Что значит consumer edition windows

Windows 10 Consumer и Business в чем отличия?

Юбилейная ОС Microsoft Windows 10 помимо стандартных вариаций Home, Pro, Education, Enterprise делится еще и на 2 вида сборников релизов Business Edition и Consumer Edition. Так в чем же разница? Давайте разберемся.

Во-первых, нужно отметить, что начиная с Windows 10 Microsoft ушла от выпуска разнообразных редакций свой ОС отдельными дистрибутивами. Если раньше каждый дистрибутив от Home до Enterprise был представлен отдельным образом или диском, то теперь есть всего 2 сборника дистрибутивов — Business и Consumer Edition.

Отличия их состоят как раз в наборах редакций. Большинство из них перекликается, но есть и отличия. Давайте сравним окна выбора редакции на примере Windows 10 1903 x86 каждого сборника:

Consumer Edition

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Business Edition

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По этим скриншотам видно, что наборы отличаются всего 3-я строками.

В сборнике Consumer Edition присутствуют редакции «Домашняя» и «Домашняя для одного языка», но отсутствует корпоративная редакция.

В Business Edition же присутствует корпоративная редакция и отсутствуют домашние.

Это объясняется тем, что сборник Business Edition ориентирован на корпоративный сегмент и позволяет использовать VL лицензии Microsoft, в то время как Consumer Edition предназначен для частных лиц и позволяет использовать самый низкий уровень лицензии Home.

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Независимо от того, хотите вы обновиться до Windows 10, приобрести новый компьютер или просто переустановить систему, вам понадобится выбрать редакцию. У этой ОС есть четыре главные редакции и ещё пара побочных. Разбираемся, чем они отличаются и кому подходят.

Выбор разрядности системы

Прежде чем выбирать редакцию Windows, нужно определить разрядность системы. Microsoft предоставляет 32-разрядную версию Windows 10 для старых процессоров и 64-разрядную — для новых.

Грубо говоря, если ваш компьютер был создан после 2007 года, он скорее всего оснащён 64-разрядным процессором. Полное руководство по определению разрядности процессора вы можете посмотреть здесь.

Выбор подходящей редакции

Windows 10 Home

Начальная редакция Windows 10, предустановленная на большинстве компьютеров и ноутбуков, которые можно найти в продаже. Эта версия не имеет продвинутых инструментов для обеспечения безопасности бизнес-данных, как в старших редакциях, но они не особенно-то и нужны домашним пользователям.

В Home Edition есть все универсальные приложения от Microsoft, такие как «Календарь», «Почта», «Карты», «Фильмы» и «Фотографии».

Основной недостаток Windows 10 Home Edition — наличие рекламных приложений, которые время от времени автоматически устанавливаются в ваше меню «Пуск». Впрочем, при желании их можно удалить.

Лицензия на Домашнюю версию Windows 10 стоит 9 499 рублей.

Кому выбрать: Windows 10 Home Edition подойдёт большинству обычных пользователей. Да, в ней нет встроенных инструментов для шифрования, но при желании вы можете установить самостоятельно сторонние программы.

Windows 10 Home в Microsoft Store →

Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 Pro — более продвинутая редакция ОС от Microsoft. Она содержит все те же инструменты и приложения, что и Home Edition, плюс несколько дополнительных функций:

Лицензия на Профессиональную версию Windows 10 стоит 14 199 рублей.

Кому выбрать: Windows 10 Pro ориентирована на малые предприятия. Но и обычные пользователи могут приобрести эту редакцию, если нуждаются в продвинутых инструментах безопасности и шифрования.

Windows 10 Pro в Microsoft Store →

Windows 10 Enterprise

Windows 10 Enterprise рассчитана на корпоративное применение. Она включает в себя тот же набор инструментов, что и Windows Pro. Но, помимо этого, редакция Enterprise предоставляет доступ к обновлениям Long-Term Service Branch (LTSB). Это означает, что на ваш компьютер будут устанавливаться только проверенные и самые стабильные обновления, к тому же вы сможете откладывать их получение.

В Windows 10 Enterprise отсутствуют универсальные приложения вроде «Почты», «Календаря», «Карт» и других. Кроме того, на устройства с такой операционной системой не устанавливаются рекламные приложения.

Цена на Windows 10 Enterprise зависит от количества копий, которые вы желаете приобрести. Сначала вам придётся установить на свои компьютеры Windows 10 Pro, а уж потом обновить её до Windows 10 Enterprise. Найти сертифицированных поставщиков и уточнить цены можно на сайте Microsoft или по телефону в Центре лицензирования Microsoft.

Кому выбрать: Windows 10 Enterprise разработана специально для средних и крупных предприятий и организаций. Для обычных пользователей её возможностей будет многовато.

Windows 10 Enterprise на сайте Microsoft →

Windows 10 Education

Это редакция Windows 10 для образовательных учреждений. В общем и целом она похожа на Windows 10 Enterprise, но в ней отсутствует возможность присоединиться к каналу обновлений LTSB. Упор в этой редакции Windows делается на предоставление инструментов для студентов и преподавателей.

