Can we Install Lightroom Classic in Windows S Mode?

[JJJenkins1]

Hello everyone!

I'm a professional photographer and have been using Lightroom Classic since 2017. My wife has gotten into pro photography as well within the past year. We were recently gifted a consumer grade HP PC that runs Windows in S Mode. I don't usually use consumer grade computers and I've also been on the Mac OS since roughly 2017. As a result, I'm unfamiliar with this new S Mode concept on Windows.

Am I able to install Lightroom Classic in S Mode or do I have to take the OS out of S Mode in order to accompplish this?

Thank you for your help!

-Justin

[Test Screen Name · Accepted solution]

No. That's what S mode is supposed to do. The idea is the PC can run only apps from Microsoft's App store - no exceptions. It's a way of locking it down as a very limited PC. Tip: leaving S mode is forever; there is no going back.

More info: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/windows-10-s-mode-pros-and-cons/

[Test Screen Name]

One other tip: you will each need an Adobe subscription to any apps you want, just in case you were thinking of sharing. Doesn't come with a family option.

[JJJenkins1]

Thank you so much for your help! I had a feeling what you shared was the case, but wanted to double check with the experts since I'm very unfamilir with the new updates to the Windows OS. Last time I used Windows professionally was before all the cloud apps became tightly integrated into the OS itself. One Drive was a new concept at that point in time.

I got my wife her own sub to Lightroom and was planning to make her a new Catalog with only her work in it that she could use moving forward. But with this new knowledge of Windows S and the limitations for installing professional apps, I may just return the consumer grade PC that we were gifted. It doesn't seem the right fit for professional work if you have to 'break' it in order to run a professional program. I'd rather just get a system meant for pro work.

Thank you again for your help!

-Justin