Here are the key differences between Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro

 

Here are the key differences between Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro

Every major version of Windows, as you may be aware, comes in a variety of editions. The same will be true for Windows 11, and we already know what SKUs will be available for it. Most people, however, will have to choose between Home and Pro. These are the two editions that will be available in stores and pre-installed on computers. If you're looking for a comparison of Windows 11 Home vs Windows 11 Pro, we've compiled a list of all the key differences.

The primary distinction between Windows 11 Home and Pro is the price. If Microsoft keeps the same pricing as with Windows 10, the Home edition will be $139.99, while the Pro edition will be $199.99. It's also worth noting that, for the most part, Windows 11 Home will do everything you need it to. The Pro edition, as the name suggests, is intended for professionals. There are some extra features on this front, but if you're just buying a PC for personal use, Windows 11 Home will suffice.

Summary of feature distinctions

Here's a quick rundown of the key feature differences:

Feature	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Pro
Set up with a local account	No	Yes
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

Windows 11 Home vs. Pro Installation

The first significant difference between Windows 11 Home and Pro is when you boot it up for the first time. Windows 11 Home has a limitation that may irritate some users: you must set it up with an internet connection and a Microsoft account. That is, at least, the official method, though you can trick Windows 11 Home into allowing you to set it up without a Microsoft account. You can also remove your Microsoft account after setting up your PC in Windows 11 Home, but in Windows 11 Pro, you can simply set up your PC with a local account.

Another notable difference for business users is that Windows 11 Home PCs cannot be joined to Active Directory. Active Directory solutions are required for managing business devices, such as configuring access to specific resources and deploying apps. This includes Windows 11 features such as Group Policy. Because those are all professional tools, they are not appropriate for the majority of people.

Virtualization and remote desktop in Windows 11 Home vs. Pro

The support for virtualization features in Windows is the next major difference between the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11. Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox are not supported in Windows 11 Home. Furthermore, while it can be used as a Remote Desktop client, it cannot be used as a host, so you cannot remotely access a Windows 11 Home PC using Microsoft Remote Desktop. However, you can simulate using third-party tools such as TeamViewer.

Meanwhile, all of these features are supported by Windows 11 Pro. Hyper-V is a virtualization tool that is built into Windows, which allows you to create virtual machines. If you want to experiment with a different operating system or run an older version of Windows, you can do so with Hyper-V. Virtual machines make no changes to your host computer. so you don't have to worry about anything. Again, third-party apps like VMware Workstation Player allow you to do this on Home editions.

Windows Sandbox is an extension of this concept, but instead of running other operating systems, it simply creates a clean copy of the operating system you're currently using. With Windows Sandbox, you can quickly install and test a potentially dangerous app to determine its safety before installing it on your machine. Every time you open Windows Sandbox, it resets, so it's always a clean slate for testing.

Security in Windows 11 Home vs. Pro

Because business users frequently deal with highly sensitive information, Windows 11 Pro includes some additional security features. For starters, BitLocker encryption is supported. This feature encrypts data stored on your hard drive so that it cannot be accessed by anyone else. Even if your computer is stolen, your files are safe from unauthorized users.

WIP, or Windows Information Protection, is also included with Windows 11 Pro. This is a data loss prevention tool that can assist in preventing data leaks within a company. Companies can use WIP policies to prevent users from forwarding content outside of the company, for example. WIP provides a more hassle-free experience than third-party solutions because it is built right into Windows. WIP can also separate personal and business data on a device, allowing business data to be deleted remotely without affecting personal data on the device if it is lost or stolen.