Windows 11 Home vs Windows 11 Pro
Trying to choose between Windows 11 Home vs Pro? These are the main differences between the two editions you should be aware of
Every major version of Windows, as you may know, is available in a few different editions. The same holds true for Windows 11, which, with the exception of the upcoming Windows 11 SE for education, has essentially the same editions as Windows 10. But for the majority of people, the choice will be between Home and Pro. You can purchase these two editions in stores or have them already installed on computers. We've compiled all the key distinctions between Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro here if you're looking for a comparison.
The price is the primary distinction between Windows 11 Home and Pro. The license for Windows 11 Home costs $139.99, while the license for Windows 11 Pro costs $199.99. However, the majority of laptops simply ship with one of those preinstalled. It will cost you $99.99 to upgrade Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro. Additionally, it's critical to understand that Windows 11 Home will typically perform the majority of your needs. The Pro edition is intended for professionals, typically those who use their devices for work, as the name suggests. There are some extra features here, but if you're just purchasing a PC for personal use, Windows 11 Home is the best option.
When Windows 11 was first released, the main distinction between the Home and Pro editions was that the former allowed you to set up the computer with a local account, while the latter did not. However, Microsoft later modified this, making a Microsoft account still necessary when configuring a Windows 11 Pro device for domestic use. When configuring the device for work or school use, you can choose not to create a Microsoft account, or you can use a workaround to do so on both the Home and Pro editions.
Support for Windows' virtualization features is the next significant difference between the Windows 11 Home and Pro editions. Windows Sandbox and Hyper-V are not supported by Windows 11 Home (although you can enable them). Additionally, Windows 11 Home PCs cannot be accessed remotely using Microsoft Remote Desktop because it can only be used as a client for Remote Desktop, not a host. To accomplish similar tasks, you can use outside programs like TeamViewer.
All of these features are supported by Windows 11 Pro. Because Hyper-V is a virtualization tool that is integrated into Windows, you can build virtual machines using it. You can use Hyper-V to run a different operating system or an earlier version of Windows if you need to for some reason. Your host PC won't be altered by virtual machines, so everything you do is risk-free. Again, you can do this on Home editions using third-party applications like VMware Workstation Player.
This concept is expanded upon by Windows Sandbox, but instead of running different operating systems, it merely makes a fresh copy of the OS you're currently using. Before actually installing a potentially risky app on your machine, you can quickly install and test it in Windows Sandbox to see if it's harmful. Every time you open Windows Sandbox, it starts over from scratch, giving you a clean slate for testing.
There are also some additional security features in Windows 11 Pro because business users frequently handle particularly sensitive information. The support for BitLocker encryption comes first. Data on your hard drive is encrypted using this feature to prevent unauthorized access. Your files are safe from users besides you, even if your computer is stolen.
Windows Information Protection, also known as WIP, is included with Windows 11 Pro. This data loss prevention tool can assist in preventing data leaks within a business. Companies can, for instance, forbid users from forwarding content to third parties using WIP policies. When compared to third-party solutions, WIP is easier to use because it is integrated into Windows. WIP can also distinguish between personal and business data on a device, allowing business data to be remotely deleted without affecting personal data if the PC is lost or stolen.
The minimum system requirements for Windows 11 Home and Pro are the same, so they will largely run on the same PCs. In contrast to Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Home actually has different upper bounds. For instance, the Pro edition of Windows 11 supports two CPUs, whereas Windows 11 Home PCs can only have one CPU socket and one CPU. Similar to how Windows 11 Pro supports up to 128 CPU cores, while Windows 11 Home only supports up to 64.
Additionally, Windows 11 Home is only "allowed" 128GB of RAM. That will, of course, be sufficient for the majority of regular users; even the most sophisticated gaming PCs don't require this much RAM. Windows 11 Pro, on the other hand, increases that to 2TB, which will primarily be helpful if you want to create numerous virtual machines and give them a ton of RAM.
Of course, the majority of the differences between the Windows 11 Home and Pro editions pertain to businesses. Windows 11 Home doesn't have any device management features at all. However, Group Policy, which enables IT administrators to set up specific policies for a group of devices at once, is supported by Windows 11 Pro. Additionally, Windows Update for Business enables businesses to manage how updates are distributed to users so as to prevent unforeseen problems.
Features exclusive to Windows 11 Pro include:
Mobile device management
Group Policy
Enterprise State Roaming
Assigned Access
Dynamic Provisioning
Windows Update for Business
Kiosk mode
Active Directory/Azure AD
The Microsoft Store for Business was a feature of Windows 10, but Windows 11 will take a different tack. In fact, Microsoft will completely discontinue the Microsoft Store for Business in favor of a new management interface based on Microsoft Intune and the Windows Package Manager.
These are the main variations between the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11. The majority of them center on features intended for business users, as we've already mentioned. Some are intended to safeguard particularly sensitive data, while others are concerned with setting up devices for users quickly and managing them remotely. You'll probably be fine with Windows 11 Home for the typical shopper entering a store. Most likely, if you require Windows 11 Pro, you already understand why you do.
Here are the differences of Windows 11 Home vs Windows 11 Pro
Every major version of Windows, as you may know, is available in a few different editions. The same holds true for Windows 11, which, with the exception of the upcoming Windows 11 SE for education, has essentially the same editions as Windows 10. But for the majority of people, the choice will be between Home and Pro. You can purchase these two editions in stores or have them already installed on computers. We've compiled all the key distinctions between Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro here if you're looking for a comparison.
