Microsoft is ending support for Windows 11 SE next year, five years after it launched the operating system on low-cost laptops that were designed to compete with Google Chromebooks. Windows 11 SE was only available on devices for education customers, such as schools, and it was supposed to convince them not to switch to Chrome OS.
“Support for Windows 11 SE — including software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes — will end in October 2026,“ says Microsoft in an updated support article spotted by Dr.Windows. “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 won’t release its upcoming 25H2 update for Windows 11 SE, which means that devices will remain on 24H2 until support ends next year. Acer, Asus, Dell, Dynabook, Fujitsu, HP, JK-IP, Lenovo, and Positivo have all created Windows 11 SE laptops, and Microsoft even launched its own $249 Surface Laptop SE in 2021.
Microsoft has tried and failed to compete with Chrome OS many times over the years. The software maker previously created an S Mode that locked Windows 10 down to apps from the Microsoft Store, but it ended up frustrating users when there weren’t enough apps in the Store.
Windows 11 SE took a similar approach by encouraging schools to use Progressive Web Apps (PWA) instead of traditional win32 apps. IT admins had to create exceptions for devices to run win32 apps, and Microsoft maintained a strict list of allowed apps for Windows 11 SE.
Microsoft’s decision to kill off Windows 11 SE comes a year after Gartner warned that Chromebooks were “losing market share due to their limited customer base and inferior build quality.” Chromebook shipments have been in decline since 2022, and the PC refresh cycle this year seems to be largely focused on Windows 11 upgrades rather than an exodus to Chrome OS.
