Ultimate Guide: Replicating Windows 11 Pro Features on Windows 11 Home with Free Tools

Windows 11 Pro boasts a suite of advanced features tailored for business and power users. However, many of these functionalities can be replicated on Windows 11 Home using free third-party tools. This approach not only saves costs but also offers flexibility in customizing your system. Below, we explore several Windows 11 Pro features and their free alternatives for Home users.

Remote Desktop Access​

Windows 11 Pro includes the Remote Desktop feature, allowing users to connect to their PC from another device. While Windows 11 Home lacks this capability, several free tools can bridge this gap:

• RustDesk: An open-source, cross-platform remote desktop application that supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and even Raspberry Pi systems. RustDesk offers features like encrypted connectivity and the option for self-hosting, ensuring secure and customizable remote access.
• Chrome Remote Desktop: A free service from Google that enables remote access to your computer through the Chrome browser. It's straightforward to set up and works across various platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
• TeamViewer: A widely-used remote access tool that offers a free version for personal use. It provides features like file transfer, remote printing, and multi-monitor support.

BitLocker Drive Encryption​

BitLocker is a disk encryption feature available in Windows 11 Pro, designed to protect data by encrypting entire drives. Windows 11 Home users can achieve similar security using:

• VeraCrypt: An open-source encryption tool that allows users to create encrypted volumes or encrypt entire drives. VeraCrypt supports AES-256 encryption, similar to BitLocker, and is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• AxCrypt: A free encryption software that integrates seamlessly with Windows Explorer, allowing users to encrypt individual files or folders with strong encryption algorithms.

Hyper-V Virtualization​

Hyper-V is Microsoft's native hypervisor, enabling users to create and manage virtual machines (VMs) on their systems. While exclusive to Windows 11 Pro, Home users can utilize:

• VirtualBox: An open-source virtualization platform that supports a wide range of guest operating systems. VirtualBox offers features like snapshotting, seamless mode, and support for various virtual disk formats.
• VMware Workstation Player: A free virtualization tool that allows users to run multiple operating systems as virtual machines on a single Windows or Linux PC. It provides a user-friendly interface and robust performance.

Windows Sandbox​

Windows Sandbox is a lightweight, temporary virtual environment in Windows 11 Pro, designed for safely running untrusted applications. Home users can replicate this functionality with:

• Sandboxie Plus: An open-source tool that creates isolated environments (sandboxes) for running applications. It prevents changes to the host system, ensuring that any modifications or installations within the sandbox do not affect the main operating system.
• Shade Sandbox: A free sandboxing application that allows users to run browsers, email clients, and other applications in an isolated environment, protecting the system from malware and unwanted changes.

Group Policy Editor​

The Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) in Windows 11 Pro provides a centralized interface for configuring system settings. While not available in Windows 11 Home, users can:

• Policy Plus: An open-source tool that brings the Group Policy Editor interface to Windows Home editions. It allows users to view and edit Group Policy Objects (GPOs) similarly to the Pro version.
• Local Group Policy Editor Installer: Some community-developed scripts and installers enable the Group Policy Editor on Windows Home editions. However, caution is advised when using third-party scripts, and it's essential to ensure they come from reputable sources.

Advanced Networking Features​

Windows 11 Pro offers advanced networking capabilities, such as domain join and network policy management. Home users can achieve similar functionalities through:

• OpenVPN: An open-source VPN solution that allows users to create secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections. It provides robust security features and is widely used for remote access and networking.
• SoftEther VPN: A free, open-source, cross-platform, multi-protocol VPN software that offers advanced networking features, including NAT traversal and multiple VPN protocols.

Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT)​

RSAT allows IT administrators to manage Windows servers remotely. While primarily designed for Windows Pro and Enterprise editions, Home users can:

• Enable RSAT Features: Some RSAT tools can be manually installed on Windows 11 Home by downloading the necessary packages from Microsoft's official website. However, functionality may be limited compared to Pro editions.
• Third-Party Management Tools: Tools like mRemoteNG provide multi-protocol remote connections, allowing users to manage servers and network devices from a single interface.

Windows Update for Business​

Windows 11 Pro includes Windows Update for Business, offering more control over update deployments. Home users seeking similar control can use:

• WuMgr (Windows Update Manager): A free tool that allows users to manage Windows Updates, including checking for updates, installing, and hiding unwanted updates.
• Windows Update Blocker: A lightweight utility that enables users to disable or enable Windows Updates with a single click, providing control over when updates are applied.

Assigned Access (Kiosk Mode)​

Assigned Access in Windows 11 Pro allows administrators to restrict a user account to a single app, useful for kiosk setups. Home users can implement similar functionality with:

• Kiosk Software Solutions: Free tools like KioWare Lite or **FrontFace Lock

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Source: XDA https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-pro-features-replace-free-third-party-tools/