Microsoft kills Windows 11’s cut-down Chromebook rival

Microsoft has announced that it will discontinue Windows 11 SE, a stripped-down version of Windows 11 designed to compete with Chromebooks in the education market. According to an updated Microsoft support page, the last update for Windows 11 SE will be version 24H2, and the operating system will lose full support, including software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes, in October 2026. Windows 11 SE was launched in January 2022 and was intended to provide a more locked-down and distraction-free experience for the education sector. However, it seems that the operating system did not gain significant traction, and school administrators may have preferred the standard Windows 10/11 or Google's Chromebook setup. The short notice given to Windows 11 SE users before the end of support has raised questions about whether Microsoft's recent layoffs have impacted the company's support for this niche product. Microsoft still offers the Windows 11 for Education system as an alternative for schools.