Microsoft announces end of Windows 11 SE for schools less than five years after launch

Microsoft has announced it will discontinue the Windows 11 SE edition, its operating system for the education market, with support ending in October 2026. Launched in late 2021 for low-cost laptops used in schools and educational institutions, the edition was intended as an alternative to Chrome OS and Chromebooks but will be now retired after less than five years on the market.

Once support ends, Windows 11 SE will no longer receive security patches, software updates, or technical assistance. Microsoft is urging educational institutions and other users to transition to another edition of Windows 11 to ensure continued access to security updates and official support. Devices running Windows 11 SE will also not be eligible for the upcoming Windows 11 25H2 feature update; they will remain on version 24H2 until reaching end-of-life.

Following this decision, manufacturers such as Acer, Asus, Dell, Dynabook, Fujitsu, HP, JK-IP, Lenovo, and Positivo will no longer ship new laptops with Windows 11 SE. Microsoft’s own Surface Laptop SE, which launched at $249, was also targeted at this sector. Windows 11 SE enforced a restricted app environment, encouraging Progressive Web Apps over traditional Win32 programs, with IT administrators required to manually approve exceptions for legacy apps. This shift arrives as Chromebook shipments decline and more schools move to other Windows 11 commercial versions.