Microsoft is finally retiring Windows 11 SE in October 2026

Windows 11 SE was designed as a simplified, secure, and affordable solution for the education sector (K-8 in the US). Microsoft tried to fix the mistakes of previous attempts, such as “Windows 10 in S mode”, with this system, but it seems that it has not achieved the desired success in the market this time either. This is where Chromebooks reign supreme.

What is changing?

According to Microsoft's latest product lifecycle documents, Windows 11 SE will stop receiving updates in October 2026. Key points include:

• Latest version: Windows 11, version 24H2, is the last officially supported version. The system will not receive the announced 25H2 update.
• End of security: After October 2026, devices will no longer receive security patches, technical support, or software updates.
• Recommendation for transition: Microsoft advises schools and users to switch to devices that support standard versions of Windows 11 (e.g. Pro Education or Education).

Why did Windows 11 SE fail?

The main difference between Windows 11 SE and standard Windows 11 was the strict software restrictions. The system was optimized for working in the cloud and only allowed selected applications approved by the IT administrator. Although Microsoft even released its own low-cost hardware, such as the Surface Laptop SE for $ 249, the system did not prove to be light enough in practice compared to competitors.

Under the hood, Windows 11 SE was still based on the full version of Windows 11, which caused performance issues on inexpensive devices with little RAM (often only 4 GB of system memory).

What does this mean for users?

If your school environment uses Windows 11 SE devices, it's time to plan for an upgrade. Your devices will continue to work after 2026, but without regular security patches, they will become vulnerable to viruses and attacks. In addition to Windows 11 SE, some other key products, such as Office 2021 and the standard Windows 11 24H2 home version, will also lose support in 2026.