differences between Windows 11 Home, Pro, Enterprise and Edu

Do you already know what the differences are between Windows 11 Home, Pro, Enterprise and Edu? Windows 11 is Microsoft’s new operating system, which aims to offer a more current, fluid and personalized user experience.

However, not all Windows 11 users will enjoy the same features and functions , as there are different versions or editions of the operating system, designed for different types of users and needs.

In this Tecnoguía article, we explain the main differences between Windows 11 Home, Pro, Enterprise and Edu, so you can choose the one that best suits you.

Contents

• Windows 11 editions and variants
  • Windows 11 Home
  • Windows 11 Pro
  • Windows 11 Enterprise
  • Windows 11 Edu
• Comparison between Windows 11 Home, Pro, Enterprise and Edu
  • News
  • Security
  • Personalization
  • User experience
  • Business Functions
  • Virtual Desktops and Snap Layouts
  • Android App Compatibility
• Do you already have your preferred version between Windows 11 Home, Pro, Enterprise and Edu?

Windows 11 editions and variants

Windows 11 is Microsoft’s new proposal for its operating system, which seeks to offer a more current, fluid and personalized user experience. Since the launch date, several editions have been presented, the best known being Home, Pro, Enterprise and Edu.

It is important to know which of the editions and variants best suits your needs. That is why we offer you a brief review of each version of Windows 11.

Windows 11 Home

Windows 11 Home represents the most basic and affordable option of Windows 11 , designed specifically for home and personal users. This version encompasses all the innovations that Windows 11 offers, such as:

• Its renewed interface design
• The widget center
• The ability to create virtual desktops
• Integration with Microsoft Teams
• Compatibility with Android applications.

Additionally, Windows 11 Home provides access to Microsoft cloud services, including OneDrive, Office, and Xbox. Despite its virtues, Windows 11 Home has certain limitations compared to its more advanced counterparts.

For example, it does not allow connection to a corporate or educational network domain, nor does it make it possible to use remote desktop to control another computer remotely. Additionally, it lacks some additional security features, such as BitLocker or Device Guard.

Windows 11 Pro

Windows 11 Pro is the most complete and specialized version of Windows 11, designed to meet the needs of businesses and companies. This edition includes all the features present in Windows 11 Home, along with additional benefits aimed at improving productivity and business security.

Windows 11 Pro allows integration with a corporate or educational network domain , making it easy to manage and access shared resources efficiently. In addition, it makes it possible to use remote desktop to control other computers remotely and access your own computer from any location.

Additionally, Windows 11 Pro offers advanced security features, such as BitLocker, which encrypts data on your hard drive to protect it in case of theft or loss. And Device Guard , a tool that prevents unauthorized or malicious applications from running on the system.

Windows 11 Enterprise

Windows 11 Enterprise is the most advanced and exclusive version of Windows 11, aimed at organizations that require a high level of security and control over the operating system. This version has all the features of Windows 11 Pro, plus some additional benefits to improve protection and performance.

Windows 11 Enterprise allows access to the Windows Update for Business program, which offers more frequent and personalized updates according to the needs of each organization. It also allows access to the Windows Insider for Business program, which offers early access to new features and improvements in Windows 11.

In addition, Windows 11 Enterprise includes some exclusive features, such as AppLocker or DirectAccess. You can also consider the Windows 11 IoT Enterprise variant , which is intended for fixed-use devices with specific allowances and restrictions in the license agreement.

Windows 11 Edu

Windows 11 Edu is the specialized and adapted version of Windows 11 for the educational sector. This version is intended for teachers, students, and academic institutions that want to take advantage of Windows 11 to improve learning and collaboration.

This version has all the features of Windows 11 Enterprise, plus some additional benefits to make it easier to integrate and use the operating system in the educational environment.

Windows 11 Edu allows you to use the Setup School PCs application to configure multiple computers with the same preferences and educational applications. It also allows you to use the Take a Test app to create and take digital exams securely.

Comparison between Windows 11 Home, Pro, Enterprise and Edu

Below, we present a comparison between the versions of Windows 11: Home, Pro, Enterprise and Edu, taking into account different aspects:

News

Windows 11 is the new version of Microsoft’s operating system that brings a renewed design, new features, and performance and security improvements. Some of the new features are:

• A centered taskbar
• A simplified start menu
• Customizable widgets
• A new app store
• Integration with Teams
• Support for Android applications
• and more.

