Windows 11 - Can't switch out of S mode

Anonymous
2024-04-07T01:24:30+00:00

When I follow the steps in the Microsoft Store to try to switch out of S mode, all I get is a message:

"Something happened and we couldn't start the upgrade"

and a Try Again button.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Microsoft Store

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-05-02T23:17:43+00:00

    After repeated attempts of clicking the button? I have the same issue please help

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-05-02T23:58:20+00:00

    Hi, yeah it's frustrating. Well for me I installed updates, reboots, made sure I was logged into the Windows store, all of the red herrings that the rest of the Internet told me to do. None of it worked. You can try doing all that, but probably won't matter.

    What I did was just waited. Not like wait 1 minute. I mean, trying, waiting a few hours or trying it again the next day. For me when I tried it the next day it finally worked. None of the b.s. that any of the Internet said to do worked. I just tried again the next day and it finally worked.

    Hope that helps!!!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-06-04T05:46:37+00:00

    FIXED IT!!! After reading every post here and watching several videos, this combo worked. Thanks to everyone who helped.

    (I even sent back a PC because of this, and lo and behold, the 2nd PC had the exact same issue.

    First - do what this guy in the video says. He does a great job explaining and I did it several times just to make sure I did it right and it was successful. https://youtu.be/ZTWKvDF1dqI

    That didn't work by itself. BUT after I disabled Secure Boot, and then rebooted - it worked!! I was able to download Chrome for the first time on this PC!!!! Originally, when I did this by itself because of the posts here, and it didn't work. But together, these two items DID work.

    This is how you disable Secure Boot:

    To turn off secure boot on your PC, you need to^1^^2^:

    1. Restart your PC while holding Shift, or access the "Advanced Startup" menu by typing "Advanced Startup" in Windows Search and then restart your PC from there.
    2. Move to "Boot" and then tap "Secure Boot Menu".
    3. Press "Key Management" and then hit the "Clear Secure Boot Keys".
    4. Turn the "Secure Boot" to "Disabled".
    5. Save your changes and restart your PC.

    Once I got this to work, I went back in and re-enable Secure Boot, power cycled, and it STILL worked. Not sure what this does, but it worked for me. Secure Boot is still enabled and I can use Chrome and download whatever I want. And it beats sticking a fork in my temple.

    NOTE!!! I had to get my Recovery Key from account.microsoft.com so that I could enter into Command mode and also to enter into "UEFI Firmware Settings". So I recommend you get this BEFORE doing anything else. I was able to get it from the account.microsoft.com, under My Account/Devices. You have to verify it's you before you get the Recovery Key, but do this FIRST. You may not need it, but you might. And if you do, you're stuck.

    PS - When you go back into your PC, don't try to disable S mode. It won't work! It will tell you that "something went wrong" and to "try again". Just operate as usual and download whatever you want. If that works, then the fix worked. You can also go into Settings and search for "About" and look at the Windows version. It should say the version, without the words "S mode". If it does - you know it worked!!

    God bless!!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-05-28T01:15:54+00:00

    The same thing happened to me THREE TIMES! On three different computers from different stores. I'm about to pull my hair out. None of the so-called solutions are effective in allowing me to switch out of S Mode.

    This is an outrage that Microsoft has allowed such a bug to prevail without fixing it.

    (I ordered a laptop with Windows Pro, thinking I'll avoid the S Mode problem altogether. You know what? It arrived with Windows Home S Mode installed!

    To say I'm at my wits' end is an understatement. Effectively, I'm unable to purchase a new computer with Windows 11. They all suck!

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-05-14T05:21:16+00:00

    I think that's kinda what this whole entire thread is about, isn't it? You're basically just re-asking the original question.

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