Windows 11 Home and Pro editions have a lot of common elements between them, but there are a few features that are exclusive to the Pro version.
Windows 11 Home and Pro editions have a lot in common between them, but a few features are exclusive to the Pro version. Released in 2021, Windows 11 is Microsoft’s latest desktop operating system that is distributed as a free update over its predecessor, Windows 10. The two operating systems differ significantly in terms of their design but are pretty similar under the hood, with similar performance in gaming, productivity and other applications.
For all its advantages, Windows 11 has been somewhat controversial, thanks to its steep compatibility requirements that prevent most existing PCs from updating to the new software. While the minimum hardware requirements are not too different from that of Windows 10, what makes Windows 11 different is its requirement of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, which is unavailable in many older laptops and desktops. There are ways to unofficially bypass this requirement, but it is a cumbersome process that is not recommended for most mainstream users.
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As explained by Microsoft, Windows 11 Home and Pro editions share a lot of features, but there are also a few notable differences between them. While most of these are enterprise and business-oriented features that are available only on the Pro version, a few power-user features are missing from the Home version as well. First off, Windows 11 Home needs an internet connection for the setup process. While Pro users can set up Windows 11 with a local account, Home users are forced to use a Microsoft account to sign in. There is, however, an unofficial workaround to bypass this requirement. Another significant difference between the two versions is the availability of Bitlocker Device Encryption. Windows 11 Home does not have the feature, whereas Windows 11 Pro does.
Missing Features In Windows 11 Home
Another prominent feature missing from Windows 11 Home is access to the Group Policy Editor. Once again, there is a workaround to access the Group Policy Editor in Windows 11 Home, but it isn’t available by default. Advanced users who need native virtualization will also miss Hyper-V in Windows 11 Home. However, users can still install Hyper-V on Windows 11 Home or use VirtualBox or VMWare instead, so its absence is not necessarily a deal-breaker. Windows Sandbox and Remote Desktop Connection are two more great features that are only available in Windows 11 Pro.
In terms of hardware, Windows 11 Pro supports up to 2 CPU sockets, 128 cores, and up to 2TB of RAM, whereas Windows 11 Home supports 1 CPU socket, 64 cores, and up to 128GB of RAM. In addition, Windows 11 Pro offers a bucketload of additional features for enterprise users, including Assigned Access, Dynamic Provisioning, Kiosk Mode, Mobile Device Management, Azure cloud support, and more. It also offers Windows Information Protection (WIP) support, which helps protect enterprise apps and data against accidental leaks.
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As for the similarities between Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro, both offer the same design, which includes the new centered Start Menu, the new Microsoft Store, Snap Layouts, Microsoft Teams integration, Widget support, and more. There’s also Android app support via Windows Subsystem for Android, Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), as well as AutoHDR for gaming. Some of the other similarities include Windows Hello, Windows Security, Parental Controls, Kids mode in Microsoft Edge, virtual desktops, support for touch and stylus input, etc.
