Your new computer has Windows 11 S Mode, and you are not sure how to get your apps and files to it? This tutorial will help you do that in a few easy steps.

What is Windows 11 S Mode?

S Mode is a special type of Windows 11, which essentially limits you to only using Microsoft Store apps. While in S Mode, Windows 11 will not allow you to install any 3rd party programs – no regular Office (only its Store / Cloud version), no Quickbooks, no Adobe software and so on.

S Mode has originally been designed by Microsoft for us in educational environments, where teachers want to limit students from using their PCs for non-school tasks. It has then expanded to general “easy locked down Windows”, which has caused quite a bit of backlash when regular computer users found out that they cannot use their new computers normally, due to a Microsoft-imposed lockdown.

Luckily, there is a way to switch out of S Mode.
This is the first thing we need to do – before we can transfer your apps and files from the old computer to your S Mode computer.

How to switch out of S Mode on Windows 11?

Switching out of S Mode (and into normal Windows 11 mode) is simple. Here is how to do that (these steps are taken from Microsoft’s official guide on switching out of S mode):

On your PC running Windows 11 in S mode, open Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
In the Switch to Windows 11 Home or Switch to Windows 11 Pro section, select Go to the Store. (If you also see an “Upgrade your edition of Windows” section, be careful not to click the “Go to the Store” link that appears there.)
On the Switch out of S mode (or similar) page that appears in the Microsoft Store, select the Get button. After you see a confirmation message on the page, you can start using your Windows normally – it is no longer in S Mode.

That’s it! Now that your Windows is no longer locked down, and S Mode is gone, you can transfer your programs, settings and files from the old computer to your new computer (the one that was in S Mode).

How to transfer programs and files to Windows 11 S Mode computer

We will now see how to transfer your stuff from your old computer to new computer – programs, settings, documents, pictures, music, movies, favorites, wallpaper and all files.

Now that the new computer is no longer in S Mode, you can use your programs without the S Mode limitations.

Here is how to do the transfer:

Run Zinstall WinWin on your current computer (the one you are transferring from).
Note: You can get Zinstall WinWin here.
Run Zinstall WinWin on the new computer (the one that was in S Mode before)
1. You don’t need to do any configurations for the computers to connect – it’s automatic
2. If the computers are already connect to same router, same Internet connection, or same wireless connection, you don’t need anything else
3. If the computers are not connected at all, connect them with a network / Ethernet cable
If you’d like to select which applications and files you want to transfer, press the Advanced menu. If you just want to transfer everything, you don’t need to go to the Advanced menu.
Press “Go” on the Windows 11 computer to start the transfer

That’s it – you now have your programs and files up and running on your new computer, without S Mode limitations!

Ready to transfer your programs and files to your new computer?

Get Zinstall WinWin Here

How to transfer apps and files to Windows 11 S Mode

What is Windows 11 S Mode?

How to switch out of S Mode on Windows 11?

How to transfer programs and files to Windows 11 S Mode computer

Ready to transfer your programs and files to your new computer?

Video tutorial – how to transfer files from one computer to another