In mid-2017, Microsoft unveiled a new version of its Windows platform called Windows ’10 S’ which has been used as an option for schools or businesses that want the ‘low-hassle’/ guaranteed performance version. But now, the tech giant has confirmed that it will discontinue Windows “10 S” in favor of a special “S Mode” that is the new version of Windows.
“Next year, 10 S will be a “mode” of existing versions, not a distinct version,” Joe Belfiore, corporate vice president for Windows, said in a tweet.
We use Win10S as an option for schools or businesses that want the 'low-hassle'/ guaranteed performance version. Next year 10S will be a "mode" of existing versions, not a distinct version. SO … I think it's totally fine/good that it's not mentioned.
— Joe Belfiore (@joebelfiore) March 7, 2018
Windows 10 in “S mode” will soon be available in all Windows 10 editions, when the next Windows 10 update arrives. This change would add “S Mode” as an option on Windows 10 Home, Pro and Enterprise PCs. Just like Windows ’10 S,’ as it is only capable of running apps downloaded from the Microsoft Store, it is giving admins another way to stop users from using apps outside of the Microsoft Store.
The company has confirmed the change in a blog post, saying, “Starting with the next update to Windows 10, coming soon, customers can choose to buy a new Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro PC with S mode enabled, and commercial customers will be able to deploy Windows 10 Enterprise with S mode enabled.”
Joe Belfiore described those changes briefly in a Wednesday announcement. He said if a customer does want to switch out of S mode, they will be able to do so for free, regardless of edition. It means, unlike the case of Windows 10 S where the users need to pay an upgrade fee to switch to Windows 10 Pro, switching out of the S Mode won’t cost anything to users.
