August 3rd， Kuai Keji News reports that within Microsoft’s extensive Windows product line， Windows 11 SE has always been a relatively niche and special version. It was once considered with high hopes to offer a simplified experience for education and low-cost devices， but it is now approaching its end.
Windows 11 SE was initially launched in November 2021 alongside the Surface Laptop SE， evolving from the Windows 10 S mode. This specialized operating system was designed with specific use cases in mind， particularly for the educational sector.
Four years later， Microsoft is gradually phasing out support for Windows 11 SE. According to information released by Microsoft， Windows 11 SE will end support in October 2026 and will not be updated to Windows 11 25H2 SE. After its end of support， it will no longer receive any software updates， technical support， or security patches. This discontinuation signals a shift in Microsoft’s strategy for its entry-level and education-focused operating systems.
Windows 11 SE provided a more secure and simplified user environment for educational users and low-cost devices by limiting the number of applications that could be run. This approach aimed to reduce distractions and potential security risks common in more open operating systems.
Furthermore， its numerous restrictions made it less popular among general users. For instance， files could only be stored on OneDrive， and users were unable to install applications not on an IT administrator-approved whitelist. These limitations meant that Windows 11 SE was not a practical operating system for everyday use by the average consumer.
In fact， the Surface Laptop SE was essentially the only device that came equipped with Windows 11 SE， and it never received a true successor. This lack of a successor further indicates that Microsoft’s investment and long-term vision for this specific iteration of Windows were limited， likely due to the specialized and constrained nature of the platform itself.
