How to Disable Windows 11 S Mode without Microsoft Account.
In this guide, we will show you 2 ways to to disable Windows 11 S mode, without using a Microsoft account.
In a previous tutorial we showed Microsoft's official way to exit Windows 11 S mode, that is by using a Microsoft account, in order to be able to install or run any software outside of the Microsoft Store.However, because many users don't want to use a Microsoft account to switch from Windows 11 Home S to Windows 11 Home, I decided to write this tutorial with two (2) different ways that have been tested and allow you to disable Windows 11 S Mode without an MS Account.
How to Switch Out from Windows 11 S Mode without a Microsoft account.
Step 1. Disable Device Encryption.
Since many new laptops come with the operating system pre-installed by the manufacturer and -by default- with the Device Encryption already enabled, before proceeding with the instructions below to turn off Windows 11 S Mode, go ahead and turn off Device Encryption if it is enabled. To do that:
1. Go to Go to Start menu > Settings > Privacy & security and turn OFF the Device encryption. (if it's ON)
2. What for the decryption to complete and then follow one of the methods below, to disable the S Mode.
Method 1. Exit from Windows 11 S Mode by Disabling Secure Boot in BIOS Settings.
The first method to switch out from Windows 11 S Mode without using a Microsoft Account, is to disable Secure Boot* feature in UEFI Firmware Settings. To do that:
* Info: The 'Secure Boot', is a security feature found in the BIOS (or UEFI) firmware of modern computers. It's designed to enhance the security of the boot process by ensuring that only trusted and digitally signed software components are loaded during the system startup.
1. Hold down the SHIFT key on your keyboard and go to Start > Power and click Restart.
2. After computer restarts, click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options and then click UEFI Firmware Settings.
3. In BIOS Setup utility, locate the Secure Boot* option and set it to Disabled.
* Note: The 'Secure Boot' option is usually found in the Boot Options menu or in the Security menu. In other PCs, the 'Secure Boot' can be found in Advanced Settings menu.
4. Now, Save and Exit from BIOS settings and boot to Windows. That's it! Windows 11 will exit from S mode and you'll be able to run any application you want.
Method 2. Disable Windows 11 S Mode in Registry.
The second method to turn of the Windows 11 S Mode with no Microsoft account, is to modify the Registry offline as instructed below:
1. Hold down the SHIFT key on your keyboard and go to Start > Power and click Restart.
2. After computer restarts, click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options and then click Command Prompt.
3. In Command Prompt window, type regedit and hit Enter.
4a. Click to select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key, and…
4b. ..from the File menu click Load Hive.
5. At Look in: select the Local Disk (C:)
5. Now navigate to this path:
- C:\Windows\system32\config\
6. Select the SYSTEM file and click Open.
7. Then, type OFFLINE as Key Name and click OK.
8. Now navigate to the following path:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Offline\ControlSet001\Control\CI\Policy
9a. Open the SkuPolicyRequired REG_DWORD on the right.
9b. Change the value data from 1 to 0 and click OK.
10a. Now select again the OFFLINE key on the left and from the File menu choose Unload Hive.
10b. Click Yes to confirm your decision.
11. Close Registry Editor and all open windows and restart your computer normally.
12. You're done!
That's it! Which method worked for you?
Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
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April 28, 2026 @ 1:37 am
Thank you baby Jesus – I was about to toss the laptop out the window!! I am so thankful for this help!! Option 1 helped me!
April 26, 2026 @ 6:11 pm
Method 2…..thank god
April 23, 2026 @ 10:41 pm
After juggling for over 3 hours through various forums, I landed here & Method2 worked perfectly for me. I am saved, Thank you KT !!
April 22, 2026 @ 7:59 pm
VERY GOOD THANKS
April 27, 2026 @ 2:59 pm
First solution that works, thank you so much! Tried both in order, Method 2 worked for me.
February 1, 2026 @ 2:09 am
Thank you!!! Method 1 worked perfectly!
January 31, 2026 @ 11:07 pm
It worked! Method 2 is the one I tried and followed the steps for it. Thank you so much! Shame on you Microsoft…
January 31, 2026 @ 5:40 pm
Just here to say this worked! Tried both methods #1 did not work but #2 did. Thank you so much!
January 30, 2026 @ 5:16 am
Method 1 did not work for me. After using method 2, SUCCESS! Thank you for the detailed "how-to" article.
April 22, 2026 @ 12:14 am
gog bless u friend friend the second method worked for me thank you so much
December 12, 2025 @ 11:40 am
la méthode à marcher pour moi et merci beaucoup pour votre aide
December 4, 2025 @ 3:02 am
I got a new hp notebook and running for a while, now i got to format it.. bam restored to S mode.. got me worried because couldnt remove it.. worried that windows is taking my liberties and freedom… Just disabled the Secure Boot and S mode is gone. will make sure to follow thru the tutorial to make it permament
November 7, 2025 @ 5:32 pm
THANK YOU! I was really going nuts setting up a new HP laptop for my 89-year-old mom who wants her new computer to look and feel exactly like her old Windows 10 laptop. It wouldn't let me install or remove any apps, wouldn't let me start any Windows executables or even open files such as the registry editor. I had to use both methods you provided above and together they worked. SO happy I stumbled onto your post while researching this issue.
