Microsoft’s experiment with a “school-friendly” version of Windows 11 is officially coming to an end. Windows 11 SE, the cut-down edition aimed squarely at classrooms and low-cost laptops, is being sent to the recycling bin just a few years after it first launched. Originally unveiled in 2021, Windows 11 SE was billed as Microsoft’s answer to Chrome OS, a streamlined, cloud-first operating system designed to run on cheap education-focused laptops. The pitch was simple: make Windows less complicated, less resource-hungry and more teacher-friendly.

But now the company has confirmed that the curtain is closing. Support for Windows 11 SE, including security updates, technical assistance and feature fixes, will end in October 2026. In other words, the clock is ticking.

Microsoft also dropped another little bombshell: Windows 11 SE has already had its last big update. The 24H2 version is its final feature release; when the broader 25H2 update ships later this year, SE users will be stuck on what they’ve got.

In a note published on Microsoft Learn, the company said, “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.”

When Windows 11 SE launched, Microsoft described it 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.” It came pre-installed on certain laptops, starting with the Surface Laptop SE, but never became widely available.

For schools and users who still rely on Windows 11 SE, the advice is simple: enjoy it while it lasts. After October 2026, those laptops will still switch on, but they won’t receive security updates or new features. Microsoft recommends migrating to a full version of Windows 11 if your device supports it.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Microsoft still offers Windows 11 Education, a version tailored for academic environments, minus the app restrictions and simplified multitasking that frustrated SE users. The catch? The education edition costs more.

Despite the ambition, SE was never truly lightweight. Underneath, it was still Windows 11, so performance on low-end hardware was patchy at best. And while it included a few student-friendly quirks – like the ability to stick digital stickers on your wallpaper, it also came with heavy restrictions, like only running ad-approved apps and reducing multitasking features.

This isn’t Microsoft’s first attempt to take on Chrome OS. The company’s closest brush with success was Windows 10X, a genuinely slimmed-down version of Windows that worked beautifully on cheap devices. But 10X was scrapped before launch, leaving Windows 11 SE to pick up the baton. Unfortunately, it never got close to matching the smooth, light experience of Chromebooks.

Meanwhile, Google’s Chrome OS continues to thrive in classrooms around the world. Many schools now issue Chromebooks instead of Windows machines, and students are growing up using them. Microsoft’s plan to claw back this market with a stripped-back OS has once again fallen short.

For now, Windows 11 SE is headed for the history books, and Microsoft is once again left without a true Chrome OS competitor.

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