Windows 11 Home and Pro are designed to meet different user needs. While Windows 11 Home is more suitable for everyday users, 11 Pro offers advanced features for professionals. But what really makes the difference between the two versions, and which one is right for you?
Common features of both versions
Before we talk about the differences, it’s important to understand the features that both versions have. Windows 11 Home and Pro both include basic security and usability features, such as device tracking, basic encryption, parental controls, internet protection, Windows Hello, secure boot, and firewall and network protection.
These features are essential for both casual and power users. However, Windows 11 Pro offers additional advanced features like BitLocker Drive Encryption, Remote Desktop Access, Hyper-V Virtualization, Windows Sandbox, Group Policy Management, and more, making it a better choice.
Hardware limitations (CPU & RAM)
Windows 11 Home supports one CPU socket and up to 128GB of RAM, while Windows 11 Pro allows for two CPU sockets and up to 2TB of RAM. Overall, the Pro version is built for more powerful hardware, but it's probably redundant unless you need more processors or more than 128GB of memory.
For those using workstations with multiple CPUs or needing large amounts of RAM for tasks like virtualization, heavy multitasking, or resource-intensive applications, Windows 11 Home's limitations on processor count and memory capacity can be limiting. In this case, upgrading to Windows 11 Pro would be a better option.
BitLocker encryption support
Windows 11 Pro offers BitLocker drive encryption, a feature that Windows 11 Home doesn't have. BitLocker lets you encrypt your entire hard drive. Once encrypted, you'll need to enter a password or backup recovery key to access your data. This adds an extra layer of protection, ensuring that unauthorized people can't access your files.
BitLocker is useful if your device is lost or stolen. It prevents access even if someone tries to use a decryption tool or move the drive to another device. While Windows 11 Home doesn't support BitLocker, you can still encrypt your device if it has TPM 2.0, although customization options are limited.
Alternatively, you can use third-party encryption tools like VeraCrypt, DiskCryptor, and AxCrypt, which are good alternatives to BitLocker.
Remote Desktop Access
Windows 11 Pro includes remote desktop access, which allows you to control your own or someone else's computer remotely over a network or the Internet. This allows you to use your computer from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. For business users or IT professionals, it also allows others to access your device remotely.
Windows 11 Home, on the other hand, can only act as a client, allowing you to connect to another device running Windows 11 Pro or higher. However, other devices will not be able to connect to your computer. While this is a major limitation for Windows 11 Home users, you can use many third-party tools like TeamViewer or AnyDesk that provide similar functionality.
Windows Sandbox
Windows Sandbox is a lightweight virtual environment that operates completely independently of your main system. It allows you to test untrusted applications, open suspicious files, and experiment with system settings safely. Windows Sandbox does not make permanent changes to the user's system and allows for a reset after each session, which helps protect your device from potential risks if something goes wrong.
Windows Sandbox is a valuable security feature for people who regularly test new apps without risking their main system. However, it is only available in Windows 11 Pro and is not included in Windows 11 Home. In this case, you will need to test the app directly on your system or consider using a third-party virtual machine.
Hyper-V Virtualization
Hyper-V is Microsoft's built-in virtualization platform that allows developers, IT professionals, and power users to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. This is useful for running legacy software that isn't compatible with Windows 11, isolating applications and processes to test performance, and protecting the main system from potential infections.
However, Hyper-V is only available in Windows 11 Pro, so Home users can't use it to run virtual machines (VMs). While third-party tools like VirtualBox or VMware Workstation are available as alternatives, Hyper-V offers better integration and performance. Plus, it's built directly into the operating system, so there's no additional cost.
However, if you are a regular PC user, you probably won't need this feature. That's probably why it's only available in the Pro version. If you need to run a virtual machine, you can simply use a third-party tool.
Group Policy Management
Another key difference between Windows 11 Home and Pro is that the Home edition does not include Group Policy Management. This powerful tool gives IT administrators and power users precise control over system settings. It lets you enforce security policies, restrict access to specific settings, and manage software and system updates.
While Windows Home users don't have access to the Group Policy Editor, they can still make similar changes using the Registry Editor. However, the Registry Editor is more complicated to edit, and making the wrong changes can render your system inoperable. Therefore, centralized control via the Group Policy Editor is much safer for non-technical users.
