Microsoft kills Windows 11 SE, another in a long line of failed ChromeOS competitors
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Microsoft kills Windows 11 SE, another in a long line of failed ChromeOS competitors
Microsoft says it will stop providing updates for Windows 11 SE in 2026. The Windows 11 variant is intended to compete with Google’s ChromeOS in schools. The change was announced quietly via a Microsoft support document. Microsoft has fielded multiple would-be ChromeOS competitors over the years.
“Support for Windows 11 SE—including software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes—will end in October 2026,” the document reads. “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.”
Microsoft has fielded multiple would-be ChromeOS competitors over the years, looking to prevent, suspend, and/or reverse Google’s success in selling the laptops to schools and price-conscious laptop buyers.
“Windows 8.1 with Bing” in 2014 gave PC makers lower-cost Windows licenses in exchange for mandating Bing as the default search engine; Windows 10 S in 2017 was meant to make IT administrators’ lives easier by only running apps from the Microsoft Store. That iteration morphed into “S Mode” in 2018, allowing the restrictions to be turned off easily and free of charge.