Здесь есть приложение для настройки учебных компьютеров и инструмент для проведения тестов и экзаменов. Кроме того, пользователи Windows 10 Education получают доступ к образовательному разделу магазина Microsoft Store.

Версия доступна только через академическое лицензирование. Вам придётся сначала установить Windows 10 Home или Pro, а затем обновиться до Education.

Кому выбрать: владельцам академических учреждений. Ориентация на образовательные приложения обычным пользователям точно ни к чему.

Windows 10 Education на сайте Microsoft →

Windows 10 S

Строго говоря, Windows 10 S — это не редакция, а особый режим для Windows 10 Home или Pro, который вы можете включить, если у вас вдруг возникнет такое желание. Он доступен также в редакциях Enterprise и Education.

В Windows 10 S ограничен набор доступных приложений. Вы можете использовать только те варианты, которые устанавливаются из Microsoft Store. Просматривать страницы в интернете здесь можно только через браузер Edge. Благодаря таким ограничениям Windows 10 S значительно легче и быстрее полноценных версий ОС, но вам придётся работать только с теми инструментами, что предлагает в своём магазине Microsoft.

Этот режим чаще всего применяется на планшетах и ноутбуках-трансформерах.

Кому выбрать: Windows 10 S используют те, на чьих устройствах она уже установлена. Конечно, вы можете установить её где захотите, но приготовьтесь столкнуться с рядом ограничений.

Windows 10 S на сайте Microsoft →

Windows 10 IoT Core

Windows 10 IoT Core (IoT означает Internet of Things, «Интернет вещей») предназначена для установки на разнообразные устройства и гаджеты. Хотите запрограммировать какого-нибудь робота, собранного вами, переоборудовать своё старое радио, обеспечив ему доступ в интернет, установить Windows на свой медиацентр или собственноручно создать устройство на базе Arduino? Воспользуйтесь Windows 10 IoT Core. Версия подходит и для различных однопалатных компьютеров, таких как Arrow DragonBoard 410c и Raspberry Pi 3.

Кому выбрать: Windows 10 IoT Core предназначена для опытных пользователей, которые увлекаются электроникой. Кроме того, она пригодится, если вы создаёте какой-нибудь высокотехнологичный стартап.

Windows 10 IoT Core на сайте Microsoft →

Ask a question Quick access

Windows 10 IT Pro > Windows 10 Installation, Setup, and Deployment

Question

I posted this question here but was told this would be the better place for it.

I’ve seen this post, however, I still don’t quite understand the differences.

With my VS Pro subscription I can download Pro editions for both Windows 10 (business edition) and Windows 10 (consumer edition).

I thought the Pro part indicated the functionality included. I’ve read that business or consumer indicates the licensing scheme? Is that correct? Does the business edition include special functionality related to bulk licensing servers, etc?

Wednesday, October 3, 2018 10:00 PM Reply | Quote

Answers

Thanks for your post in our forum.

As I know, the Business edition computer has the same function with the Consumer edition computer.

For your question about why we need business iso and consumer iso, it should be that if you have volume licenses, you need to use business iso, and if you use the retail licenses you need to use consumer iso.

If I misunderstood, please feel free to correct me.

Hope above information can help you.

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact tnmff@microsoft.com.

Thursday, October 4, 2018 6:32 AM Reply | Quote

Thursday, October 4, 2018 12:53 AM Reply | Quote

S.Sengupta,Microsoft MVP Windows and Devices for IT, Windows Insider MVP

Thursday, October 4, 2018 1:42 AM Reply | Quote

Thursday, October 4, 2018 4:00 AM Reply | Quote

Thanks for your post in our forum.

As I know, the Business edition computer has the same function with the Consumer edition computer.

For your question about why we need business iso and consumer iso, it should be that if you have volume licenses, you need to use business iso, and if you use the retail licenses you need to use consumer iso.

If I misunderstood, please feel free to correct me.

Hope above information can help you.

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact tnmff@microsoft.com.

Thursday, October 4, 2018 6:32 AM Reply | Quote

But for people with VS Pro who are able to download both isos for testing/dev purposes this shouldn’t matter. I guess Microsoft give us the option to download both for completeness sake I assume. There must be something slightly different about them under-the-hood. Probably doesn’t matter.

Thursday, October 4, 2018 9:37 PM Reply | Quote

Thursday, October 4, 2018 9:58 PM Reply | Quote

Just checking in to see if the information provided was helpful. Please let us know if you would like further assistance.

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact tnmff@microsoft.com.

Monday, October 8, 2018 3:15 AM Reply | Quote

Wednesday, November 28, 2018 6:57 PM Reply | Quote

That certainly makes sense.

Thursday, November 29, 2018 1:16 AM Reply | Quote

Источник

Сравнение версий Windows 10: таблица

В операционной системе Windows 10 имеются разные редакции (версии) системы для использования на компьютерах, различающиеся по своим функциональным возможностям. В статье мы подробно остановимся на различиях редакций ОС Windows 10.