These new features are available in all editions of Windows 11: Home, Pro, Enterprise and Education.

Security

Windows 11 offers multiple layers of security to protect your device, identity, data, and connections. Some of the security features are:

• Secure Boot
• Device Encryption
• Firewall and Network Protection
• Internet Protection
• Parental Controls and Protection
• Windows Hello
• Windows Security
• Windows Update.

These features are available in all editions of Windows 11.  Additionally, Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions have additional features like Bitlocker Device Encryption

Personalization

Windows 11 allows you to customize the look and feel of the operating system based on user preferences. You can change the theme (dark or light), wallpaper, colors, sounds, taskbar size and position, start menu content, widgets, and more.

These options are available in all editions of Windows 11. However, some editions have additional or limited options depending on the case. For example:

• Windows 11 Proallows you to activate automatic dark or light mode depending on the time of day. It also allows access to more advanced configuration options.
• Windows 11 Enterpriseallows you to activate business mode or education mode, which changes the look and feel of the operating system depending on your work or learning environment.
• Windows 11 Educationallows you to activate class mode, which changes the appearance and operation of the operating system depending on the user’s educational profile (teacher or student).

User experience

Windows 11 offers a fluid, intuitive and adaptive user experience. The operating system adapts to the type of device, the mode of use and the orientation of the screen (vertical or horizontal).

It also has features to facilitate multitasking (Snap Layouts, Snap Groups and Desktops) , communication (Teams), entertainment (Xbox Game Pass) and productivity (Microsoft 365). These features are available in all editions of Windows 11:

• Windows 11 Proallows you to use Remote Desktop or Sandbox to work in different environments or test applications without risk.
• Windows 11 Enterpriseallows you to use DirectAccess or Enterprise State Roaming to remotely access organizational resources or synchronize settings between devices.
• Windows 11 Educationlets you use Assigned Access or Kiosk Mode Setup to create restricted or custom profiles for students or teachers.

Business Functions

Some editions of Windows 11 have specific enterprise features that allow you to manage and deploy the operating system , applications, and users centrally and securely. For example:

• Windows 11 Prohas some enterprise features like Bitlocker, Remote Desktop, Hyper-V, Sandbox, domain access, and group policies.
• Windows 11 Enterprisehas more enterprise features than Pro, such as AppLocker, Device Guard, DirectAccess, Enterprise State Roaming, and Windows Information Protection.
• Windows 11 Educationhas the same business features as Enterprise, but with some limitations or restrictions depending on the user’s educational profile

Virtual Desktops and Snap Layouts

Virtual desktops and snap layouts are ways to organize open windows into different workspaces or layouts depending on the activity being performed or the size and shape of the screen. These features are available in all editions of Windows 11

• Windows 11 Homehas virtual desktops and snap layouts. The user can access virtual desktops from the taskbar or from the Windows Key + Tab shortcut.
• Windows 11 Prohas the same virtual desktops and snap layouts as Home, but with some additional options such as portrait mode or landscape mode.
• Windows 11 Enterprisehas some exclusive options like business mode or education mode

Android App Compatibility

Windows 11 offers the ability to run Android apps on the operating system, thanks to integration with the Amazon App Store and the Windows subsystem for Android. For example:

• In Windows 11 Home,the user can download and install Android applications in the operating system and run them in a window or in full screen.
• Windows 11 Prohas the same support for Android apps as Home, but with some additional options such as Remote Desktop or Sandbox.
• Windows 11 Enterprisehas exclusive options like DirectAccess or Enterprise State Roaming to remotely access Android apps or sync settings between devices.
• Windows 11 Educationhas some education-specific options like Assigned Access or Kiosk Mode Setup to restrict or customize the use of Android apps by students or teachers.

Do you already have your preferred version between Windows 11 Home, Pro, Enterprise and Edu?

As you have seen , Windows 11 offers different versions or editions to adapt to different types of users and needs . Windows 11 Home is the most basic and cheapest version, intended for home or personal users.

Windows 11 Pro is the most complete and professional version, aimed at business or company users. Windows 11 Enterprise is aimed at organizations that require a high level of security and control over the operating system.

Windows 11 Edu is the specialized version adapted for the educational sector, designed for teachers, students and academic institutions. You can choose the one that best suits your

We hope this article has been useful to you in discovering the differences between Windows 11 Home, Pro, Enterprise and Edu.