Windows 11 Home vs. Pro: Which Edition Is Right for You?

With Windows 11, Microsoft introduced two different editions of the operating system: Home and Pro. While both editions include the core Windows 11 experience, there are some key differences that make one better suited for certain users than the other. Each has its own set of features and is suitable for a different type of user, so be sure to weigh your needs before choosing. In this article, we’ll compare Windows 11 Home and Pro to help you decide which edition is right for you. Learn how Windows 11 Home vs. Pro compares

Windows Home vs. Pro: In What Ways Are They Different?

When it comes to consumers planning to use PCs or laptops at home, Microsoft considers Windows Home a suitable choice for casual surfing, video conferencing, Xbox gaming, and Office applications. Professional (Pro) is yet another edition of Windows that is aimed at corporate users who require more advanced features for collaboration, protection, and security.

If you’re trying to decide between Windows 11 Home and Pro, it can be difficult to pick the one that’s right for you. Here is a quick overview of the main differences between both editions. So let’s find out.

Windows Home is the entry-level edition of Windows. It is suitable for basic home use, such as browsing the web, using email, and working with documents. It does not include some of the more advanced features found in Windows Pro.
Windows Pro is the higher-end edition of Windows. It is designed for home and business use. This edition includes features such as BitLocker, a disk encryption feature that protects your data from unauthorized access.

Let’s now discuss them in detail and take a look at each feature that is available in Windows 11 Pro Edition and is missing from the Home edition.

1] BitLocker Drive Encryption

Windows 11 Pro comes with BitLocker Drive Encryption, but Windows 11 Home does not. BitLocker protects your computer’s data with full disk encryption. It encrypts data on the hard drive, making it more difficult for unauthorized users to access your files. As a result, BitLocker can prevent someone from accessing your data if your computer is lost or stolen.

Windows 11 Home edition does not include BitLocker Drive Encryption because it is targeted toward home users who have less need for security features. There is a limited version of BitLocker called Device encryption in the Home edition but it doesn’t work in the same way. However, if you are concerned about security and want to encrypt your hard drive, you can upgrade to Windows 11 Pro edition which includes BitLocker.

2] Local Group Policy Editor

Windows 11 Pro edition comes with a lot of features that are not available in the Home edition. One of those features is the Local Group Policy Editor. The Local Group Policy Editor is a powerful tool that allows you to manage various settings on your computer. Although it is not available in the Windows 11 Home edition, you can still access it by using the Registry Editor.

3] Hyper-V Manager

The Hyper-V Manager feature is a Windows system utility that lets you create and manage virtual machines. The feature is available in Windows 10 and 11 Pro editions, but not in Windows Home editions. You can save virtual machines on your default operating system, a Windows development environment, or an ISO for installation. The simplest way to do this is to import an existing virtual machine, which you can download online.

If you’re running Windows 10 Home, you can’t install the Hyper-V Manager app. However, there are external tools that you can use to create virtual machines, such as VirtualBox.