На большинстве компьютеров, покупаемых в розницу (ноутбуки, нетбуки, моноблоки, гибридные планшеты, системные блоки настольных компьютеров), уже установлена производителем устройства определенная редакция Windows 10. В этом случае, у покупателя нет выбора, приходиться довольствоваться тем, что есть.

Пользователи, покупающие устройство без операционной системы (ноутбук, готовый системный блок, собранный системный блок и т. д.), самостоятельно устанавливают на компьютер какую-либо версию операционной системы Windows. Большинство пользователей выбирают современную операционную систему Windows 10 для установки на компьютер. Перед установкой системы, встает вопрос: какую редакцию Windows 10 выбрать, чем отличаются редакции Windows между собой.

В данной статье мы рассмотрим редакции Windows 10 для ПК и ноутбуков, не затрагивая мобильные и серверные версии Windows. Пользователи, не знающие подробностей о версии Windows 10, установленной на компьютере, могут легко узнать редакцию системы, прочитав эту статью.

Microsoft с момента выхода Windows 10 в июле 2015 года, время от времени, добавляет новые редакции операционной системы. Помимо разделения на версии, каждая редакция имеет номер сборки, номера сборок меняются после установки обновлений системы.

Основные версии Windows 10 разделены на три категории, отличающиеся друг от друга функциональными возможностями:

От основных категорий Windows 10 отделяются производные категории (подвиды основных версий), в которых основная версия имеет несколько вариантов производных редакций системы. Выбор редакции Windows 10, зависит от потребностей конкретного пользователя. Сравнение редакций Windows 10 между собой в виде таблицы, вы увидите в конце статьи.

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Существует программа Windows 10 Insider Preview для предварительной оценки новых выпусков Windows 10. Пользователи, выполняющие функции тестирования, бесплатно получают предварительные версии Windows для использования на своих компьютерах. Взамен получает телеметрию об использовании системы, это позволяет проверить работу системы с новыми функциями, выявить неисправности и устранить неполадки в следующих сборках Виндовс 10.

Для продажи в розницу поступают только 3 версии Windows 10 для установки на новые компьютеры:

Версия Windows 10 Enterprise устанавливается на компьютеры только в качестве обновления с редакции Windows 10 Pro. Остальные версии Microsoft поставляет производителям оборудования (ПК, ноутбуков) для установки на устройства, перед продажей потребителям.

Оригинальную операционную систему Windows 10 можно скачать с официального сайта Майкрософт, способами, описанными в этой статье.

Редакции Windows 10 Home

Для домашних пользователей выпущена редакция Windows 10, в которой присутствуют все базовые основные возможности операционной системы. Дома не нужны функции системы, применяемые на предприятиях, поэтому нет смысла переплачивать за лишнюю функциональность. Данная редакция хорошо подойдет для домашнего использования. В редакции Windows 10 Home применяется автоматическое обновление.

Версии Windows 10 для домашних пользователей подразделяются на следующие редакции:

Редакции Windows 10 Pro

Для предприятий малого бизнеса и домашних пользователей, которым необходимы расширенные возможности системы, предлагается профессиональная версия Windows 10, которая, в свою очередь, подразделяется на несколько редакций. В этой версии доступен гипервизор (виртуальная машина) Hyper-V, BitLocker и другие функции системы.

Профессиональные версии Windows 10 имеют следующие редакции:

Редакции Windows 10 Enterprise

Для предприятий среднего и крупного бизнеса создана корпоративная версия системы. Редакция Windows Enterprise имеет все возможности профессиональной версии, а также дополнительные функции, которые актуальны для применения на предприятиях.

Корпоративная версия Windows 10 имеет следующие редакции:

Версия Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB имеет долгосрочный срок поддержки, предназначена для стабильной надежной работы. В системе отсутствуют встроенные приложения, ограничен некоторый функционал, устанавливаются только важные обновления. ОС Windows 10 LTSB можно бесплатно использовать в течение 90 дней (пробный период), система работает на английском языке. О том, как установить русский язык в Windows читайте тут.

Другие версии Windows 10

Также имеются несколько других версий Windows 10, среди них:

Различие редакций Windows 10

Многие пользователи, наверное, замечали отличия редакций Windows 10 с буквами в конце обозначения версий системы.

Буква «N» добавляется к редакциям Windows 10, выпущенных для стран Европейского Союза. Название редакций имеют такой вид: Windows 10 Home N, Windows 10 Pro N, Windows 10 Enterprise N и т. д. Отличие от стандартных версий в том, что в этих версиях, по требованию ЕС, отсутствуют некоторые приложения (музыка Groove, Windows Media Player, Кино и ТВ), которые можно добавить в ОС самостоятельно.

Буквы «KN» добавляется к версиям системы для Южной Кореи. Здесь отсутствуют те же самые приложения. Обозначение версий выглядит следующим образом: Windows 10 Enterprise KN, Windows 10 Pro KN, Windows 10 Home KN и т. д.