The price is the primary distinction between Windows 11 Home and Pro. The license for Windows 11 Home costs $139.99, while the license for Windows 11 Pro costs $199.99. However, the majority of laptops simply ship with one of those preinstalled. It will cost you $99.99 to upgrade Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro. Additionally, it's critical to understand that Windows 11 Home will typically perform the majority of your needs. The Pro edition is intended for professionals, typically those who use their devices for work, as the name suggests. There are some extra features here, but if you're just purchasing a PC for personal use, Windows 11 Home is the best option.
Summary of feature differences
| Feature | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Set up with a local account | No | Only when set up for work or school |
| Join Active Directory/Azure AD | No | Yes |
| Hyper-V | No | Yes |
| Windows Sandbox | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Remote Desktop | Client only | Yes |
| Windows Hello | Yes | Yes |
| Device encryption | Yes | Yes |
| Firewall and network protection | Yes | Yes |
| Internet protection | Yes | Yes |
| Parental controls/protection | Yes | Yes |
| Secure Boot | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Defender Antivirus | Yes | Yes |
| BitLocker device encryption | No | Yes |
| Windows Information Protection | No | Yes |
| Mobile device management (MDM) | No | Yes |
| Group Policy | No | Yes |
| Enterprise State Roaming with Azure | No | Yes |
| Assigned Access | No | Yes |
| Dynamic Provisioning | No | Yes |
| Windows Update for Business | No | Yes |
| Kiosk mode | No | Yes |
| Maximum RAM | 128GB | 2TB |
| Maximum no. of CPUs | 1 | 2 |
| Maximum no. of CPU cores | 64 | 128 |
Setting up Windows 11 Home vs. Pro
When Windows 11 was first released, the main distinction between the Home and Pro editions was that the former allowed you to set up the computer with a local account, while the latter did not. However, Microsoft later modified this, making a Microsoft account still necessary when configuring a Windows 11 Pro device for domestic use. When configuring the device for work or school use, you can choose not to create a Microsoft account, or you can use a workaround to do so on both the Home and Pro editions.
Virtualization and remote desktop in Windows 11 Home vs. Pro
Support for Windows' virtualization features is the next significant difference between the Windows 11 Home and Pro editions. Windows Sandbox and Hyper-V are not supported by Windows 11 Home (although you can enable them). Additionally, Windows 11 Home PCs cannot be accessed remotely using Microsoft Remote Desktop because it can only be used as a client for Remote Desktop, not a host. To accomplish similar tasks, you can use outside programs like TeamViewer.
All of these features are supported by Windows 11 Pro. Because Hyper-V is a virtualization tool that is integrated into Windows, you can build virtual machines using it. You can use Hyper-V to run a different operating system or an earlier version of Windows if you need to for some reason. Your host PC won't be altered by virtual machines, so everything you do is risk-free. Again, you can do this on Home editions using third-party applications like VMware Workstation Player.
This concept is expanded upon by Windows Sandbox, but instead of running different operating systems, it merely makes a fresh copy of the OS you're currently using. Before actually installing a potentially risky app on your machine, you can quickly install and test it in Windows Sandbox to see if it's harmful. Every time you open Windows Sandbox, it starts over from scratch, giving you a clean slate for testing.
Security in Windows 11 Home vs. Pro
There are also some additional security features in Windows 11 Pro because business users frequently handle particularly sensitive information. The support for BitLocker encryption comes first. Data on your hard drive is encrypted using this feature to prevent unauthorized access. Your files are safe from users besides you, even if your computer is stolen.
Windows Information Protection, also known as WIP, is included with Windows 11 Pro. This data loss prevention tool can assist in preventing data leaks within a business. Companies can, for instance, forbid users from forwarding content to third parties using WIP policies. When compared to third-party solutions, WIP is easier to use because it is integrated into Windows. WIP can also distinguish between personal and business data on a device, allowing business data to be remotely deleted without affecting personal data if the PC is lost or stolen.
Support for CPU and RAM
The minimum system requirements for Windows 11 Home and Pro are the same, so they will largely run on the same PCs. In contrast to Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Home actually has different upper bounds. For instance, the Pro edition of Windows 11 supports two CPUs, whereas Windows 11 Home PCs can only have one CPU socket and one CPU. Similar to how Windows 11 Pro supports up to 128 CPU cores, while Windows 11 Home only supports up to 64.
Additionally, Windows 11 Home is only "allowed" 128GB of RAM. That will, of course, be sufficient for the majority of regular users; even the most sophisticated gaming PCs don't require this much RAM. Windows 11 Pro, on the other hand, increases that to 2TB, which will primarily be helpful if you want to create numerous virtual machines and give them a ton of RAM.
Features of enterprise management
Of course, the majority of the differences between the Windows 11 Home and Pro editions pertain to businesses. Windows 11 Home doesn't have any device management features at all. However, Group Policy, which enables IT administrators to set up specific policies for a group of devices at once, is supported by Windows 11 Pro. Additionally, Windows Update for Business enables businesses to manage how updates are distributed to users so as to prevent unforeseen problems.
Features exclusive to Windows 11 Pro include:
Mobile device management
Group Policy
Enterprise State Roaming
Assigned Access
Dynamic Provisioning
Windows Update for Business
Kiosk mode
Active Directory/Azure AD
The Microsoft Store for Business was a feature of Windows 10, but Windows 11 will take a different tack. In fact, Microsoft will completely discontinue the Microsoft Store for Business in favor of a new management interface based on Microsoft Intune and the Windows Package Manager.
These are the main variations between the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11. The majority of them center on features intended for business users, as we've already mentioned. Some are intended to safeguard particularly sensitive data, while others are concerned with setting up devices for users quickly and managing them remotely. You'll probably be fine with Windows 11 Home for the typical shopper entering a store. Most likely, if you require Windows 11 Pro, you already understand why you do.
Updated on: 07/03/2023
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