Windows 11 Home vs. Pro: 7 Most Important Differences

Windows 11 Home and Professional Editions: How to choose the version that suits you?

Windows 11 Home and Professional Editions are designed to meet different user needs. The Home Edition is more suitable for everyday users, while the Professional Edition provides advanced features for professionals. So, what is the difference between them and which version is suitable for you?

Sameness

Before discussing the differences, let's first understand the features shared by the two versions. Both Windows 11 Home and Professional Editions include basic security and ease of use features such as device tracking, basic encryption, parental control, Internet protection, Windows Hello, secure boot, and firewall and network protection.

These features are crucial for both ordinary and advanced users. However, Windows 11 Pro also offers advanced features such as BitLocker drive encryption, remote desktop access, Hyper-V virtualization, Windows sandboxing, Group Policy Management, and more, making it a better choice.

Related Articles: How to Log in with Windows Hello Webcam on Windows 11

Hardware Limits (CPU and RAM)

Windows 11 Home Edition supports one CPU slot and up to 128GB of RAM, while Windows 11 Professional Edition allows two CPU slots and up to 2TB of RAM. While the Pro version is for more powerful hardware, you probably don't need it unless you specifically need multiple processors or over 128GB of memory.

For users using workstations with multiple CPUs or requiring a lot of RAM to perform virtualization, multitasking, or resource-intensive applications, Windows 11 Home Edition limits on processor count and memory capacity More harsh. In this case, upgrading to Windows 11 Pro will be a better choice.

For more information, see our guide: How much RAM do you need? And how to choose the right CPU?

Related Articles: How much RAM does your computer need?

BitLocker encryption support

Windows 11 Professional offers BitLocker drive encryption, a feature that is missing from Windows 11 Home Edition. BitLocker allows you to encrypt the entire hard drive. After encryption, you need to enter your password or backup recovery key to access the data. This adds a layer of protection to ensure that unauthorized individuals cannot access your files.

BitLocker is very useful if you lose or stolen device. It prevents access even if someone tries to use a decryption tool or transfers a drive to another device. While Windows 11 Home does not include native BitLocker support, you can still encrypt your device if your device has TPM 2.0, although customization options are limited.

Or, you can use third-party encryption tools such as VeraCrypt, DiskCryptor, and AxCrypt, which are good alternatives to BitLocker.

Related Articles: How to Encrypt Your Windows System Drive with VeraCrypt

Remote Desktop Access

Windows 11 Professional Edition has remote desktop access, allowing you to remotely control your or someone else's computer over the network or the Internet. As long as you have an internet connection, you can use your computer from anywhere. For business users or IT professionals, it also allows others to remotely access your device.

On the other hand, Windows 11 Home Edition can only act as a client, allowing you to connect to another device running Windows 11 Professional or later. However, the device will not be able to connect to your computer. While this is a considerable limitation for Windows 11 Home users, there are many third-party alternatives you can use, such as TeamViewer or AnyDesk, which offer similar features.

Windows Sandbox

Windows Sandbox is a lightweight virtual environment that runs completely independently of your main system. It allows you to safely test untrusted applications, open suspicious files, and experiment with system settings. Because it doesn't make permanent changes to your system and reset after each session, it helps protect your device from potential damage if something goes wrong.

Windows sandbox is a valuable security feature for users who often test new applications without wanting to risk their main system. However, it is only available for Windows 11 Professional and is not included in Windows 11 Home. In this case, you need to test the application directly on your system, or consider using a third-party virtual machine.

Related Articles: You should test new applications and files in Windows sandbox

Hyper-V Virtualization

Hyper-V is a built-in virtualization platform for Microsoft. It allows developers, IT professionals, and advanced users to run multiple operating systems on one machine. This is useful for running legacy software that is incompatible with Windows 11, isolating applications and processes for performance testing, and protecting the main system from potential infections.

However, Hyper-V is limited to Windows 11 Pro, so Home users cannot use this feature to run virtual machines (VMs). While third-party alternatives such as VirtualBox or VMware Workstation can achieve the same purpose, Hyper-V provides better integration and performance. Additionally, it is directly integrated into the operating system, so there is no additional cost.

However, if you are like a regular PC user, you do not need this feature. This is likely the reason why it is limited to the Pro version only. If you need to run a virtual machine, you can simply use third-party tools.

Group Policy Management

Another key difference between Windows 11 Home and Professional is that Home does not include Group Policy Management. This powerful tool allows IT administrators and advanced users to precisely control system settings. It enables you to enforce security policies, limit access to specific settings, and manage software and system updates.

While Windows Home users cannot access the Group Policy Editor, they can still make similar changes using the Registry Editor. However, the registry editor is more complex, and incorrect tweaks may prevent your system from running. Therefore, centralized control through the Group Policy Editor is much safer for users without expertise.

Related Articles: How to Open Group Policy Editor on Windows 11 and Windows 10

Price

One of the most obvious differences between Windows 11 Home and Pro is the price. Windows 11 Home Edition is more affordable and is a good choice for ordinary users. In contrast, Windows 11 Professional is more expensive thanks to the addition of advanced features for professional purposes.

The good news is that both versions are one-time purchases and are worth the investment. However, if your computer is preinstalled with Windows 11 Home Edition, you will need an additional fee to upgrade to the Professional Edition. In this case, it's better to stick with the Home version unless you need the premium features offered by the Pro version.

You can also find cheap licenses or activation keys from third-party stores, but be careful about the risks of these purchases.

Related Articles: Is it safe to buy cheap/free Windows 10 keys from third parties?

Summary

These are the main differences between Windows 11 Home and Pro. If you plan to use your device for basic tasks, such as at home, Windows 11 Home will meet your needs. However, if you plan to use your device in a professional environment, it is worth investing an additional fee to purchase Windows 11 Professional to access advanced features.

Additional fees must be considered if you intend to use third-party services for any features that are missing from Windows Home. This makes Windows 11 Pro a smarter choice.

The above is the detailed content of Windows 11 Home vs. Pro: 7 Most Important Differences. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!