Для Китая выпущена специальная версия Windows 10 China Government Edition для использования в государственных учреждениях.

Буквенные сочетания «VL», «OEM», «COEM», «GGK», «GGWA», «FPP» обозначают типы лицензий для Windows.

Сравнение версий Windows 10 в таблице

Для использования на личных компьютерах оптимально подходят две редакции: Windows 10 Домашняя и Windows 10 Профессиональная. С помощью списка, отображающего возможности разных редакций Виндовс 10, намного легче выбрать лучшую версию системы, подходящую под требования конкретного пользователя.

Для наглядного сравнения версий Windows 10 посмотрите таблицу, в которой отображены основные возможности системы в разных редакциях: Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Education.

Выводы статьи

Операционная система Windows 10 выпускается в разных редакциях, которые отличаются функциональными возможностями, в зависимости от потребностей потребителей. Для домашнего использования рекомендованы версии: Windows 10 Домашняя и Windows 10 Профессиональная.

Источник

Microsoft is ‘trying’ to make this easy. Unfortunately they’ve used the wrong lingo in what understandings people have of said lingo.

Business Edition upgrades don’t have to do with how you’re using Windows 10 – in a business setting, using Pro, Pro for Workstations, Enterprise, or Education versions.

Consumer Edition upgrades don’t have to do with if you’re running Windows 10 at home, using Home Edition or using a Pro license.

So What’s The Difference?

It has to do with the METHOD of installation  (OEM, Retail, USB Media from the Media Creation Tool, Volume) vs the Windows 10 version (Home/Pro/Enterprise/Education)

Business edition upgrades apply to Volume Media installations. This could be a Pro, Pro for Workstations, Enterprise, or Education edition, but is always created from a Volume media license and usually is done for scale deployment methods (SCCM, KACE, WDS, PDQ Deploy, etc).

Consumer Editions apply to OEM/Retail/USB Media installations from the Media Creation Tool. This could be Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Enterprise, Education editions.

How Can My Enterprise License Be Considered a Consumer Edition For Upgrades?

Here are some examples of how different scenarios can be different editions for upgrades that you would normally not think they would be.

• If you buy a system from a Manufacturer that contains an OEM version of Windows Pro, and you upgrade to Enterprise by changing the key – it’s still a consumer edition.
• If you buy a system from a Manufacturer that contains an OEM version of Pro and you wipe and load a volume licensed version of Pro – it’s a business edition.
• If you buy a system from a Manufacturer that contains an OEM version of Home and you upgrade it to Pro by changing the key – it’s still a consumer edition.
• If you buy a system from a Manufacturer that contains an OEM version of Home and you buy a Retail version of Pro and wipe and reload making it Pro – it’s a consumer edition.
• If you buy a system from a Manufacturer that had Windows 7 Pro installed. You purchased volume licenses of Windows 10 as you missed the Free Upgrade period which expired in 2016. You then wiped and installed Windows 10 Pro using USB media from the Media Creation tool, and activated it with a MAK or KMS key – it’s a consumer edition.
• If you buy a system from a Manufacturer that had Windows 7 Pro installed. You purchased volume licenses of Windows 10 as you missed the Free Upgrade period which expired in 2016. You then wiped and installed Windows 10 Pro using USB media from the downloaded volume licensed version, and activated it with a MAK or KMS key – it’s a business edition.

With less than a year on the market and its debut in October 2021, Windows 11 is offered as various editions to the public. For someone who uses their Windows PC merely to browse the internet or perform basic tasks, the edition may not matter. However, if you are interested in taking more control over your OS, then the editions may matter.

This is because each edition offers something unique and different. It has its own specialization that may benefit a specific niche of users. But what are the differences?

This post highlights the key differences in the various Windows 11 editions so that you can make an informed decision on which license to purchase. Before we dig into that, allow us to clear out any confusion the public may seem to have.

Windows Editions vs. Versions

Windows 11 is offered in the following seven editions:

• Windows 11 Home
• Windows 11 Pro
• Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
• Windows 11 Pro Education
• Windows 11 Education
• Windows 11 Enterprise
• Windows 11 SE

However, these editions have nothing to do with their versions. A version is recognized through a series of integers or an alphanumeric identifier. For example, in the case of Windows 10, a version was classified as “1903” or “1909” suffix at the end of the Windows’ name.

However, Microsoft then changed the way they denoted the versions by including alphabets. For example, the Windows 10 versions to follow were changed to “20H2” instead of “2009.”

To conclude, the operating system’s complete denotation can be “Windows 11 Pro for Workstations version 22H2.”

That said, a version can change by upgrading or downgrading the operating system, for instance, installing an update through Windows Update. However, OS editions do not work like that. Instead, they are dependent upon the type of license being used.

When activating a Windows OS, use a license or key. This could be either a volume license or a regular license, which determines whether this is a Business Edition or a Consumer Edition OS.

