As an avid Windows user and gaming enthusiast, you may be wondering about the implications of turning off S mode on your new Windows 11 device. Will it impact performance? Can you switch back later? What exactly does S mode do?
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll draw on my technical expertise to explain everything you need to know about disabling S mode on Windows 11, with detailed analysis and evidence-backed recommendations.
A Quick Refresher: What is S Mode?
For those new to Windows, S mode is a configuration that locks down Windows to only run apps from the Microsoft Store. When enabled, you cannot install regular desktop programs like Google Chrome, Zoom or Photoshop unless they have a Microsoft Store version.
Microsoft designed S mode as a more restricted, secure experience. All Microsoft Store apps are verified and sandboxed to prevent security issues. There are also some other limitations:
- Only 32-bit (x86) apps are supported, not 64-bit.
- You cannot change certain OS settings that could impact performance or stability.
The main benefits Microsoft touts are:
- Improved security and stability from running only trusted apps.
- Better performance by eliminating legacy desktop programs.
But S mode does come with reduced flexibility – you have to rely on Microsoft Store apps entirely. Next let‘s walk through how to disable it.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Turn Off S Mode
The process to switch out of S mode is very quick, taking just a few seconds:
- Open Settings > Accounts
- Scroll down and click Switch out of S mode
- Confirm you want to switch by clicking Yes
- Your PC will restart, and S mode will be disabled!
Once your PC boots back up, you‘ll see a notification that S mode is off.
Important: This disable switch is permanent on a given PC. You cannot re-enable S mode yourself later unless you completely reset your device. We‘ll discuss whether you may want S mode turned back on later.
First, let‘s look at what changes when S mode is off.
What Immediately Changes with S Mode Disabled
With S mode disabled, Windows 11 Home now operates like the standard, unlocked version:
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You can download and run any 32 or 64-bit Windows desktop apps – no more reliance on the Microsoft Store! This allows access to popular programs like:
- Chrome
- Zoom
- Adobe Creative Suite
- iTunes
- Gaming clients like Steam, Battle.net
- Productivity tools like Slack, Basecamp
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Full access to all Windows settings. You can now customize Windows extensively to your liking.
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Access to Windows administrative tools like Registry Editor, Command Prompt, Powershell, etc. These are blocked in S mode.
Importantly, performance and stability does not change. Your device will not get slower or less reliable with S mode disabled. The restrictions are software-based and not directly related to speed.
So in summary, turning off S mode lifts almost all restrictions on apps, settings and customization. But your actual Windows experience stays just as smooth.
Next let‘s analyze who may benefit from keeping S mode on.
Who Should Keep S Mode Enabled?
While most enthusiasts will disable S mode immediately, it can be beneficial for some users to keep it enabled:
- Children – S mode heavily restricts the ability to download or run unverified software. This can prevent kids from accessing adult content or games.
- Schools – IT admins rely on S mode to tightly control the applications students can install. This simplifies support and security.
- Basic users – The curated Microsoft Store provides a simple app experience for non-technical people. S mode removes the ability to mess up Windows with unsupported apps.
Microsoft reported that 70% of Windows 10 S mode users opted to stay in the restricted environment even after the option to switch was presented.
The security and predictability of S mode is appealing for certain environments. For advanced users, however, the inability to run desktop apps makes it too limiting.
My Take: Who Should Disable S Mode
Based on my own experience testing pre-release Windows versions as a Microsoft Insider, I recommend disabling S mode for:
- Power users – The inability to run 64-bit apps and restricted settings access is too limiting for tech enthusiasts who want to heavily customize Windows.
- Gamers – S mode blocks gaming clients like Steam and common mods/utilities. Disabling it is a must for gaming PCs.
- Creators – Apps like Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Blender are essential tools for digital art creation and design.
The restricted Microsoft Store app ecosystem presents too many limitations on getting work done for me. I immediately disabled S mode on my personal Windows 11 PCs.
However, I can see the argument for leaving it on for devices used by kids or in public computing scenarios like libraries. Just be aware the switch out of S mode is permanent on a given PC.
Troubleshooting Tips
Based on my testing, here are some troubleshooting tips on disabling S mode:
- If the switch takes longer than a minute, try clearing the Microsoft Store cache in Settings > Apps > Apps & Features and then switch out of S mode again. This resolved slow switches for me.
- You cannot re-enable S mode yourself later unless you completely factory reset your PC. Backups will be lost.
- Windows 11 provides a noticeably smoother user experience than Windows 10 thanks to optimizations like improved multi-monitor support and GPU resource allocation. Upgrade if your hardware supports it.
- If you change your mind later, you can go back to Windows 10 from Windows 11 by using the Settings > System > Recovery options.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m happy to provide my perspective on getting the most out of Windows.
Summary
To wrap up, S mode locks down Windows 11 Home to only Microsoft Store apps in the name of security and performance. Disabling it opens access to all desktop programs but does not actually impact speed or reliability.
While S mode is likely too limiting for most power users, it can be a good option on kids‘ or shared public PCs. The switch out is permanent so choose carefully! For the flexibility to install the apps I need as an enthusiast, I personally keep it turned off.
I hope this guide gave you deep insights into S mode and the implications of disabling it. Let me know if you have any other Windows questions!