Pro Version More Expensive
Price is one of the most notable differences between Windows 11 Home and Pro. At $139, Windows 11 Home is more budget-friendly, making it a great choice for the average user. Windows 11 Pro, on the other hand, costs $199.99 due to its advanced features designed for professional users.
The good news is that both versions are one-time purchases, making them a worthwhile investment. However, if your computer came with Windows 11 Home, you’ll need to pay an additional fee to upgrade to the Pro version. In that case, it’s best to stick with the Home version unless you need the advanced features that Pro offers.
You can also find cheap licenses or activation keys from third-party stores, but be careful of the risks when purchasing them.
Windows 11 version 21H2 is one of the major original releases of Windows 11 that began rolling out globally on October 4, 2021.
The year 2023 saw Microsoft betting heavily on artificial intelligence and its partnership with OpenAI to make Copilot a reality.
Microsoft introduced Bluetooth LE (low energy) Audio support with Windows 11 22H2 KB5026446 (build 22621.1778), also known as Moment 3, in May 2023.
After keeping things the same for years, the Sticky Note update in mid-2024 changed the game.
Today, Microsoft officially announced the general availability of Windows Server 2025 along with System Center 2025.
There's always something incredibly cool about the nostalgic user interface of 90s versions of Windows.
More than three years ago, when Microsoft announced Windows 11, the operating system immediately caused a lot of controversy.
The October 2024 report provides an overview of Windows 11's market share compared to other versions of Windows.
Microsoft is said to be getting closer to launching its first foldable smartphone when it was granted a patent for a foldable phone with the ability to fold 360 degrees but without creating wrinkles on the screen on October 1.
In a new post on its Tech Community website, Microsoft has announced plans to discontinue WSUS driver synchronization in favor of its latest cloud-based driver services.
Windows Photo Viewer was first released alongside Windows XP and has quickly become one of the most frequently used tools on Windows.
The latest previews of Windows 11 that Microsoft released this week include an improved About section in the Settings app, where users can get more information about the hardware inside their computer.
To address common issues faced by PC gamers, Microsoft has finally made the Windows operating system easier to navigate with an Xbox controller.
The April security updates for Windows 11 silently created a new empty folder on the C drive.
Microsoft has invested billions of dollars in OpenAI since 2019, although the Redmond-based software giant is by no means the primary investor in the innovative AI startup.
Microsoft's .NET Framework is a programming platform that includes programming libraries that can be installed or are already included in Windows operating systems. In some cases, your computer cannot install this software. So follow the solution in the article below.
Kernel Data Inpage Error (stop code 0x0000007a) is caused by bad sectors, viruses, hard drives or faulty RAM.
Dynamic DNS (also known as DDNS or DynDNS) is a service for mapping an Internet domain name to a computer with a dynamic IP address. Most computers connect to a router via DHCP, which means the router randomly assigns an IP address to the computer.
Using Windows File Explorer with keyboard shortcuts on a daily basis will help you perform operations faster than traditional operations.
When you're planning a fresh Windows 11 install, a little preparation can save you time and effort later.
Many people keep their computers for years. They may update a few components and deal with maintenance issues to keep their computers running at their best. However, there comes a time when there’s nothing you can do to speed up or fix problems with your old computer.
If your Settings or Microsoft Store app isn't working properly, is crashing, or won't open, you can reset the app.
This feature is extremely useful for delaying unnecessary tasks, ensuring network connectivity before a task starts, running tasks in a specific order, scheduling updates, or performing hardware maintenance.
What is VPN, what are the advantages and disadvantages of VPN? Let's discuss with WebTech360 the definition of VPN, how to apply this model and system in work.
This guide will show you how to change the currency format used for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
This guide will show you different ways to install .NET Framework 3.5 online and offline in Windows 10.
If your PC doesn't meet Microsoft's hardware requirements, don't give up. It's possible to install Windows 11 on unsupported PCs.
Signing up for a VPN can be a waste of money if you don’t know how the product works. That’s why you should use a free VPN trial to help you make the right decision.
Is the internet speed on your home Wi-Fi network not meeting your expectations? There's a relatively cheap and simple solution to this problem: a Powerline adapter.
On Windows 10, users can access the Settings app via the Start menu, which is a more accessible version of the Control Panel. However, many users report that the app is not working due to a bug that causes it to not work when clicked (or redirects users to the Windows Store). Here are some fixes for this problem.