Business vs. Consumer Windows Operating Systems

Although it is not defined within the OS what type of license your machine is using, it is still better to know. This information is mostly useful for business consumers as often a volume license can be reused on another computer when vacated from the original PC.

The business editions of Windows apply to volume licenses. These can be the following:

• Pro
• Pro for Workstations
• Enterprise
• Education
• SE

Whereas consumer editions can be obtained through OEM installations, retail licenses, or by using Media Creation Tools. These can be the following:

• Home
• Pro
• Pro for Workstations
• Enterprise
• Education

As we mentioned, the type of edition depends on the method applied to install it, which means the Windows edition can be changed by changing the installation method or changing its license.

The table below illustrates how a change to a license key can affect an operating system’s edition:

Let us now continue to see the differences in the different Windows editions.

Types of Windows 11 Editions

Before we dig into the key differences between these editions, here is a summary of their features:

Note: All features of Windows 11 SE are not publicly available, therefore the information on the SE edition may not be as accurate.

Let us now discuss the different Windows 11 editions and how they are similar or different from one another.

You can check out your OS edition by typing in winver in the Run Command box, or learn how to find it from the ISO image before installation.

Windows 11 Home

The Home edition is perhaps the most basic edition of them all. This is probably why it takes the least amount of storage space on your hard drive.

Windows Home can most commonly be found on devices from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). However, it can also be readily found in ISO images.

Most everyday use features can be found in this edition and may look like just another Windows edition to a regular user. However, there are some missing features that an IT or sysadmin may appreciate, such as BitLocker drive encryption, Remote Desktop Connection (RDC), Group Policy editor, the ability to join a domain, etc.

This edition is mostly designed for users who like to keep their home computers to a bare minimum and use it for day-to-day tasks.

Windows 11 Professional

This edition is designed bearing the professionals at work in mind. It provides all the features which the Home edition lacks, and more! For example, apart from the features stated earlier missing in the Home edition, Windows 11 Professional also has Windows Update for Business.

This edition gives you and the system administrator for the domain (if joined) more control over how your machine behaves, resulting in enhanced security and data integrity.

Windows 11 Professional for Workstations

Windows 11 Professional for Workstations has all the features as the regular Pro version. The only difference is that it is optimized for performance, and has a Resilient File System (ReFS). ReFS is a function to protect your data by replicating a corrupted copy with an intact copy.

Windows 11 Enterprise

The Enterprise edition is primarily designed for organizations or “enterprises.” It is only available through Volume Licensing (VL) and offers more than the Professional edition.

This edition offers all the features available in the Professional edition, plus Direct Access, Windows To Go creator, BranchCache, Start Screen Control, etc.

Enterprise editions are also available in the Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC), which are kept up to date for longer times than the regular editions, and a new one comes along every 2-3 years.

Windows 11 Education

The Education edition is not so much different from the Enterprise edition. Initially, these were almost the same. However, some minor features have since been removed from the Education edition.

As the name implies, this is designed with the education sector in mind, and can often be found preinstalled in OEM devices released for the said sector.

The Education edition can also be purchased through Volume Licensing channels.

Windows 11 SE

Like Education, the SE edition is also designed for the education sector. However, it is somewhat different.

Since the SE edition ships preinstalled in Microsoft Surface devices for the education sector, it is designed to maximize productivity and decrease distractions. Therefore, it does not contain many entertainment apps and games.

With that, it also has a few extra features. For example, users can use Microsoft Suite applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint offline as part of a Microsoft 365 license. These are then later synchronized via the cloud when an active internet connection is available.

You can read more about Windows 11 SE here.

Windows IoT Enterprise

IoT stands for “Internet of Things.” Windows IoT Enterprise edition is a binary variant of the desktop edition of Windows Enterprise edition. This edition is designed to deliver enterprise manageability and security to IoT solutions.

Currently, Microsoft is offering the following 2 releases of IoT editions:

• Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, Version 21H2
• Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, Version 21H2

The IoT editions have not been included in the tables given above in this post as it is specialized for the organizations wanting to protect their IoT networking and offers all other tools as features in the regular Enterprise edition.

Final Thoughts

These are the different Windows 11 editions offered by Microsoft.

With that, we would also like to add that each of these editions can further be divided into N and KN editions. These variants are designed for Europe and Korea respectively, which adhere to their rules and regulations.

We certainly hope that this guide has cleared out any confusion and assisted you in making an informed decision on which edition to choose.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Windows 10 has several editions, all with varying feature sets, use cases, or intended devices. Certain editions are distributed only on devices directly from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), while editions such as Enterprise and Education are only available through volume licensing channels. Microsoft also makes editions of Windows 10 available to device manufacturers for use on specific classes of devices, including IoT devices, and previously marketed Windows 10 Mobile for smartphones.

Baseline editions are the only editions available as standalone purchases in retail outlets. PCs often come pre-installed with one of these editions.

