Windows guide
Windows 11 Home vs Pro – which one should you choose?
In short: how Home differs from Pro
Windows 11 Home is the edition for everyday home use: the system, apps, games, browsing and office work. Windows 11 Pro does the same and adds features for businesses and people who configure their own machine: full BitLocker, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, the Remote Desktop host role and Microsoft Entra ID join.
The differences are not about gaming performance or system speed. If you need none of the features in the table below, Home is enough. If you need even one, Pro is the right choice, because these features cannot be added to Home without changing the edition.
For the Pro offer, see Windows 11 Pro keys. Once you know which edition you need, read the activation guide.
Windows 11 Home vs Pro feature comparison
The table contains only differences confirmed in Microsoft documentation.
| Feature | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| BitLocker (full disk encryption) | No full BitLocker; device encryption is available if the hardware meets the prerequisites | Yes |
| Hyper-V (virtual machines) | The Hyper-V role cannot be installed | Yes |
| Windows Sandbox | Not supported on Home | Yes |
| Remote Desktop – the PC you connect to (host) | No, Home can only be a client | Yes |
| Microsoft Entra ID join | Not available on Home | Yes |
| Hardware requirements | Same | Same |
Sources: Microsoft Learn and Microsoft Support pages, listed at the bottom of the page.
Encryption: BitLocker vs device encryption
A common mistake is to think Home has no disk encryption. Microsoft documents device encryption (automatic BitLocker) as available on all Windows versions, provided the hardware meets the prerequisites. Backing up the recovery key needs a Microsoft account with administrator rights, or an organisation account.
Full BitLocker, where you manage encryption of individual drives yourself, is listed as available in Pro, Enterprise, Pro Education and Education. Home is not on that list.
Hardware requirements are the same
Microsoft publishes one specification for Windows 11: a 64-bit processor of at least 1 GHz with two or more cores, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB or more of storage, UEFI with Secure Boot and a TPM 2.0 module. Pro does not demand a stronger PC than Home.
If your PC meets these conditions for Home, it meets them for Pro.
Who should pick which edition
A practical split:
- Home: a PC for home, study, gaming, browsing and office work, with no need to connect to an organisation or run virtual machines.
- Pro: a work computer or a one-person business PC that must be joined to Microsoft Entra ID.
- Pro: you use Hyper-V or Windows Sandbox to test software in isolation.
- Pro: a PC you reach remotely through Remote Desktop, for example an office workstation.
- Pro: you want to manage drive encryption yourself with full BitLocker.
- Home: a second PC at home that only connects to others and never needs to be a host.
How to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro with a key
You do not need to reinstall. These steps apply to a PC running an activated copy of Windows 11 Home.
Open activation
Go to Settings > System > Activation.
Change the product key
Select "Change product key", then "Change".
Enter the Pro key
Type the 25-character Windows 11 Pro key and select "Next".
Wait for the edition change
Windows switches the edition and may ask you to restart the PC.
Things to watch for when upgrading
Microsoft also documents a second route: without a key, via "Upgrade your edition of Windows" and buying Windows 11 Pro in the Microsoft Store. Microsoft recommends that route if you do not have a key.
A separately obtained Pro key is entered as shown above. Products are on the Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Home pages. We do not list the licence type (OEM, Retail, Volume) per product — if it matters to you, ask us. The differences are explained in our guide to OEM, Retail and Volume licences.
For step-by-step key entry, including Windows 10, see how to activate a Windows key.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions we hear most often.
Is Windows 11 Pro faster than Home?
Microsoft does not document such a difference. Both editions have the same hardware requirements; Pro adds features such as full BitLocker, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, the Remote Desktop host role and Microsoft Entra ID join.
Does Windows 11 Home have disk encryption?
Home has device encryption (automatic BitLocker) when the hardware meets the prerequisites. Full BitLocker is available in Pro and higher editions.
Can I upgrade from Home to Pro without reinstalling?
Yes. In Settings > System > Activation choose "Change product key" and enter a Windows 11 Pro key. The PC must be running an activated copy of Windows 11 Home.
Can I use Remote Desktop on Windows 11 Home?
Home can connect to other PCs as a client. According to Microsoft, the PC you connect to must run the Pro edition.
Can Windows 11 Home join Microsoft Entra ID?
No. Microsoft documentation says Entra join covers Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices except Home editions.
Does Windows 11 Pro need stronger hardware?
No. Microsoft publishes one specification for Windows 11, including 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI with Secure Boot and TPM 2.0.
Legal basis and sources
We checked licensing rules and support dates against official documents. Links open the publishers’ pages.
- BitLocker and device encryptionMicrosoft Learn · learn.microsoft.com
- Install Hyper-VMicrosoft Learn · learn.microsoft.com
- Windows SandboxMicrosoft Learn · learn.microsoft.com
- How to use Remote DesktopMicrosoft Support · support.microsoft.com
- Microsoft Entra joinMicrosoft Learn · learn.microsoft.com
- Windows 11 specificationsMicrosoft · microsoft.com
- Upgrade from Windows Home to Windows ProMicrosoft Support · support.microsoft.com
Licences for your company?
Business account, quotes on request and invoices in your customer panel.
