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Windows 10 editions

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Windows 10 has eight editions (excluding the four "N" editions), with varying feature sets and intended hardware.[1] [2]

Editions

All mentioned editions have the ability to use language packs, enabling multiple user interface languages. This functionality was previously only available in Windows 7 Ultimate or Enterprise.

Windows 10 Home
Windows 10 Home is designed for use in PCs, tablets, and 2-in-1s. It includes all consumer-directed features and is the equivalent to basic Windows 8, 8.1, Windows 7 Home Basic, and Home Premium. In Windows 10 Home, it is not possible to make changes to how the Windows Update works - it is automatic, and you cannot choose which updates will be downloaded and installed. It is possible to postpone the restart of the system, but after some time, it the system will restart on its own. In comparison, in Windows Pro and Enterprise, there is an option to postpone updates completely. Even more, there is a way to customize it further - system will notify you, which updates you wish to download. However, in Windows 10 Home, you can not do this.
Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 Pro is comparable with Windows 8 Pro, Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate, and Windows Vista Business and Ultimate. It builds on the Home edition and adds features essential for businesses, and functionally equivalent to Windows 8.1 Pro.
Windows 10 Enterprise
Windows 10 Enterprise provides all the features of Windows 10 Pro, with additional features to assist with IT-based organizations, and is functionally equivalent to Windows 8.1 Enterprise.
Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB
Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB (Long Term Servicing Branch) is like Windows 10 Enterprise but will not receive any feature updates, gives companies more control over the update process and is the most stripped down edition of Windows 10 available. It lacks the following applications and features:
  • Store including most modern apps like Xbox, Contacts, etc.
    • There are only four remaining modern apps: Contact Support, Search, Settings and Windows Feedback
    • It is also not possible to reinstall the Store
  • Cortana
  • Edge
  • Windows Media Player (only N-Version)

The following applications are replaced with their old counter part:

  • Modern Calculator is replaced with the original calc.exe
  • Photos is replaced with Photo Viewer as used by Microsoft till Windows 8.1
Windows 10 Education
Windows 10 Education provides all Windows 10 Enterprise features, designed for use in schools, colleges, and universities. It will be available with Microsoft's Academic Volume Licensing, in a manner similar to Windows 8.1 Enterprise.
Windows 10 Mobile
Windows 10 Mobile is designed for smartphones and small tablets. It includes all basic consumer features, including Continuum capability. It is the de facto successor of Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows RT.
Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise
Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise provides all the features in Windows 10 Mobile, with additional features to assist with IT-based organizations, in a manner similar to Windows 8.1 Enterprise, but optimized for mobile devices.
Windows 10 IoT Core
Windows 10 IoT Core is a version of Windows 10 designed specifically for use in small footprint, low-cost devices and IoT scenarios. It is similar in operating environment to Windows Embedded.

N and KN Editions

Additional Windows 10 editions specially destined for the EU, Switzerland, and South Korea (though South Korean editions have "KN") have the letter "N" (for Not with Media Player) suffixed to their names (e.g. Windows 10 Enterprise N) and do not have media-related technologies like Windows Media Player or Camera. There are N editions for all Windows 10 versions except Mobile, Mobile Enterprise, and IoT Core. Microsoft was required to create the "N" editions of Windows after the European Commission ruled in 2004 that it needed to provide a copy of Windows without Windows Media Player tied in. The costs of the N Editions are the same as the full versions, as the "Media Feature Pack" can be downloaded without charge from Microsoft.[3]

Those editions lack at least the following functionality:

  • Play or create:
    • Audio CDs
    • Digital media files
    • Video DVDs
    • Organize content in a media library
  • Create playlists
  • Convert audio CDs to digital media files
  • View artist and title information of digital media files
  • View album art of music files
  • Transfer music to personal music players
  • Record and play back TV broadcasts after
  • Internet Explorer does not include playback for:
    • Adaptive streaming
    • Digital Rights Management (DRM)

It is possible to add the missing functionality with third-party software or with the Media Feature Pack, Groove Music and Xbox Video from Microsoft.

Free upgrade

At the time of launch, Microsoft deemed Windows 7, Windows 8[4] and Windows 8.1 users eligible to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge, so long as the upgrade takes place within one year of Windows 10's initial release date. Windows RT and the respective Enterprise editions of Windows 7 and 8.1 were excluded from this offer.

