The short version
Windows Central's writer uses Pro daily. He relies on Group Policy, BitLocker, Remote Desktop and Windows Sandbox, and he still advises most buyers to skip the upgrade. The guide's rule of thumb is: if you don't know whether you need Pro, you probably don't.
The guide also says Pro doesn't make a PC faster or raise gaming frame rates. That is a general assessment. We found no primary benchmark data for it, but it's consistent with other comparisons. Several outlets make the same point: Pro buys capabilities, not speed. One example is Tom's Guide, which also says Home is the edition most people need.
What Pro adds, checked against Microsoft's documentation
| Capability | Home | Pro | What Microsoft says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote Desktop hosting | Client only | Host and client | Home can connect to other PCs but can't host incoming sessions |
| Hyper-V | No | Yes | Windows 11 Home can't install the Hyper-V role |
| Windows Sandbox | No | Yes | Sandbox isn't supported on Home |
| BitLocker management | Device Encryption on supported hardware | Full BitLocker | Microsoft's edition table lists BitLocker for Pro |
| AD domain join and Entra join | No | Yes | Listed for Pro and above |
| Maximum RAM | 128 GB | 2 TB | Microsoft's memory-limits table |
Remote Desktop
Hyper-V and Remote Desktop Protocol aren't available on Windows 11 Home, according to XDA's comparison. Microsoft's documentation is more precise on the Remote Desktop side. Professional, Enterprise, Education and Server editions can host incoming connections. Home can only be the client.
To turn hosting on, open Settings > System > Remote Desktop and switch Remote Desktop on. Then confirm in the pop-up. You need administrator rights to do this.
Microsoft's guidance comes with security conditions:
- Enabling Remote Desktop opens a port on the PC, so Microsoft says to use it only on trusted networks.
- Every account with access should have a strong, unique password.
- Keep Network Level Authentication on where you can.
- For access from outside your network, Microsoft's page mentions port forwarding or a VPN. Treat a VPN as the safer route. Don't expose RDP directly to the internet for convenience.
If you only need occasional remote access to a Home PC, third-party tools are an alternative. Windows Central names Chrome Remote Desktop and RustDesk.
Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox
Microsoft's Hyper-V page lists Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise as a requirement. It also says the role can't be installed on Windows 11 Home. Pro alone isn't enough, though. The PC needs:
- a 64-bit processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT)
- CPU support for the VM Monitor Mode Extension
- at least 4 GB of memory
Hardware virtualization must also be enabled in firmware, according to Microsoft's Windows 11 requirements page.
Windows Sandbox is a disposable, isolated desktop. Microsoft says closing it deletes all software, files and state. One caveat: Microsoft notes that networking is enabled by default. It warns this can expose untrusted applications to your internal network. You can turn networking off with a configuration file. So Sandbox isn't an air gap unless you configure it as one.
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a separate matter. Windows Central says both editions support it. That means you don't need Pro just to run Linux tools on Windows. On Home, third-party virtual machine apps such as VirtualBox fill the gap. Microsoft warns that VirtualBox and similar apps can misbehave when the Hyper-V hypervisor is running, but that applies mainly to Pro machines.
BitLocker versus Device Encryption
Don't read the guide as saying Home has no encryption. Home offers Device Encryption on supported hardware. Pro adds full BitLocker management.
Windows Central says Device Encryption stores its recovery key in your Microsoft account automatically. It also says Pro lets you keep the key locally. We couldn't independently confirm the exact conditions for that behavior. If key custody matters to you, check how your own device handles it before deciding.
Business and identity features
Microsoft's edition table lists Active Directory domain join, Microsoft Entra join and hybrid join for Pro and above. Home is not designed to join a domain. If your employer expects you to bring your own PC onto the company network, Pro is the practical choice.
Buying Pro doesn't set up management for you. Group Policy, MDM and Autopilot depend on organizational infrastructure and, in some cases, subscriptions. Windows Central makes the same point.
Memory ceiling
Microsoft's table lists 128 GB for Home and 2 TB for Pro on Windows 11. These are operating-system limits. Your motherboard and CPU may cap you well below them. Few consumer workloads come close to 128 GB.
Claims we couldn't verify
Windows Central also cites processor limits: one socket and 64 cores on Home, versus two sockets and 128 cores on Pro. Other outlets repeat the same figures. Microsoft's documentation we reviewed doesn't confirm the core counts. Treat them as reported, not verified.
The same goes for the guide's description of Pro for Workstations, including ReFS and SMB Direct. Microsoft's memory table does list a 6 TB ceiling for Pro for Workstations. Microsoft's edition table also shows SMB Direct as available in Pro, so it isn't a Workstations-only feature.
Pricing and upgrading
Windows Central gives US prices of $139.99 for Home, $199.99 for Pro and $99.99 for a Home-to-Pro upgrade. Our checks of Microsoft Store pages didn't establish the current Home-to-Pro upgrade price. The Home price we saw was slightly different, at $139.00. Prices also vary by retailer and promotion, so check the price before you buy. Tom's Guide puts the upgrade at $99.
New PCs usually include a Windows license, so this mostly matters if you build a PC or install on a blank drive.
You can upgrade an activated Home install without a clean reinstall. Microsoft describes two routes:
- Microsoft Store. Microsoft calls this the best route. It detects whether Home is activated and guides you through the purchase. Afterward you're prompted to install Pro and restart.
- Product key. Go to Settings > System > Activation and select Change next to Change product key. Enter the 25-character Pro key and select Next. Microsoft says this applies only to an activated copy of Home.
If you don't have a key, expand "Upgrade your edition of Windows" on the Activation page and open the Store. If that option is missing, you may already be on Pro, or an edition upgrade may not be available. Make sure you're signed in with your Microsoft account when you buy.
Which edition to pick
Stay with Home if you:
- browse, study, stream or game
- are building a gaming PC. Spend the difference on a better GPU, storage or memory. The RAM ceiling won't matter on a gaming build.
- just want basic drive encryption on supported hardware
Choose Pro if you:
- need to host Remote Desktop sessions on your main PC
- want Hyper-V virtual machines or Windows Sandbox
- need to join an Active Directory domain or Microsoft Entra ID
- want full BitLocker control, including your own recovery key handling
- like to tune the system with Group Policy
For students, the guide says to take Pro if the price is the same. Otherwise Home is enough, unless your coursework specifically requires Hyper-V or Sandbox. Check your school's software requirements before you buy.
Bottom line
Pro is a capabilities upgrade, not a performance one. If you can't point to a specific Pro-only feature you'll use this month, Home is the better value. Because Microsoft supports in-place upgrades from an activated Home install, you can wait until you actually need Pro.