Microsoft is officially ending support for Windows 11 SE, its Chrome OS competitor, in October 2026. It has only been five years since the operating system was launched on low-cost laptops, specifically designed to compete with Google Chromebooks in the education market.
If you’re using a device withWindows 11 SE, it will still work after October 2026, but Microsoft is recommending that you transition to a device with a different edition of Windows 11 to keep receiving support and security updates. This move isn’t a huge surprise, especially since Microsoft won’t be releasing its upcoming 25H2 update for Windows 11 SE, meaning those devices are going to stay on 24H2 until support is completely pulled next year.
Microsoft made sure to update itsWindows 11 SE Overview pagewith a new note reading, “Support for Windows 11 SE will end in October 2026… Microsoft will not release a feature update after Windows 11 SE, version 24H2. Support for Windows 11 SE—including software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes—will end in October 2026. While your device will continue to work, we recommend transitioning to a device that supports another edition of Windows 11 to ensure continued support and security.”
SE was all about a simplified and secure experience for students, with a big focus on privacy and a curated list of essential education apps. This was supposed to make it more appealing for schools and IT admins. Microsoft even tried to make it super easy for IT admins to manage these devices remotely using Microsoft Intune for Education.
This will affect many users, since manufacturers like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and even Microsoft’s Surface Laptop SE made laptops just for this OS. Still, it’s not a big surprise because Microsoft has tried to take on Chrome OS multiple times over the years, and it hasn’t always worked out.
I wasn’t a fan of the Windows 10 S Mode that locked Windows down to only apps from the Microsoft Store when there weren’t that many apps to begin with—that’s still around on some Windows 11 PCs, but it can be turned off. Windows 11 SE took a similar approach by pushing schools to use Progressive Web Apps instead of traditional Win32 applications. Microsoft kept a super strict list of allowed applications for Windows 11 SE, which forced users to create exceptions for Win32 apps.
The decision to kill off Windows 11 SE lines up with some industry trends we’ve been seeing. Research firmGartnerwarned a year ago that Chromebooks were “losing market share due to their limited customer base and inferior build quality”. Chromebook shipments have been on a downward trend since 2022, and it seems like the PC refresh cycle this year is more about upgrading to Windows 11 rather than making the switch to Chrome OS. So, it makes sense that Microsoft would decide to put its resources elsewhere.
It’s always a bit of a bummer when a product gets sunsetted, especially for those who invested in it. But, to be fair, Microsoft is giving users a decent heads-up, and users have until October 2026 before this end-of-service happens.
