Windows 11 Home vs. Windows 11 Pro

In line with previous versions of its flagship operating system, Microsoft offers Windows 11 In two versions: Home و Professional. As their names suggest, the Home edition is geared toward consumers, while the Pro edition is designed for business use. While Windows 11 Pro may seem like the better option due to its additional features, the upgrade may not be worth the cost depending on your needs. Let's take a look at this comparison of Windows 11 Home vs. Windows 11 Pro.

General results

Windows 11 Home and Pro have many of the same features, which means you'll be able to: Take advantage of promotions مثل Widgets و snap layouts وRedesigned taskbar No matter which version you choose.

Where the two editions differ is in terms of built-in features, with Windows 11 Pro including some exclusive security and virtualization features that you won't find in Windows 11 Home. The good news is that most of these tools will only be useful to system administrators, so the average user won't lose any essential functionality if they skip the Pro edition.

Note: As of Q2023 XNUMX, the Microsoft Store for Business is being discontinued, although you can still download free and individually licensed apps.

Security: Windows 11 Pro offers additional features

While Windows 11 Home provides more than enough protection for most people, the Pro edition is equipped with several exclusive security features. The first is Bitlocker encryption, which allows you to encrypt data on your drive. While device encryption is available in the Home edition, it is more limited. Pro users benefit from additional setup options and the ability to set up encryption for every drive on their PC.

The second major security feature is Windows Information Protection (WIP). This feature was designed primarily with business users in mind, as it is a data loss prevention tool that can prevent the leakage of sensitive company data.

Management features: Windows 11 Pro includes exclusive management tools.

As a business-focused product, Windows 11 Pro includes a number of exclusive device management tools. Most of these tools won't provide much benefit to your PC, which is why they aren't available with Windows 11 Home. These management features include:

• Enterprise State Roaming: A sync tool that lets you sync settings across Windows devices (requires Azure AD subscription).
• Windows Update for Business: An administrative tool that keeps Windows devices across an organization up to date with security and other Windows features.
• Group Policy: A long-standing Windows feature that allows administrators to set system-wide limits for user accounts.
• Mobile Device Management: It enables IT technicians to remotely manage security and business applications for Windows laptops, desktops, phones, and other devices without compromising user data.
• Dynamic Provisioning: A tool for applying configuration settings to Windows client devices. Provisioning packages can be created using the Windows Configuration Designer app available from the Microsoft Store.
• Assigned access: Limits what the user sees when opening certain apps.
• Kiosk mode: Similar to Assigned Access, Kiosk Mode allows administrators to restrict users to a specific set of applications on Windows devices.

Virtualization and Remote Desktop: Windows 11 Pro lets you create virtual machines

Not to be confused with the Virtual Desktops feature in Windows 11, Windows 11 Pro expands on the virtualization tools found in Windows 10. This includes:

• Hyper V: A built-in feature that allows you to create virtual machines. This is useful if you want to run other operating systems without disrupting the host operating system. Windows 11 Home does not support Hyper-V, although you can use third-party software to achieve similar functionality.
• Windows Sandbox: It's conceptually similar to Hyper-V, but instead of other operating systems, you can only create an instance of Windows 11. As the name suggests, this temporary version of Windows is isolated from the rest of the system, allowing you to try out apps without risk before installing them on your device.
• Remote Desktops: Allows you to access your desktop remotely using another device, such as a phone or tablet.

Note: Although the computer you're connecting to (the Remote Desktop server) needs to be running Windows 11 Pro in order to use Remote Desktop, the client computer (the device you're connecting from) can be using Windows 11 Home or a different operating system.

System Requirements: Pro has higher upper limits.

Windows 11 Home and Pro share the same minimum system requirements, so you don't have to worry about having more powerful hardware to run the latter. However, there are some differences when it comes to high-end system specifications.

Windows 11 Home has a memory limit of up to 128GB of RAM, while Pro supports up to 2TB. Similarly, Windows 11 Home is limited to one CPU and 64 cores, while Pro maxes out at two CPUs and 128 cores. These higher limits are far beyond the capabilities of most devices, but they're worth considering if you're working with a high-end PC.

Final Verdict on Windows 11 Home vs Windows 11 Pro: Windows 11 Pro is better, but it has its own appeal.

While it may seem like Windows 11 Pro offers significantly greater value, the reality is that most people won't need to upgrade. Windows 11 Home is powerful in its own right and shares most of the same features as Windows 11 Pro.
There's also a price to consider. At $199, Windows 11 Pro is $60 more than Home, which retails for $139. However, the upgrade fee from Home to Pro is $99, so you'll pay a premium if you buy Home but decide you need Pro later.

Unless you need to use your PC in a corporate environment or somewhere else where security is a serious concern, it's best to get Windows 11 Home first and upgrade to Pro if you really need it.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1: How do I upgrade from Windows 11 Pro to Home?
The answer: For a fee, you can upgrade from Home to Pro through the Start menu. Go to Start > Settings > System > Activation, then select Open Store under Upgrade your edition of Windows. The Microsoft Store will open, and you can purchase and install the upgrade immediately.

Q2: Where do I buy Windows 11?
The answer: The main way to get Windows 11 is from the Microsoft Store, where you can buy Home Edition Or Pro versionBoth OS flavors are also available online or in-store from other electronics retailers.

We hope this article comparing Windows 11 Home vs. Windows 11 Pro has made it easier for you to choose the right operating system to install on your computer.