The latest Windows update allows to enable / disable S Mode

The original Windows 10 S Mode is the 'lock' mode, which only allows Microsoft Store applications, is a separate Windows 10 version and only 1 time is upgraded to Windows 10 Pro without limitation and can't return to the old version.

To Windows 10 version 1803, it became a mode on Windows 10 Home and Pro, allowing to upgrade to the corresponding unlimited version immediately after installation and also cannot return to the old version.

In the latest version of Windows 10 Insider Preview, S Mode changes again, becoming a normal option that you can turn on at any time. Build 17686 has the keyword "Switch to S Mode" in the Settings section of the application. Although the ability to switch to S Mode is not yet available in this version, it is unclear how it will work, but users may switch to S Mode after installation.

The latest Windows update allows to enable / disable S Mode Picture 1
S Mode may not be as rigid as the original

The big question is what happens to non-Store apps. It is better to install desktop applications and drivers in normal mode, so that they continue to function normally even if the machine has switched to S Mode. This will help support older applications, while still providing the security S Mode has; You can still add new sandbox applications, but random sandbox applications on the network are not.

After all, this is exactly what S Mode should do. Apps on the Store are getting more and more ready to serve but still have a big functional gap with desktop applications. S Mode can be paralleled with carefully selected desktop software so that S Mode becomes more useful.

See more:

1. How to activate S-Mode on Windows 10 ISO file
2. Microsoft is about to give up Windows 10 S, replacing it with S Mode
3. Microsoft confirmed that Windows will have S Mode in 2019