Windows 11 has been officially released and is gradually being rolled out to qualified consumers throughout the world. Some ineligible users have also upgraded their hardware to make their older PCs compatible with the revised system requirements in Windows 11. However, one significant issue that many users are grappling with is deciding whether to upgrade to Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro. To make things easier for you, we've created this detailed comparison between Windows 11 Home and Pro. We go through the similarities and differences between the two editions in great depth in this post. So, without further ado, let us determine the victor of Windows 11 Home versus Windows 11 Pro.
Windows 11 Home vs Pro: The Similarities
Before we get into the changes between Windows 11 Home and Pro, let's have a look at the features that are shared by both editions of Windows 11. On the Home and Pro editions, you receive all of Windows 11's popular new features. This includes the centered Start menu, the new Microsoft Store, Snap Layouts, Microsoft Teams chat integration (which you may turn off), Widgets, and other features.
Android app support is available in both the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 via the Windows Subsystem for Android (learn how to install Android applications on Windows 11), as well as the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). Even in terms of gameplay, both the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 include the much-touted Auto HDR function, which is fantastic.
Windows 11 Home vs Pro: Local Account
In case you haven't noticed, Microsoft has modified the way you configure your new PC for the first time with Windows 11.
If you are a Windows 11 Home user, you must have an internet connection in order to install Windows 11, which is plainly stupid. There is simply no way to install Windows 11 Home edition using a local account. You may, however, set up Windows 11 using a local account if you are a Pro user. However, Microsoft is being obnoxious by hiding the local account option under Sign-in choices. For More Information Visit TrendBlog
Nonetheless, there are several ways available to avoid the requirement for an online account on Windows 11 Home version. If you are using a wired connection, do not connect to a Wi-Fi network and detach the Ethernet line. Then, on the Sign-in screen, click “Create One,” and you'll be able to log in with a local account.
Aside from that, you may switch to a local account from the Settings page after signing in with your Microsoft account. You may delete a Microsoft account from Windows 11 by following our instructions.
Bit locker Device Encryption in Windows 11 Home vs Pro
Bitlocker Device Encryption is another significant distinction between Windows 11 Home and Pro. Windows 11 Home does not support Bitlocker encryption, however Windows 11 Pro does. Bitlocker encryption uses the AES encryption method to encrypt your whole hard drive and disc partitions.
If you have important data on your computer, Windows 11 Pro assures that no one else can access it in the event of theft. It stores the encryption keys using the TPM (Trusted Platform Module, which is required to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11). To summarise, if you want improved data protection on Windows 11, you should get the Windows 11 Pro edition.
Windows 11 Home vs Pro: Group Policy
Another significant missing in Windows 11 Home is access to Group Policy. In the Home version, you cannot view the policies that your computer utilises to run the operating system.
For example, if you wish to delay Windows updates for a longer period of time, you may do so using Group Policy, which is not available through the Settings page. Then there's the possibility to lock individual programmes on Windows, permanently deactivate Cortana, and a slew of additional options via the Group Policy Editor.
So, if you want total control over your computer, Windows 11 Pro is the way to go. However, there is a workaround for getting Group Policy Editor on Windows 11 Home. For further information, please see the linked article. It's for Windows 10, but the procedure is the same for Windows 11.
Windows 11 Home vs Pro: Hyper-V Support
If you are a power user who requires native virtualization capability, choose Windows 11 Pro over the Home edition. Microsoft's Hyper-V, a native hypervisor, is included with Windows 11 Pro. Its performance is far superior than that of applications such as VirtualBox and VMWare.
Inside Windows 11, you may run virtual machines of any operating system, including earlier versions of Windows, Linux distributions, and others. I use this function frequently to test programmes on previous versions of Windows, and I must say that it's a fantastic feature addition for expert users. However, if you are a Home user, you have nothing to worry about. We have a detailed explanation on how to install Hyper-V on Windows 11 Home. Again, the linked instruction is for Windows 10, but it should work just as well on Windows 11.
Windows 11 Home vs Pro: Windows Sandbox
Windows Sandbox is another fantastic feature that is not accessible on Windows 11 Home, but is available to Pro customers. It's similar to Hyper-V in that another instance of Windows 11 runs on top of the present OS. It is not as hefty as Hyper-V since it does not virtualize but instead provides a lightweight desktop environment in an isolated shell.
Whatever you do in this environment remains there and has no effect on the operating system. It's also significantly faster to load, utilise, and stop a session than Hyper-V. It should be noted that Windows Sandbox can only be used with the present release of Windows 11, but Hyper-V allows you to install any other operating system. Windows Sandbox is the ideal approach to test a suspicious software before installing it on your Windows 11 PC.