Home

Windows 10 Home is designed for use in PCs, tablets and 2-in-1 PCs. It includes all features directed at consumers.^[1][2][3]

Pro

Windows 10 Pro includes all features of Windows 10 Home, with additional capabilities that are oriented towards professionals and business environments, such as Active Directory, Remote Desktop, BitLocker, Hyper-V, and Windows Defender Device Guard.^[1][2][3]

Pro for Workstations

Windows 10 Pro for Workstations is designed for high-end hardware for intensive computing tasks and supports Intel Xeon, AMD Opteron and the latest AMD Epyc processors; up to 4 CPUs; up to 256 cores; up to 6 TB RAM; the ReFS file system; Non-Volatile Dual In-line Memory Module (NVDIMM); and remote direct memory access (RDMA).^[4][5][6]

These editions add features to facilitate centralized control of many installations of the OS within an organization. The main avenue of acquiring them is a volume licensing contract with Microsoft.

Education

Windows 10 Education is distributed through Academic Volume Licensing. It was based on Windows 10 Enterprise and initially reported to have the same feature set.^[1][2][3] As of version 1709, however, this edition has fewer features. See § Comparison chart for details.

Pro Education

This edition was introduced in July 2016 for hardware partners on new devices purchased with the discounted K–12 academic license. It was based on the Pro edition of Windows 10 and contains mostly the same features as Windows 10 Pro with different options disabled by default, and adds options for setup and deployment in an education environment. It also features a «Set Up School PCs» app that allows provisioning of settings using a USB flash drive, and does not include Cortana, Microsoft Store suggestions, Windows Sandbox, or Windows Spotlight.^[7][8][9]

Enterprise

Windows 10 Enterprise provides all the features of Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, with additional features to assist with IT-based organizations.^[1][2][3] Windows 10 Enterprise is configurable on two servicing channels, Semi-Annual Channel and Windows Insider Program.^[10]

Enterprise LTSC

Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) is a long-term support variant of Windows 10 Enterprise, released every 2 to 3 years. Each release is supported with security updates for either 5 or 10 years after its release, and intentionally receives no feature updates.^[11] Some features, including the Microsoft Store and bundled apps, are not included in this edition.^[12][1][3] This edition was first released as Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB (Long-Term Servicing Branch).^[13] There are currently 4 releases of LTSC: one in 2015 (RTM), one in 2016 (version 1607), one in 2018 (labeled as 2019, version 1809), and one in 2021 (version 21H2).^[14][15]

Enterprise multi-session

Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session, a multi-session variant of Enterprise edition, included with Azure Virtual Desktop, allows multiple concurrent interactive sessions. Previously, only Windows Server could do this. A cloud-based alternative to an on-premise Remote Desktop Server (RDS). AVD is deployed in Azure Cloud as a virtual machine. License costs are already included in several Microsoft 365 subscriptions, including Microsoft 365 Business Premium or Microsoft 365 E3.

Since 2018, OEMs can ship Windows 10 Home and Pro in a feature-limited variation named S mode which evolved from the discontinued Windows 10 S. Organizations employing Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows 10 Education can make use of S mode too.^[16] S mode is a feature-limited edition of Windows 10 designed primarily for low-end devices in the education market. It has a faster initial setup and login process, and allows devices to be provisioned using a USB drive with the «Set Up School PCs» app.

With the exception of the Microsoft Teams desktop client (which was made available for S mode in April 2019),^{[citation needed]} the installation of software (both Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and Windows API apps) is only possible through the Microsoft Store, and built-in and Microsoft Store-obtained command line programs or shells cannot be run in this mode.^{[17][18][19][20]} System settings are locked to allow only Microsoft Edge as the default web browser with Bing as its search engine.^[21] The operating system may be switched out of S mode using the Microsoft Store for free. However, once S Mode is turned off, it cannot be re-enabled.^[22][23] All Windows 10 devices in S mode include a free one-year subscription to Minecraft: Education Edition.^{[citation needed]} Critics have compared the edition to Windows RT, and have considered it to be an alternative to ChromeOS.^{[22][24][25][26][27]}

These editions are licensed to OEMs only, and are primarily obtained via the purchase of hardware that includes it:

Holographic

A specific edition used by Microsoft’s HoloLens mixed reality smartglasses.^[28][29]

Team

A specific edition used by Microsoft’s Surface Hub interactive whiteboard.^[30]

Rebranded from Microsoft’s earlier operating system editions in the Windows Embedded family. Binary identical to their non-IoT counterparts with version 1809 and older,^[31] while newer versions add support for smaller storage devices.^[32][33] Available via OEMs and volume licensing for specific versions.^[34]

IoT Enterprise

Intended specifically for use in small footprint, low-cost devices and IoT scenarios.^[35][36]

IoT Enterprise LTSC

Long-Term Servicing Channel variant. Replaces all IoT Core edition variants starting with the 2021 release.^[37][38] Furthermore, the 2021 release gains an extra 5 years of support compared to its non-IoT counterpart^[39] and is available via volume licensing for the first time.^[34]

