Windows 11 SE: What You Can And Don't Do With Microsoft's Remote Learning OS



Microsoft introduced Windows 11 SE, its new operating system for students in the beginning of November, following the launch of Windows 11 in October. According to Microsoft, Windows 11 SE was designed with teachers and students in mind. It's designed to provide a simple and uncluttered environment that children can be comfortable in.



This isn't the first Microsoft operating system that's student-focused. Windows 10 S was the version designed for students of Windows 10. However, Microsoft claimed that this version of Windows 10 only prevented certain apps from downloading. This is similar to parental controls. However, Windows 11 SE is a separate operating system with a focus on remote management.



Many schools across the United States started remote learning during the pandemic, access to reliable hardware and software was vital for many school-age children to continue their education. Microsoft made Windows 11 SE with that in mind.



What is Windows 11 SE? Microsoft Windows 11 SE is an operating system that is cloud-first that's designed for K-8 classrooms. It has a simple design and controlled installation of applications. Since the software is geared towards classrooms, you're not likely to discover it in retail stores. Instead,minecraft serverscomes preloaded on select Microsoft devices that Microsoft plans on selling to educational organizations.



Is it possible to install Windows 11 SE on a home laptop? Unfortunately, no. You cannot install Windows SE on your home laptop the way you would upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. You can, however, purchase another version Windows and install it on your Windows 11 SE-enabled laptop after it has been wiped by an IT administrator. However the device will not be able to go back to Windows 11 SE. So be careful before you take this step.



What apps work with Windows 11 SE devices Microsoft Office, Teams, Minecraft for Education and OneNote all are preloaded on Windows 11 SE, and apps like Google Chrome and Zoom can be downloaded. Administrators can only download and manage additional apps using Microsoft Intune for Education. Microsoft has provided this list of six kinds of apps available for download:



Apps to filter content



Test-taking "solutions"



Accessibility apps



Effective classroom communication apps



Essential diagnostics, management, connectivity and apps for supportability



Browsers



Messenger and Spotify apps did not make it. This means there are fewer distractions on Windows 11 SE devices. Microsoft stated that apps that could be used in web browsers will work.



You can't also change the settings of the operating system. Administrators can only alter the settings, the same way as the apps. Administrators will also be able to wipe the device remotely.



What is the difference between Windows 11 compare to Windows 11 SE? Windows 11 SE and Windows 11 SE differ in the sense that Windows 11 was intended for personal use, while Windows 11 SE was created to manage remote IT or classroom settings. These different intentions impact how users access the operating system and what apps can be used. You can upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 10 and Windows 11 has no app limitations. Only administrators can add apps to Windows 11 SE. Even the administrators can only choose from a small number of applications. The systems otherwise behave and look the same.



If you're interested in Windows 11, you can learn more about Windows 11's top features, or you can discover more about the multitasking capabilities of Windows 11 which can improve your productivity.