STOP using Windows S-mode without knowing THIS!

Windows S-mode in Windows 10 and Windows 11 is designed to protect you and keep you safe. But what is it and how exactly does it protect you? In this video, we take a deeper dive into Windows S-mode so you can know whether this makes sense for you to use. And if you don't want it, here's how to remove it easily in just a couple clicks!

#WindowsSmode
#removeSmode
#windows10

* Microsoft S-mode peripherals compatiblity page:

* How to convert a standard Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer to S-mode:

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[dimitristripakis]

Highs school computer teacher here. The strangest thing happened today. We have a laptop at school which was in S mode (another teacher could not install a program, that's how we found out). So I try to remove the S mode and it says "we will send you a code to this email", and it was the school's email (obviously someone had set this up). So I click "Send code", it sends the code, I type in the code and it replies "There was an error". Try again, same. Just a vague "There was an error". Then I go back and try "Use Microsoft account" and in the account I put in MY personal account and voila! It got unlocked! Now I had not set up the computer so there is no way it was my account there before. So my question is "If a random outlook user can use his account to remove S, then what's the point of all this fuss in the first place ?"

Microsoft says "S mode is safer, you will only be able to download from Microsoft store". Well, I think it is clear what they are trying to do. I hate companies who take people for idiots.

[DirkThys]

I came across S-mode when a friend couldn't install OpenOffice on his new laptop (he can't use MS Office because he needs to be able to work offline on his documents). I had to do some looking up to evaluate the consequences of switching S-mode off.
You explain it perfectly; I wish I had had your video at the time ! 👍

[RonHelton]

I knew my version of windows 10 was not in s mode the minute you said that one can not access the command prompt.
This is one of the first things that I do with any new computer to poke around in the system and to make personal directories.
Thanks for the information!

[CapellaStars]

I am somewhat technical, and support my fellow seniors who are very technically challenged. One 80+ year old friend was having a problem with his new laptop, and I picked up his machine to try to figure out what his issue was. That's when I discovered "S(tupid) Mode". I could not get out of S Mode, and then get back back into S mode. The problem happened to be just a simple user error, so he was back in business. I left the laptop in S-Mode. It seemed to protect him against his rather awkward practice in using the machine...

[mbsoysal]

I didn't even know there was an S mode. This has been a very useful video, thanks.

[sr.dorothyrobinson]

Stupid mode, silly mode... Honestly, if people want a chromebook, why not just buy one? And your investigation shows just how "safe" S mode is. It's also extremely annoying to people who actually want to get some work done. Thanks for your video!

[brianwest]

S mode sounds like a good idea for novices but, as usual, MS goes to far and restricts things such as the default search engine, which is a purely marketing move, not a safety, simplicity or usability move.

[johntheoldmod]

Call me cynical but I'd guess Spy mode

[SmartCookie]

Excellent piece. Just to give you my own feedback based upon my eldlerly father's use of S-mode, I find it's working much better than not having the function. Previously, there wasn't a week or a month that didn't go by without my father needing some kind of assistance with a PC problem. Not anymore!! After purchasing a new PC over 6 months ago with S-mode enabled, my father hasn't had an issues with his PC at all. Personally, I find this a blessing.

[orsoncart]

You won’t believe this. I bought a cheapo, back-up laptop a week ago and have yet to switch it on and set it up. In the meantime I discovered that it is a Windows 11S job. There was no mention of this, or indeed even that it was a Windows machine, in the store or on the laptop itself—no Windows sticker. (The store’s display laptop, however, was clearly running Windows.) I wondered why at the time.

I’d never heard of S-mode before and knew I had to look into it before I even started. And then your video popped up!

Beautiful! Superb timing! I’m all ears!
Thank you.
😁👍👍👍

[Justume]

Thank you for your service! I am a Vietnam Era vet.

I checked and fortunately I do not have 'S' mode on this Windows 10 Professional computer. I had no idea such a thing existed until your video. My rig is, as much as possible, under my complete control and since I do not meet Microsoft standards for Windows 11, I do not have to worry about more heavy-handed MS malarkey.

I have read and listened on how to install Windows 11 without the MS permissions/requirements, but someone said that if a person were to do that they would also probably be prevented from getting the upgrades - Talk About Dictatorship!!!

I thought of using a Linux distro, and I have a few on a thumb drive but have not installed. Microsoft seems to say: "You might try something else for an OS." That is not a sound business practice.

[AmbroseB]

I recently purchased a new laptop with W11 s mode. I only heard of it the night before when looking for laptops so I checked it out saw it wasn't for me as I use Google Chrome and Libre Office, but I noted that it could be turned off.
However when I got the laptop set up, my first task was to download Mcafee as I recently bought the unlimited device version. It would not download and I was directed to the MS Store where Mcafee was available, but only if you buy a new version, so I started the process to turn s mode off. Unfortunately you have to be fully signed into your MS account, usually not a problem, but a week or so before, I had changed my backup email which froze me out of my account for 30 days so I had to set up a new MS account on a different email!
I got out of s mode in the end but it was a bit of an obstacle course. Maybe the s stands for "sneaky"!

[lakeysterjones]

Thank you for this I’ve purchased a hp laptop and could not figure why I couldn’t make google chrome my default, I sent several complaints to Hp no one could help me by coming across your video I understand now

[sihamhamda]

The computer lab and public library in my university has all computers running in Windows S Mode, and all those devices are from the licensed partner deals with some computer manufacturers

I think those are the only conditions where Windows S Mode is actually useful, as it prevents someone to modify the OS or installing sketchy stuff to the public computer facility

[Ivan_Glamdryng]

"Senior Mode". I resemble that remark. Thank you for the education.

[motivated]

Thank you I had no idea what S mode was and was looking to purchase a chromebook with this feature..

[davinp]

S mode is a feature-limited edition of Windows 10 designed primarily for low-end devices in the education market. This is to compete with Google Chromebook. Many schools now issue laptops to students, so they wanted to have a locked-down version of Windows.

[mateuszliese]

Bill needs to be put in jail already. At least on amazon it it shoud say in big letters the computer has s mode and that if infringeses on your freedoms.

[bencrow]

My laptop won't switch out. 😮. I'll have to do a bit more research. I did everything precisely as you instructed, didn't work. Tried it several times. Still no luck. I'm sure it can be done, but the easy way won't work for me. I did enjoy the video, very informative 😊😊

[benthereddog]

This video is pretty useful to me because I'm wondering wether I should get rid of S mode on my computer or not. I'm not the kind of person to tweak my PC or stuff, but I do have a few games and apps that I can't download because of it and it is pretty annoying. But because I also use it for university, I'm still hesitant about that. At least now I have a few more clues to make my choice, so thanks a lot !