The following editions of Windows 10 were discontinued (as of Windows 10 version 21H2). For both Mobile and Mobile Enterprise, Microsoft confirmed it was exiting the consumer mobile devices market, so no successor product is available.^[40]

Mobile

Windows 10 Mobile was designed for smartphones and small tablets. It included all basic consumer features, including Continuum capability. It was the de facto successor of Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows RT.^[1][2]

Mobile Enterprise

Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise provided all of the features in Windows 10 Mobile, with additional features to assist IT-based organizations, in a manner similar to Windows 10 Enterprise, but optimized for mobile devices.^[1][2]

IoT Mobile

A binary equivalent of Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise licensed for IoT applications. Also known as IoT Mobile Enterprise.^[41][42]

IoT Core/IoT Core LTSC

Windows 10 IoT Core was optimized for smaller and lower-cost industry devices. It was also formerly provided free of charge for use in devices like the Raspberry Pi for hobbyist use. Only UWP apps are supported, and only one at a time at that.^[38] Discontinued after version 1809. Support ended on 10 November 2020 for non-LTSC,^[43] while IoT Core LTSC (2019/version 1809) support will continue until 9 January 2029.^[44][45] Merged into and replaced by IoT Enterprise LTSC starting with the 2021/version 21H2 release.^[37][38]

S

Windows 10 S was an edition released in 2017 which ultimately evolved into the so-called S mode of Windows 10. In March 2018, Microsoft announced that it would be phasing out Windows 10 S, citing confusion among manufacturers and end-users.^[46][47]

Polaris

Polaris was made for desktops and laptops; only one build was leaked in 2021. It was known as «Windows OneCore 10» in the Windows Boot Manager.^{[citation needed]}

Lean

Lean was meant to be used for cheaper desktops and laptops with a small storage capacity and resources, it could fit even on a 16 GB hard drive; only one build was released in 2018, the setup identifies the edition as «Windows 10 Lean».^[48]

Andromeda

Andromeda was demonstrated on the Lumia 950.^[49] The project was canceled for unknown reasons.

10X

Originally announced for use on dual-screen devices such as the Surface Neo and other potential form factors, 10X featured a modified user interface designed around context specific interactions or «postures» on such devices, including a redesigned Start menu with no tiles, and use of container technology to run Win32 software.^[50][51] The platform was described as a more direct competitor to ChromeOS.^[52][53] On May 4, 2020, Microsoft announced that Windows 10X would first be used on single-screen devices, and that they would «continue to look for the right moment, in conjunction with our OEM partners, to bring dual-screen devices to market».^[54] Microsoft also added anti-theft protection to Windows 10X, just like how Apple’s Activation Lock and anti-theft protection on Android devices and Chromebooks work.^[55] On May 18, 2021, Head of Windows Servicing and Delivery John Cable stated that Windows 10X had been cancelled, and that its foundational technologies would be leveraged for future Microsoft products.^[56] Several design changes in 10X, notably the centered taskbar and redesigned start menu, would be later introduced in Windows 11.^[57]

N/KN

As with previous versions of Windows since Windows XP, all Windows 10 editions for PC hardware have «N» and «KN» variations in Europe and South Korea that exclude multimedia functionality, in compliance with antitrust rulings.^[58] According to details that Microsoft has published, any app that relies on Microsoft multimedia technologies experiences impaired functionality on these editions, unable to even play audio notification tones.^[59] Restoring the missing functionality to these editions entails installing the «Media Feature Pack», followed by Skype, Movies & TV, Windows Media Player, Xbox Game Bar, Windows Voice Recorder, and four codecs.^[59] The variation cannot be changed without a clean install, and keys for one variation will not work on other variations.

Home with Bing

As with Windows 8.1, a reduced-price «Windows 10 with Bing» SKU is available to OEMs; it is subsidized by having Microsoft’s Bing search engine set as default, which cannot be changed to a different search engine by OEMs. It is intended primarily for low-cost devices, and is otherwise identical to Windows 10 Home.^[60][61]

Home Single Language

In some emerging markets,^{[citation needed]} OEMs preinstall a variation of Windows 10 Home called Single Language without the ability to switch the display language. To change the display language, the user will need to upgrade to the standard editions of Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro. It is otherwise identical to Windows 10 Home. However, it should not be confused with the standard OEM editions of Windows 10, where OEMs and mobile operators can restrict which display languages are preloaded and/or made available for download and installation for their target markets.

