Microsoft Discontinues Windows 11 SE

 Microsoft announced it will end support for Windows 11 SE, its education-focused operating system designed to compete with Google’s Chrome OS. The company plans to end support for the OS in October 2026. Launched in 2021, Windows 11 SE was tailored for low-cost laptops aimed at schools. 

Still, it failed to gain traction in the education market, leaving Microsoft without a lightweight Windows edition to challenge Chromebooks. This article explores the rise and fall of Windows 11 SE, its limitations, and what its discontinuation means for Microsoft’s strategy in the education sector.

Implications for Microsoft and the Education Market:

Loss of a Chrome OS Competitor: Without Windows 11 SE, Microsoft lacks a dedicated OS for low-end school PCs. Windows 11 is too resource-intensive for cheap hardware, leaving Chromebooks and iPadOS unchallenged in this segment.

Shift in Strategy: Microsoft appears to be retreating from the low-cost education market, focusing instead on premium Windows 11 devices and cloud-based services like Microsoft 365. This pivot may cede ground to Google in schools, where Chromebooks remain popular.

Impact on Schools: Schools using Windows 11 SE devices face a tight timeline to transition before October 2026. Upgrading to Windows 11 may require new hardware, increasing costs for cash-strapped institutions. Alternatively, some may switch to Chromebooks or Linux-based solutions.

Environmental Concerns: The need to replace Windows 11 SE devices could contribute to electronic waste, as older hardware may not support Windows 11’s stricter requirements. This echoes concerns raised about Windows 10’s end of support, where millions of PCs risk becoming obsolete.

Windows 11 SE was Microsoft’s latest attempt to challenge Chrome OS in the education market, but its restrictive design, limited app ecosystem, and short support lifecycle doomed it to failure. By ending support in October 2026, Microsoft is acknowledging that Windows 11 SE couldn’t dislodge Chromebooks’ dominance in schools. 

As the company shifts focus to Windows 11 Education and cloud services, schools and students are left to navigate the transition, potentially at significant cost. The discontinuation of Windows 11 SE marks the end of Microsoft’s Chromebook chase, for now.