What Does Windows 11 Pro Include? [Guide]

Are you planning to upgrade your PC to Windows 11 Pro, but you’re not sure what it actually includes? You might have seen Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro while shopping for a laptop, building a computer, or checking your Windows activation settings. Although both editions look almost identical, they offer different features designed for different types of users.

Windows 11 Pro includes everything you get with Windows 11 Home, along with additional security, encryption, virtualization, remote access, and business management features. These extras can be especially useful if you work from home, manage multiple computers, run virtual machines, or need more control over your PC’s security and configuration.

However, that doesn’t mean everyone needs Windows 11 Pro. If you mainly browse the internet, watch videos, play games, or use everyday applications, Windows 11 Home may be more than enough.

In this guide, I’ll explain what Windows 11 Pro includes, how its main features work, and how it compares with Windows 11 Home. 

What Does Windows 11 Pro Include?

Windows 11 Pro includes the familiar Windows experience, such as the Start menu, File Explorer, Microsoft Store, Snap Layouts, and support for everyday applications. It also adds several advanced features that are not generally available in Windows 11 Home.

Let’s explore the most important features step by step.

1: BitLocker Drive Encryption

BitLocker is one of the most useful security features included with Windows 11 Pro. It helps protect your files by encrypting your drive, making the data harder to access if someone removes the drive from your computer or attempts to access it without authorization.

For example, if you use your laptop for work and store private documents on it, BitLocker can help protect those files if the device gets lost or stolen.

You can usually find its settings by opening Control Panel and navigating to System and Security, then BitLocker Drive Encryption, on supported systems.

Before enabling encryption, make sure your recovery key is safely backed up. You may need it if Windows cannot automatically unlock the drive.

Windows 11 Home can offer Device Encryption on supported hardware, but it does not provide the same full BitLocker management capabilities as Pro.

2: Remote Desktop

Remote Desktop allows you to connect to and control your PC from another device over a network.

Suppose you leave your desktop computer at home but need to access a work application while traveling. With Windows 11 Pro, you can configure the computer to accept Remote Desktop connections and access it from a compatible device.

To configure it, open Settings > System > Remote Desktop and enable the feature when appropriate.

Keep in mind that Windows 11 Pro can act as a Remote Desktop host. Windows 11 Home does not officially support incoming Microsoft Remote Desktop connections as a host, although it can connect to another computer using a compatible Remote Desktop client.

For security, use strong passwords, keep Windows updated, and avoid exposing Remote Desktop directly to the public internet without suitable safeguards.

3: Hyper-V Virtualization

Hyper-V is Microsoft’s virtualization platform, available on supported Windows 11 Pro systems. It allows you to create and run virtual machines on your computer.

A virtual machine works like a separate computer inside your existing PC. You can install another supported operating system in it without replacing your main Windows installation.

This is helpful for developers, IT professionals, students, and technology enthusiasts who want to test software, practice troubleshooting, or experiment with different operating systems.

For example, you could create a virtual machine to test an application before installing it on your main Windows environment.

Hyper-V requires compatible hardware, firmware virtualization support, and sufficient memory and storage. It is not included as a supported Windows feature in Windows 11 Home.

4: Windows Sandbox

Windows Sandbox provides a temporary, isolated desktop environment for testing untrusted applications or files.

Imagine downloading a program that you want to examine without immediately installing it on your regular Windows desktop. Sandbox lets you run supported applications in a separate environment, reducing their direct interaction with your main system.

When you close Windows Sandbox, its temporary contents are discarded.

To use it, your computer must meet the feature’s requirements, and you may need to enable Windows Sandbox through the Windows Features dialog.

This feature is particularly useful for IT professionals and users who regularly test software. However, it should not be treated as a guarantee against every security threat.

5: Group Policy Management

Group Policy gives administrators more control over Windows settings, user behavior, and system configuration.

For example, an administrator may use Group Policy to restrict access to certain settings, control Windows Update behavior, or configure security policies across managed computers.

On a Windows 11 Pro PC, you can open the Local Group Policy Editor by pressing Windows + R, typing gpedit.msc, and pressing Enter.

The Local Group Policy Editor is not available as a standard management tool in Windows 11 Home.

This feature is especially useful for advanced users who want greater control over their computers and for businesses that need consistent settings across multiple devices.

6: Join a Domain or Use Microsoft Entra ID

Windows 11 Pro supports joining a traditional Active Directory domain and offers organizational management capabilities, including joining Microsoft Entra ID where supported.

These features allow businesses and schools to connect computers to their organizational identity and management systems.

For example, an IT administrator can configure company computers to use organizational accounts and apply appropriate security policies.

Windows 11 Home is primarily intended for personal use and does not provide the same domain-joining capabilities as Pro.

If your employer asks you to join your computer to a company domain, Windows 11 Pro may be necessary, depending on the organization’s setup.

7: Advanced Hardware and Memory Support

Windows 11 Pro supports more powerful hardware configurations than Windows 11 Home.

The standard published limits are 2 CPU sockets and up to 2 TB of RAM for Windows 11 Pro, compared with 1 CPU socket and up to 128 GB of RAM for Windows 11 Home. Actual supported configurations also depend on the processor, motherboard, and Windows version.

