Microsoft has confirmed it will officially end support for Windows 11 SE in October 2026, marking the conclusion of its attempt to rival Chrome OS in the education sector. Originally launched in 2021, Windows 11 SE was designed for low-cost laptops aimed primarily at students and schools — a simplified, secure system intended to compete directly with Google’s Chromebooks.
What This Means for Windows 11 SE Devices
Devices running Windows 11 SE won’t stop working after October 2026, but they will no longer receive feature updates, security patches, or technical support. Microsoft advises users and institutions to migrate to another edition of Windows 11 to ensure continued support and protection.
The company has updated its official support page with the following notice:
“Support for Windows 11 SE will end in October 2026. Microsoft will not release a feature update after version 24H2. 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.”
This also means the upcoming 25H2 update will not be available for Windows 11 SE, leaving SE devices stuck on 24H2 until full support is discontinued.
Why Windows 11 SE Was Created
Windows 11 SE was Microsoft’s response to the growing popularity of Chromebooks in classrooms. It offered:
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A locked-down, simplified experience
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Limited, curated app support for education
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Integration with Microsoft Intune for Education for easy remote management
By restricting access to traditional Win32 apps and focusing on Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), SE aimed to improve security and manageability for IT administrators. However, its limited flexibility also became a point of friction.
OEMs like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and even Microsoft itself (with the Surface Laptop SE) produced hardware specifically for Windows 11 SE. With its retirement, schools and education providers relying on these devices will need to plan for transitions — likely to Windows 11 Pro Education or similar SKUs.
This isn’t Microsoft’s first attempt to challenge Chrome OS. Earlier efforts, like Windows 10 S Mode, also faced criticism for being too restrictive — locking users into Microsoft Store apps with limited utility. Windows 11 SE followed a similar philosophy, but despite improvements, failed to gain broad adoption.
At the same time, Chromebook shipments have been declining since 2022, and research firm Gartner noted their “limited customer base and inferior build quality” as contributing factors. Microsoft’s strategic pivot away from SE reflects these broader industry trends.
While discontinuing a product is never ideal — especially for institutions that invested in a fleet of SE devices — Microsoft is offering a clear timeline and early notice. With over a year before the 2026 cutoff, schools have time to evaluate and migrate to supported platforms.