Windows 10 free upgrade matrix
(for the first year of availability)
Windows version and edition Windows 10 edition
7 Starter Home
7 Home Basic
7 Home Premium
8[5]
8.1
8.1 with Bing
7 Professional Pro
7 Ultimate
8 Pro[5]
8.1 Pro
7 Enterprise None
8 Enterprise
8.1 Enterprise
RT
RT 8.1

Comparison chart

Comparison of Windows 10 editions[6][7]
Desktop Mobile IoT
Features Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Pro Windows 10 Enterprise Windows 10 Education Windows 10 Mobile Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise Windows 10 IoT Core
Architecture IA-32
x86-64 		IA-32
ARMv7 ARM
Availability OEM
Retail 		OEM
Retail
Volume Licensing 		Volume Licensing Volume Licensing OEM Volume Licensing ?
N Edition Available Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
Maximum physical memory (RAM) 4 GB on 32-bit
128 GB on 64-bit 		4 GB on 32-bit
512 GB on 64-bit 		?
Continuum Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ?
Cortana[a] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ?
Hardware Device Encryption Yes Yes Yes Yes ?
Microsoft Edge[8] Yes Yes Yes, except on devices on the Long Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) update system Yes Yes Yes ?
Microsoft Account Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ?
Mobile device management Yes Yes Yes Yes ?
Side-loading of line of business apps Yes Yes Yes Yes ?
Virtual Desktops Yes Yes Yes Yes Task View only Task View only ?
Windows Hello[b] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ?
Assigned Access 8.1 No Yes Yes Yes ?
BitLocker and EFS[citation needed] No Yes Yes Yes ?
Business Store No Yes Yes Yes ?
Current Branch for Business (CBB) No Yes Yes Yes ?
Domain join and Group Policy Management No Yes Yes Yes No No No
Enterprise Data Protection[c] No Yes Yes Yes ?
Enterprise Mode Internet Explorer (EMIE) No Yes Yes Yes ?
Hyper-V[citation needed] No 64-bit SKUs only 64-bit SKUs only 64-bit SKUs only ?
Microsoft Azure Active Directory join No Yes Yes Yes ?
Private Catalog No Yes Yes Yes ?
Windows Update for Business No Yes Yes Yes ?
Remote Desktop Client only Client and host Client and host Client and host ?
Remote App Client only Client only Client and host Client and host ?
AppLocker No No Yes Yes No No No
BranchCache No No Yes Yes No No No
Credential Guard[c] (Pass the hash mitigations) No No Yes Yes No No No
Device Guard[c] No No Yes Yes No No No
DirectAccess No No Yes Yes No No No
Start Screen Control with Group Policy No No Yes Yes No No No
User experience control and lockdown No No Yes Yes No No No
Windows Spotlight[9] Yes No No No ? ? ?
Windows To Go No No Yes Yes No No No
Long Term Servicing Branch (LTSB)[d] No No Yes No No No No
In-Place Upgrade to Enterprise Edition No Yes Yes No No No No
In-Place Upgrade to Education Edition Yes Yes No Yes No No No
Features Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Pro Windows 10 Enterprise Windows 10 Education Windows 10 Mobile Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise Windows 10 IoT Core
Desktop Mobile IoT

See also

  • Windows Holographic, another variant of Windows 10 designed to run on augmented reality devices.

Notes

  1. ^ Cortana is available only in certain markets; Experience may vary by region and device; Requires Microsoft Account to use
  2. ^ Windows Hello requires specialized hardware, including fingerprint reader, illuminated IR sensor or other biometric sensors.
  3. ^ a b c Coming After Launch, Subject to Change
  4. ^ Certain features may not be available for customers who choose to take advantage of the Long term Servicing Branch option.

References

  1. ^ Prophet, Tony (13 May 2015). "Introducing Windows 10 Editions". Blogging Windows. Microsoft. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Appendix A: KMS Client Setup Keys". Microsoft Technet. Microsoft. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  3. ^ WinBeta, Ron (2 August 2015). "Grab the Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N and Windows 10 KN editions". WinBeta.
  4. ^ "Windows 10 FAQ & Tips". Microsoft. Retrieved August 10, 2015. Microsoft is making Windows 10 available as a free upgrade1 for qualified and genuine Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 devices.
  5. ^ a b "Installing Windows 10 using the media creation tool". Microsoft. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  6. ^ Dudau, Vlad (10 June 2015). "Microsoft shows OEMs how to market Windows 10; talks features and SKUs". Neowin. Neowin LLC. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Find out which Windows is right for you". Microsoft. Microsoft Inc. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  8. ^ Foley, Mary Jo (9 June 2015). "Some Windows 10 Enterprise users won't get Microsoft's Edge browser". ZDNet. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Windows 10 Pro - No Windows Spotlight option in Lock Screen". Microsoft Community. Microsoft. 26 Aug 2015. Retrieved 27 Aug 2015.
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