This difference matters if you build a high-end workstation for professional software, large datasets, development, or other memory-intensive workloads.

For a typical home computer with 8 GB, 16 GB, or 32 GB of RAM, the memory limit in Windows 11 Home is unlikely to be a concern.

8: Windows Update for Business and Business Management

Windows 11 Pro offers additional options for organizations that need more control over updates and device configuration.

IT administrators can use supported management policies and tools to control update timing, deployment, and other settings across managed devices.

Pro also supports additional business-oriented management capabilities that are not designed for ordinary home use.

These features can help reduce disruption when an organization needs to test updates before rolling them out across its computers. Availability and configuration depend on the management tools, Windows version, and organizational policies being used.

9: Enhanced Security and Business Features

Windows 11 Pro includes additional security and management capabilities, such as support for Windows Information Protection alternatives and organizational security policies, depending on the Windows version and management environment. Windows Information Protection itself has been deprecated, so it should not be treated as a current standalone reason to upgrade.

Pro also supports features such as Assigned Access for configuring certain devices to run a restricted experience, as well as additional options for managing business devices.

Both Home and Pro include important Windows security protections, such as Microsoft Defender Antivirus, Windows Firewall, and supported Windows security updates. Pro’s main advantage is the additional control it offers over encryption, device management, and organizational security.

Difference Between Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro

Windows 11 Home and Pro share the same basic Windows interface, but their advanced features differ. The following table will help you understand which edition is a better fit for your needs.

Feature	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Pro
Start menu and File Explorer	Included	Included
Microsoft Store and everyday apps	Included	Included
Gaming and DirectX support	Included	Included
Microsoft Defender Antivirus	Included	Included
Windows Hello	Included on supported devices	Included on supported devices
Device Encryption	Available on supported hardware	Available, with additional BitLocker management
BitLocker Drive Encryption management	Not fully supported	Supported
Remote Desktop hosting	Not supported officially	Supported
Hyper-V	Not included	Included on supported hardware
Windows Sandbox	Not included	Included on supported systems
Local Group Policy Editor	Not included as a standard feature	Included
Active Directory domain join	Not supported	Supported
Microsoft Entra ID join	Not supported in the same way	Supported
Maximum RAM support	Up to 128 GB	Up to 2 TB
Maximum CPU sockets	1	2
Business device management	More limited	More advanced options

Note: Feature availability depends on hardware, Windows version, and organizational configuration. Some security and management capabilities require compatible hardware or additional services.

Which Edition Should You Choose?

Choose Windows 11 Home if you mainly use your computer for web browsing, streaming, gaming, online shopping, schoolwork, or everyday productivity. It offers the essential Windows features most people need.

Choose Windows 11 Pro if you need BitLocker management, Remote Desktop hosting, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, advanced Group Policy settings, or the ability to join an organizational domain.

For example, a casual gamer may not notice much difference in everyday performance between the two editions when using the same hardware. However, a developer running virtual machines or an employee accessing a work PC remotely may benefit significantly from Pro.

FAQs

1. Is Windows 11 Pro better than Windows 11 Home?

Windows 11 Pro offers more advanced security, virtualization, remote access, and business management features. However, Home can be the better choice for everyday users who do not need those extras.

2. Does Windows 11 Pro include Microsoft Office?

No. Windows 11 Pro does not automatically include Microsoft Office or a Microsoft 365 subscription. You may need to purchase Microsoft Office separately or use an existing subscription.

3. Does Windows 11 Pro improve gaming performance?

Not necessarily. Windows 11 Home and Pro share the main gaming features, including DirectX support and compatibility with most PC games. Performance depends primarily on your hardware, drivers, and software rather than the Windows edition.

4. Can I upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro?

Yes. You can upgrade through Settings > System > Activation by selecting the available upgrade option and following the instructions. You will generally need a valid Windows 11 Pro license or an eligible upgrade entitlement.

5. Does Windows 11 Pro include BitLocker?

Yes. Windows 11 Pro supports BitLocker Drive Encryption management on compatible systems. Remember to back up your recovery key before enabling encryption.

6. Is Windows 11 Pro worth the extra cost?

It is worth considering if you need advanced features such as Remote Desktop hosting, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, or organizational management. If you only perform everyday tasks, Windows 11 Home will usually be sufficient.

7. Does Windows 11 Pro come with a free antivirus?

Yes. It includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus, just like Windows 11 Home. You do not need to purchase a separate antivirus program simply because you use Pro, although your security needs may vary.

Summary

Windows 11 Pro includes all the core Windows features found in Windows 11 Home, along with additional security, virtualization, remote access, and business management capabilities. Features such as BitLocker, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, Remote Desktop hosting, and Group Policy make it a useful option for professionals and advanced users.

However, upgrading to Pro is not necessary for everyone. If you mainly browse the web, watch videos, play games, and use everyday applications, Windows 11 Home should meet your needs.

Before purchasing an upgrade, identify the features you actually need. If you require advanced control over your computer or need to connect it to a business environment, Windows 11 Pro is worth considering. Otherwise, you can save money by sticking with Windows 11 Home.