this mode to ensure that the system remains fast, secure, and reliable over the long term. It achieves this by strictly controlling what software can run on the machine.
While secure, S mode introduces strict boundaries that may be frustrating for power users:
