Another user has successfully switched out of S Mode after running the process again since yesterday. Stated they did exactly the same as previous and feel Microsoft have fixed something server side.
Exit S Mode on Surface Laptop Go
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(169.60000000000002, 23%, 26%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EMH%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Michael Hagmann
0
Reputation points
Hello
I set up a Surface Laptop Go (Gen 1) with a Surface recovery USB Stick.
After the installation I did all the available updates.
Now I want to switch out of S mode, but that does not work. If I go to System>Activation>S mode and then open Store (in German System>Aktivierung>S-Modus>Store öffnen), I get into the store.
If I then press download (herunterladen), I get the error that the upgrade could not be done ("Das Update konnte aufgrund eines Problem nicht gestartet werden").
I already set up the surface a second time, but it still does not work.
Please tell me how I can switch out of S-mode.
Thank you very much, best regards
Michael
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Licensing and activation
{count} votes
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(204.8, 96%, 29%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3END%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Neil D 32,415 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2026-01-31T21:02:01.1+00:00 Not sure if it is lost in translation but you shouldn't be downloading anything to just switch out of S Mode.
In the Store you select Get to switch from S Mode. You are not changing the edition (upgrading from Home to Pro) but keeping the same edition as you have initially.
Others are having the same issues so it may be a server issue. It has happened before with Windows 10.
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Michael Hagmann 0 Reputation points
2026-01-31T21:13:15.6766667+00:00 Hi Neil
Thank you for your post.
All I do is going into settings>system>activation and in the S-mode section I select open store.
In the store, there is a blue button "download". Then it takes some seconds before I get the message that the update could not be startet. -
Michael Hagmann 0 Reputation points
2026-01-31T21:25:44.5366667+00:00 It is so silly, I already invested several hours trying to get rid of this ridiculous S-mode to be able to use my Surface Laptop in a useful way.
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Neil D 32,415 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-01-31T21:31:39.3466667+00:00 Does the screen look like this?
If yours is in German I assume Get is what you are saying is showing Download. I just wanted to be sure you are not trying to upgrade to Pro from Home edition.
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(246.4, 66%, 33%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EL%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Laura 35 Reputation points2026-01-31T23:02:11.1066667+00:00 I'm having the same issue. You can run all the updates you like, it won't do anything. It's a server issue with MS, that's what i've been told, so many people are having the same issue - and i wish MS would sort it asap as i am on day 2 of trying to get out of S mode. It's so frustrating!! MS PLEASE GET THIS SORTED!! SHOW YOUR CUSTOMERS SOME DECENT SUPPORT!
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Neil D 32,415 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-02-01T09:51:02.09+00:00 Taken from another thread Eleven Forum - S Mode does disabling Secure boot help.
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Neil D 32,415 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-02-01T10:01:41.2333333+00:00 @Michael Hagmann I have finally managed to translate the image. It is the same text as I see in English.
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Michael Hagmann 0 Reputation points
2026-02-02T07:38:02.13+00:00 These steps worked for me:
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/windows10space/cannot-switch-out-of-s-mode/4174215Edit: Well, it worked as long as Secure Boot was disabled. After enabling Secure Boot I am in S-Mode again. Edit 2: Disabling the firewall during switching out of S-mode helped permanently, I hope.
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