In short: Windows 11 Home and Pro have the same performance, the same interface, the same games and the same updates. Pro adds security, remote access, virtualisation and management features. At home, Home is enough; for work, Pro is the right choice, especially as the price difference between the two keys is small.
The table of differences
| Feature | Home | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Device encryption (on compatible hardware) | Yes | Yes |
| Full BitLocker, including USB drives (BitLocker To Go) | No | Yes |
| Remote Desktop: connect to this PC from another one | No | Yes |
| Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox | No | Yes |
| Group Policy Editor | No | Yes |
| Join a domain or Microsoft Entra ID | No | Yes |
| Update deferral (Windows Update for Business) | No | Yes |
| Maximum RAM | 128 GB | 2 TB |
| Games, Microsoft Store, Office | Yes | Yes |
Windows 11 Home is enough if…
- you use your PC for the internet, studying, office work, photos and games;
- you don't need to access it remotely;
- you don't manage other PCs.
Go for Windows 11 Pro if…
- you carry a laptop with business data and want full BitLocker encryption;
- you want to connect to this PC from another one (remote working, troubleshooting);
- you run virtual machines or test software in Windows Sandbox;
- the PC joins a company network or is managed by an IT department.
Changing your mind later
You can upgrade from Home to Pro at any time, without reinstalling: just enter a Pro key in Settings. All the steps are in our guide Activate Windows 11 with a product key.
Frequently asked questions
Is Windows 11 Pro faster for gaming?
No. Performance is identical. Game Mode, DirectX 12 and the Microsoft Store are included in both editions.
Can you go back from Pro to Home?
Not without reinstalling Windows. Since Pro contains everything Home offers, in practice there is no reason to do so.
Are both editions supported for the same length of time?
Yes. Each annual version of Windows 11 Home and Pro is supported for 24 months, and the update to the next version is free.
Does the key depend on the Windows language?
No. A Windows 11 Home or Pro key activates Windows whatever display language you choose.
To choose your key: Windows 11 Home OEM, Windows 11 Home Retail, Windows 11 Pro OEM or Windows 11 Pro Retail. Not sure between OEM and Retail? Read our licence comparison.