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Switching out of S mode

Anonymous
2025-03-12T14:42:04+00:00

Hi

I am doing an online course that requires all exams to be completed using Google Chrome or Firefox, when trying to download I am prompted to switch out of S mode and that I will not be able to revert back. I am not sure what this means for me, it’s a new laptop to accommodate the upgrade to windows 11, can you advise?

Many thanks

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Install and upgrade

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-12T15:04:59+00:00

    S mode is a security mode that only allows downloads from the windows Store. Once you have switched out you cannot go back so you will be able to download files from any source on the internet.

    After switching out you need to be careful where you are accessing downloads. Or perhaps just rely on windows Store for apps even though you could get them from anywhere.

    It does appear you can download the Firefox app from the Store so perhaps that will be your best option

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-03-12T15:27:38+00:00

    That is a strange requirement.

    Years ago, Microsoft stopped supporting their own Internet Explorer app, and introduced Microsoft Edge, but this app was written & maintained by Microsoft.

    Microsoft tried to keep updating Edge, adding features, reacting to the newly-released Google Chrome, but Microsoft eventually realized that keeping-up was difficult, and a drain on their programming department.

    Google Chrome has always been based on the open-source "Chromium" project.

    So, what Microsoft did was to copy Google, by discarding their own programming-code for Edge, and doing the same -- creating a "new Edge", also based on Chromium.

    If you "peel off the covers", you will find that Chrome & Edge are the same web-browser, with a slightly different user interface, and should be identical when processing a complex web-site.

    Thus, that requirement to NOT use the "old Edge", and instead use Chrome, was valid, a few years ago, but I think that the requirement needs to be evaluated, and either withdrawn or be updated.

    So, I think that if you use the "new Edge", instead of Chrome, you will have no problems. Give it a try.

    P.S. If you have some technical skills, try:

    1. buy a new disk-drive
    2. use free software, such as AOMEI, to "clone" your current disk-drive onto the new disk-drive
    3. remove the current disk-drive from your computer
    4. connect the new disk-drive
    5. boot from the new disk-drive
    6. exit from "S-mode"
    7. install Firefox or Chrome
    8. run the required "test" software
    9. at the end of your course, "reverse" the process, reinstalling the previous disk-drive, which will still be in "S-mode"
    10. keep the new disk-drive as a "backup" of your files/folders

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