Is there *any* way to exit Windows 10 Home S mode whilst using...  

...A local account? I am setting-up a new Laptop and S mode is new to me. As many of you will know, S mode apparently means that you can only download from the Microsoft store.

I much prefer to use a local account because I believe (rightly or wrongly) that it offers more privacy and I don't really want to use any of the additional features that come with a Microsoft-linked account.

I have followed the guides available on YouTube and with all it seems you need a 'linked' account top switch to Windows 10 Home from Windows 10 S Mode.

is there any way to do this with a local account at all?

Thanks for reading.

Hi Ken thanks for reading and for your reply!

Regarding the tutorial, it stalls at step 3. A popup box opens and it tells you to sign-in. You click on 'next' but it doesn't work, it tells you to enter the email address linked to the account.

Is there another way around this?

Thanks again!

Do an in-place upgrade to Windows 10 Home, you can find the installation media here.

Hope this helps,
Yokiaza

Thanks Yokiaza - I am on a different PC at the moment but will try this later!

Stupid question - do I have the 'License' to update to 10?

Rubbish said:

Stupid question - do I have the 'License' to update to 10?

Both Home and Pro can come in S Mode. Many consumer machine these days come with Home in S Mode, particularly the low end ones. Which ever you have, Home S or Pro S, the license will allow you to use the same edition in 'normal' mode. Note that the switch out of S Mode is one way, you cannot go back to S Mode.

Thank you all so much!!!

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Thank you all so much!!! I shall do this tomorrow and if successful will mark this as solves. You are fantastic!