After only a few years in the market, Microsoft’s special school edition of Windows 11 SE, built for low-cost PCs used in classrooms, is no longer available. This was the company’s latest attempt to compete with Chrome OS, first unveiled in 2021.
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Microsoft initially described Windows 11 SE as a “cloud-first operating system that offers the power and reliability of Windows 11 with a simplified design and tools specially designed for schools.” Only specific education-oriented PCs supplied by OEMs, starting with Microsoft’s own Surface Laptop SE, came pre-installed with this version of Windows 11 SE.
According to Microsoft, support for Windows 11 SE, including security updates and new features, will end in October 2026. The company also confirms that Windows 11 SE has already received its final major update, version 24 H 2, and will not be receiving version 25 H 2 later this year.
Microsoft has made several attempts to rival Chrome OS. Windows 10 X, a genuinely lightweight version of Windows that performed much better on low-end hardware, was the closest to achieving this. Sadly, with the cancellation of Windows 10 X before its release, Microsoft was left without a truly lightweight Windows OS for low-end PCs.
“Microsoft will not release a feature update after Windows 11 SE, version 24 H 2. 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,” stated a Microsoft Learn document.
The operating system, however, struggled to run smoothly on low-end hardware because it shared the same base as Windows 11 Home and Pro. Windows 11 SE was a last-ditch effort to serve the low-end educational sector without truly delivering a lightweight version of Windows, as the company has yet to release a genuine lightweight edition.
Windows 11 SE was restricted to only running apps approved by an administrator and included artificial limitations, such as reduced multitasking capabilities, to simplify the user experience for children. It also featured a unique function allowing users to add stickers to their desktop backgrounds.
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Windows 11 Education remains available for students and educational institutions. The main differences between Windows 11 SE and Windows 11 Education are that the former has no artificial restrictions, whereas the latter is considerably more expensive.
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