CMIT Government Edition

In May 2017, it was reported that Microsoft, as part of its partnership with China Electronics Technology Group, created a specially-modified variant of Windows 10 Enterprise («G») designed for use within branches of the Chinese government. This variant is pre-configured to «remove features that are not needed by Chinese government employees», and allow the use of its internal encryption algorithms.^[62][63]

OEM variants (PC and Mobile)

As with Windows 10 Mobile and previous versions of Windows since Windows Phone 7 for smartphones and Windows 8 for PCs (since its mobile counterpart shares the same Windows NT kernel), device manufacturers (as well as mobile operators for devices with cellular capabilities) who preload Windows 10 can choose not to support certain display languages either during the OOBE process or available as optional downloads via Settings and/or the Microsoft Store based on the target market. For optional downloads, in the first scenario, the option to download the language pack (and any associated supplementary fonts) will not be available; in the second scenario, the installation will be blocked with the message «This app is not compatible with this device,» where the «app» in question is a language pack from the Microsoft Store. Unlike Windows 10 Home Single Language, device manufacturers and mobile operators can support one, some, or even all of the display languages available (though many devices that do not run Single Language editions of Windows will likely support multiple display languages). OEM editions are otherwise identical to their retail counterparts without any other feature restrictions.

Microsoft OEM licensing formula takes display size, RAM capacity and storage capacity into account. In mid-2015, devices with 4 GB RAM were expected to be $20 more expensive than devices with 2 GB RAM.^[88]

At the time of launch, Microsoft deemed Windows 7 (with Service Pack 1) and Windows 8.1 users eligible to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge, so long as the upgrade took place within one year of Windows 10’s initial release date. Windows RT and the respective Enterprise editions of Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 were excluded from this offer.^[89]

Windows 10 free upgrade matrix

The following table summarizes possible transition paths (upgrade, downgrade, or migration) that can be taken, provided that proper licenses are purchased.

Windows RT does not appear in this table because it cannot be upgraded to Windows 10.

On September 28, 2023, Microsoft disabled the free upgrade path to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8.x, although upgrades from Windows 10 to 11 are still supported.^[90][91]

Microsoft releases minor versions of Windows 10 through the free feature updates.^[12] Originally, Microsoft released feature updates semiannually. They contained new features as well as changes.^[93] With the release of Windows 11, however, Microsoft has changed the release schedule to annual. These feature updates do not contain any noticeable changes.

The pace at which a system receives feature updates depends on the «release channel» (originally, «release branch») from which the system downloads its updates.^[12]

Windows Insider is a beta testing program that allows access to pre-release builds of Windows 10, enabling power users, developers, and vendors to test and provide feedback on future feature updates to Windows 10 as they are developed. Before the release of Windows 11, Windows Insider itself consisted of four «rings»:

• The Dev channel (previously «Fast» ring) distributed new builds as they were released.
• The Beta channel (previously «Slow» ring) distributed new builds with a delay following their availability on the Fast ring.
• The «Release Preview» channel distributed release candidate builds.
• The now-closed «Skip Ahead» ring distributed builds of the next feature update while a current release was being finished.

After the release of Windows 11, only the «Release Preview» and «Beta» rings remains active.

Since 2022, the General Availability Channel (GAC) distributes feature updates annually. To receive these updates, users must either request them manually or wait for their version of Windows 10 to go out of support.

Originally, however, Microsoft distributed feature updates through two distinct channels:^[94]

• The «Current Branch» (CB) distributed all feature updates as they graduated from the Windows Insider program. Microsoft only supported the latest build. Windows would automatically install the latest feature update from CB. Users could defer the CB feature update for up to 365 days.^{[95][96][97][98]} Microsoft renamed CB to «Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)» in version 1709.
• The «Current Branch for Business» (CBB), which was not available in the Home edition, distributed feature updates with a four-month delay. This allowed customers and vendors to evaluate and perform additional testing on new builds before broader deployments. Devices could be switched back to the Current Branch at any time.^[12][99] Microsoft renamed CBB to «Semi-Annual Channel» in version 1709.

Since version 1903, Microsoft dismantled the two-channel scheme in favor of a unified «Semi-Annual Channel» (SAC). Microsoft supports each SAC version of Windows for 30 months. Windows no longer installs new feature updates automatically before the expiry of the 30-months support period. With the release of Windows 11, Microsoft changed the release schedule to annual, and change the channel’s name to «General Availability Channel» (GAC).

LTSC exclusively distributes the «Enterprise LTSC», «IoT Core», and «IoT Enterprise LTSC» editions of Windows 10. Microsoft releases a new minor version of these editions every 2–3 years. LTSC builds adhere to Microsoft’s traditional support policy which was in effect before Windows 10, including:

• Five years of mainstream support
• Critical and security updates for ten years after their release (excludes non-IoT editions version 2021 and newer)^[100]
• No feature updates from Windows Update

Microsoft discourages the use of LTSC editions outside of «special-purpose devices» that perform a fixed function and thus do not require new user experience features. As a result, these editions do not come with Microsoft Store, most Cortana features, and most bundled apps.^[12][1][3] LTSC was originally called the «Long-Term Servicing Branch» (LTSB) until 2016.^[13] Later, LTSC editions are included in Windows 11.

• Windows Server 2016, based on Windows 10 version 1607^[101]
• Windows Server 2019, based on Windows 10 version 1809
• Windows Server 2022, based on a modified version of Windows 10 version 21H2
• Xbox system software, an operating system now based on the Windows 10 core, designed to run on the Xbox consoles
• Windows 10 version history