Windows 11 - Can't switch out of S mode

This is all deliberate in my opinion. MS wants you hostage to their apps exclusively

It did not work.

When I click on System Information, OS Name : Microsoft Windows 11 Home in S Mode

What seems to work for other users on this forum is to reinstall windows. In Windows 11 this is available via Settings > System > Recovery > Fix problems using windows update > Reinstall now.

As it states this reinstalls windows with all apps and settings preserved.

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!!!

Thank you for making this so clear. I too have a brand new laptop and will try this TODAY!!!