Windows 11 - Can't switch out of S mode

Exact same experience as you. Tried everything suggested 3 days ago with no success. Just today, I tried exiting out of S Mode - and it allowed me to. No idea why, probably something the user is not in control of. Such a massive waste of time.

None of it works! I know your heart is in the right place, however, this is the personality of this corporation. I'm a kitchen designer and I can't download the design program to work. I'm taking this computer back this morning and I have visions of bill pleasuring himself with it! ****!

Your experience seems to align with my theory (June 14):

My working theory is that removing S Mode may require the same sort of security as other, usually-paid, license upgrades.

This likely requires certain security files, or certificates, to be valid.

It may be that, for machines that were imaged months or years earlier, carry with them an old, likely expired certificate. That is what blocks the "license change" from initially being executed. However, there may be a process that periodically checks the validity of the security certificates, and if out of date, refreshes them with currently valid replacements. It also seems possible that reinstalling Windows from a recently downloaded ISO file/disk installs currently valid certificates.

So, perhaps there are two ways for this problem to resolve. Out of date certificates that prevent the "OS Change", i.e. Exit S Mode, get replaced with fresher, currently valid certificates using one of two methods:

1. Install from an image downloaded close to the time you wish to exit S mode.
2. Wait one (or more) days, and the outdated certificates are automatically replaced.

Update: Number 5 worked for me, too. Much appreciated for all of the input from everyone. What a pain in the A&&!

Fix 1: Start or Restart the Windows Update Service

Fix 2: Clear Microsoft Store Cache WSRESET.EXE

Fix 3: Repair or Reset the Store App

Fix 4: Create a New User Account

Fix 5: System > Recovery > Fix using windows update (might be under different wording)

Fix 6: Waiting 24-48 hrs

THIS METHOD ACTUALLY WORKS

I tried all the posted solutions to get out of s mode and all of them failed. Below is everything I tried.

Fix 1: Start or Restart the Windows Update Service

Fix 2: Clear Microsoft Store Cache WSRESET.EXE

Fix 3: Repair or Reset the Store App

Fix 4: Create a New User Account

Fix 5: System > Recovery > Fix using windows update (might be under different wording)

Fix 6: Waiting 24-48 hrs

I also disabled secure boot and performed all the updates and none of that worked.

What actually worked for me was downloading the windows 11 installation media onto a flash drive and running the upgrade on my PC. This reinstalled all the necessary files needed to remove the machine from s mode. I believe the MFGs are shipping the machines with a bad image causing the errors we are getting when attempting to leave s mode.

Once the "upgrade" completed I was able to exit s mode as easily as Microsoft said it would be.

Please check your event logs you should see errors pertaining to a licensing error this also disappeared once I performed the upgrade.