Windows S

What Is Windows S, and How Is It Different?

By Chris Hoffman


Windows 10 S is “the soul of today’s Windows”, according to Microsoft. It’s a new version of Windows intended for school PCs, but available to everyone. It’s designed to be more simple and streamlined, so it only runs applications from the Windows Store—unless you spend another $50 to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.

Microsoft announced that Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Samsung, and Toshiba will ship Windows 10 S education PCs starting at $189, starting this summer. Microsoft is also releasing a $999 Surface Laptop, which runs Windows 10 S.

How Is Windows 10 S Different?

The biggest difference in Windows 10 S is that can only run apps downloaded from the Windows Store. These apps are checked for security and run in a secure container. This ensures that applications can’t mess with your registry, leave files behind, or cause problems with the rest of your PC. You can get the same benefits by running those new Universal apps from the Windows Store on a Windows 10 PC. But unlike normal Windows 10, you won’t have the option of downloading other apps that aren’t available in the store.

Thankfully, full versions of Microsoft Office 365 applications—Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote—are coming to the Windows Store soon. They’re packaged using Microsoft’s Project Centennial, which allows traditional Windows desktop applications to be run in a secure container and placed in the Windows Store. The application’s developer just has to package the application and submit it to the Store. Hopefully, Windows 10 S will give more desktop application developers the push to do so.

As Microsoft noted at its May 2 event, “Windows 10 S can run any web browser in the Windows Store”. That just includes Microsoft Edge right now, but Microsoft clearly wants Google and Mozilla to package their browsers for the Windows Store, too.

Microsoft demonstrated Windows 10 S signing in much faster than Windows 10 Pro on a first login. That’s no surprise, as Windows 10 S won’t have all the usual manufacturer-installed bloatware slowing things down.

Windows 10 S also has a different default desktop background that Microsoft says is “streamlined” like Windows 10 S itself, so it provides you with a clue you’re using Windows 10 S.



What Happens if You Download a Desktop App in Windows 10 S?

If you try to download a (non-Store) desktop application on a Windows 10 S PC, you’ll see a message saying that “For security and performance, Windows 10 S only runs verified apps from the Store”. The dialog informs you of similar applications available in the Windows Store. For example, Windows will suggest you install Adobe Photoshop Express from the Windows Store if you try to download the desktop version of Photoshop.

In this way, Windows 10 S’s default behavior works just like Windows 10 with the “Allow apps from the Store only” option enabled. This will also protect those PCs from malware.

You can upgrade the device to Windows 10 Pro to enable running desktop applications on it. It works just like upgrading from Windows 10 Home to Pro. Schools can upgrade their PCs for free, while everyone else can pay $50 to unlock Windows 10 Pro and the full Windows desktop experience.



Who Is Windows 10 S For?

Windows 10 S computers are Microsoft’s answer to Chromebooks, which are also big in schools. Chromebooks can only run web-based software, while Windows 10 S can also run powerful desktop apps if they’re packaged for the Store. In this context, Windows 10 S doesn’t look too limited—it looks more powerful than Google’s Chromebooks…as long as Windows developers get on board with the store. Of course, Chromebooks can now run Android apps, so they’re getting more powerful too.

Microsoft is positioning Windows 10 S as a streamlined version of Windows 10 for schools. They even showed off a simple “Set Up My School PC” application that creates a USB drive which will automatically set up PCs with the settings. Plug in the USB drive, wait 30 seconds, and the system will be configured automatically. Then, plug the USB stick into the next laptop.

But Windows 10 S isn’t just for schools. Microsoft expects Windows 10 S will be available on normal consumer PCs. You’ll probably see Windows 10 S PCs in stores alongside normal Windows 10 PCs. And hey, if you try it and don’t like it, you can always turn a Windows 10 S PC into a Windows 10 Pro PC for $50.