What is S Mode?
'S Mode' is a version of Windows 10 designed for greater security than the standard version of Windows 10. This version of Windows 10 allows you to only install apps downloaded directly through the Microsoft Store, which Microsoft has verified are safe to install on your device.
If your laptop has arrived in S Mode, you will not be able to install any external .exe files directly onto the device without first switching out of S Mode.
Please note that you cannot reactivate S Mode on your device after switching to the standard version of Windows 10.
How To Switch Out Of S Mode
To switch your laptop out of S Mode, please follow the steps below:
- Open your Windows 10 laptop's Settings, navigate to 'Update & Security' and select 'Activation' from the menu on the left of the screen.
- In the section titled either 'Switch to Windows 10 Home' or 'Switch to Windows 10 Pro', select 'Go to Store'. If your Settings options also display a section titled 'Upgrade your edition of Windows', do not click the 'Go to Store' link in this section, as this will not deactivate S Mode.
- In the Microsoft Store page that opens after clicking the link, select the 'Get' button and follow the prompts to confirm that you want to switch out of S Mode.
- You should then see a confirmation message advising that your device is no longer in S Mode. Once you have seen this confirmation message, you should be able to install apps from outside the Microsoft Store directly onto your laptop.
If you need any further assistance with your laptop, please do not hesitate to contact our Kogan.com Support Team. We will be happy to help.