October 28, 2025 @ 7:26 am
You are an absolute lifesaver. I spent almost 2 hours trying to get this to work. This was a brand new 14" HP and nothing was working. One note, method 1 didnt work but method 2 did!
October 12, 2025 @ 4:53 am
The second method just worked on an HP 14" I just bought new. You're a lifesaver!
August 30, 2025 @ 8:54 pm
Thank you so mouch!!
Ragedit work for me.
What a dumb idea from Microsoft. 🤦🏻♂️
August 2, 2025 @ 1:13 pm
So happy this worked! I hate s mode with a burning passion and have been trying everything to switch it off. Thank you so much!!
April 26, 2025 @ 5:38 pm
Gracias!!!
March 26, 2025 @ 9:54 pm
RegEdit method worked for me.
Thanks!
March 12, 2025 @ 2:27 am
No luck. Going to need to learn about the options for linux. Windows is making it tougher and tougher to use the OS that we buy from them!
February 15, 2025 @ 2:08 am
Turning off secure boot in the BIOS worked for me but now my track-pad doesn't work. That I need to figure out now.
Thanks!
February 5, 2025 @ 8:56 pm
Thank you so much! The second method worked for us, after trying other methods for hours! This was a lifesaver!!
June 25, 2024 @ 11:17 am
Good Work, but it didnt works with Win 10. Tried all methods. SkuPolicyRequired was set to 0 already. Secure boot is deactivated. Nothing helps.
I'm so sick of this arrogance and constant patronizing from Microsoft. It's my computer and I want to decide what I want to install and what I don't!
July 15, 2024 @ 2:35 am
The first method did not clear the S mode but the second (regedit) did it! Thanks so much. I just bought this Lenovo lap top and was very disappointed that it had the crippled version of Windows 11 on it. Now it is regular Windows 11 Home (it is just arthritic not lame).
June 18, 2024 @ 8:07 pm
OMFGOSHIES!!!! after purchasing a new laptop having to return it and then purchasing another one then haveing been researching and troubleshooting for the last two days! hours upon hours this finally worked! I had previously tried your first method and that did not work. But the second one did. Thank You So Much!
June 10, 2024 @ 4:35 am
After all else failed (from top down), I recorded all the registry instructions, but before restarting I tried to run "cmd" from the start menu. No, it did not run, but a "learn more" link was there so I clicked it. This started the Microsoft store again, and for whatever reason, it did NOT show me the "start" button, IT JUST STARTED TO WORK, after over a dozen failed attempts over the past 3 hours!!!!! It could have been a combination of disabling the secure boot about 30 minutes before, disabling the encryption, or just a shortcut into the "Disable S mode" background. Thank you for the post. I can finally install the software I bought this new Lenovo Laptop to run!
May 31, 2024 @ 5:03 pm
Thank you very much for this. There is so much noise on the Internet about this, but this article truly worked great. I may post this link to people that are still struggling.
May 29, 2024 @ 11:00 pm
method two worked perfectly. I just bought my laptop and I was two seconds away from going back and cussing at them. I don't believe they had on the display specs that it is in s mode. Anyways thank you!!!
April 16, 2024 @ 1:39 am
I have tried both these methods in the past. Neither of them worked on the Lenovo laptop I got for my mum to use. It is version 22H2. With the second method the value data was set to 0 already.
I have never seen the bit about switching off device encription so I thought that might help but I can't find any device encription. When I click on privacy & security, there are 3 sections under security. Windows security, Find my device and For Developers. I searched for device encription in the search box but no results. Really angry about this S mode now.
March 2, 2024 @ 7:56 am
2nd method Excellent!
Only in the end you have to go on :
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Offline\ControlSet001\Control\CI\Policy
and there you can find the SkuPolicyRequired REG_DWORD
I have preinstalled Windows 11 Home on Lenovo Laptop
Now there is no S mode any more
Thank you
March 12, 2024 @ 12:35 pm
Thanks for the correction. The article is updated.
January 15, 2024 @ 12:38 pm
Method 2 worked perfectly! Thank you. I have a question though: does this open up any new security risks to Windows 11?
December 29, 2023 @ 11:55 pm
Did first method
Still got asked to create an MA when I clicked on the 'GET' button
Did the second method
No SKU line at Point 9a
Just Default and UMCIDisabled
IF sku line has gone because of first method being applied
Then I'm back to being stuck with an MA requirement
January 29, 2024 @ 7:31 pm
The correct path is "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Offline\ControlSet001\Control\CI\Policy". The author forgot the last part (Policy). There you'll find the "SkuPolicyRequired" key and associated value. Hope this helps.
March 23, 2024 @ 4:01 am
It's correct now when I used it so it must have helped. :)