Do not pay extra for Home windows Professional's options. Use these free instruments as an alternative

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Microsoft primarily provides Home windows in two completely different editions: Dwelling and Skilled.

Home windows 11 House is pre-installed on many PCs, whereas the Professional version is commonly put in on enterprise units. It's because Home windows 11 Professional will be built-in into an organization’s community infrastructure (Lively Listing), whereas the Dwelling version can't.

Nevertheless, this characteristic just isn't vital for personal customers who're unlikely to function a Home windows server of their house community.

However, the Home windows Professional version has some options which are of curiosity to everybody.

If you wish to reap the benefits of this, you possibly can carry out a Professional replace for a price. For particulars, see the field “Improve from Home windows 11 Dwelling to Professional.”

<img decoding="async" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/windows_home_pro_1.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200" alt="Home oder Pro? Die meisten Pro-Zusatzfunktionen erhalten Nutzer der Home- Edition gratis. Zusätzliche Tools liefern nach, was in der preisgünstigeren Windows- Ausgabe fehlt." class="wp-image-2636296" width="1200" height="675" loading="lazy"/> Dwelling or Professional? Customers of the Dwelling version obtain many of the extra Professional capabilities freed from cost. Extra instruments present what's lacking within the cheaper Home windows version.

IDG

However an improve from Home windows Dwelling can be utterly free: Nearly all Professional capabilities will be changed by free software program.

It's even potential to unlock two Professional capabilities within the Dwelling Version, which we describe in additional element on this article.

See additionally: Home windows survival expertise: 8 issues each PC consumer ought to know tips on how to do

The variations between Home windows Dwelling and Professional

There are literally only some factors the place the 2 editions differ. Listed below are an important and related for personal customers:

Bitlocker encryption, which can be utilized to safe the complete drive or USB sticks, is reserved for the Professional version. Bitlocker is especially helpful for laptops in order that no one can entry your knowledge if the system is misplaced. Nevertheless, Microsoft has added the same perform to the Dwelling version of Home windows 11 24H2 with system encryption (level 3). This requires you to log in with a Microsoft account. Customers who are not looking for a Microsoft account or use Home windows 10 can use various strategies (factors 4 and 5).

Hyper-V is software program that can be utilized to virtualize working methods. For instance, you possibly can set up Linux or Home windows in Hyper-V whereas Home windows is working and use it as a digital second system. We describe how Hyper-V will be activated within the Dwelling version and what the choice Virtualbox gives in factors 6 and seven.

The distant desktop allows distant entry to the desktop of one other Home windows pc through the community. The Dwelling version solely gives distant assist, the place a consumer should first invite a helper earlier than they will entry the opposite PC. Each strategies are solely appropriate to a restricted extent for spontaneous assist through the web. Distant entry solely works if the required ports are open within the router firewall. This isn't vital for different distant help applications (see level 8).

Group insurance policies supply centralized administration of consumer rights. They're primarily utilized in bigger firm networks during which capabilities will be restricted or specified on all PCs through the central server. Native group insurance policies are a variant for computer systems that don't belong to a Home windows area. The editor for this may be activated within the Dwelling version, or another instrument can be utilized (see field “Configuring Home windows with group insurance policies”).

Encryption with Home windows on-board assets

With the Dwelling version of Home windows 10 and 11, you can not encrypt drives with Bitlocker. Nevertheless, it's potential to combine encrypted exterior arduous drives or USB sticks into the file system. Encryption should be carried out on one other PC on which the Professional or Enterprise version is put in.

If no different pc is accessible, use a digital PC (level 6 or 7).

<img decoding="async" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/pcw01_Bitlocker-Pin_RGBeci.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200" alt="Bitlocker" class="wp-image-2549031" width="1200" height="750" loading="lazy"/> Safety for exterior drives: Encrypt the drive with Bitlocker below Home windows Professional. Though the Dwelling Version can't create it, it might probably nonetheless combine it into the file system.

Microsoft

Go to “Settings” (Win-I), seek for Bitlocker and click on on “Handle Bitlocker.” Click on on the specified drive after which on “Activate Bitlocker.”

Tick the field “Use password to unlock the drive” and enter a sufficiently safe password. After clicking on “Subsequent,” save the restoration key in a file, for instance. Comply with the additional directions of the wizard.

A drive encrypted on this manner can be used with the Dwelling version. Should you open it within the file supervisor by double-clicking on it, Home windows will ask you for the password.

Gadget encryption of Home windows 11 24H2

Microsoft has outfitted Home windows 11 24H2 Dwelling with a brand new perform that can be utilized to encrypt the system drive. Bitlocker offers the idea, albeit with fewer choices than the Professional version. Home windows login with a Microsoft account can also be required.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Windows-11-Activating-Device-Encryption-in-Settings-screenshot.png?w=1200" alt="Windows 11 Activating Device Encryption in Settings screenshot" class="wp-image-2558013" style="width:1420px;height:auto" width="1200" height="824" loading="lazy"/> In Home windows 11 24H2 Dwelling: Activate “Gadget encryption” within the “Settings” if you'd like Home windows to encrypt the system partition. A Microsoft account is required for this.

Chris Hoffman / IDG

In case you are utilizing model 24H2, you must examine the choice within the “Settings” below “Privateness and safety > Gadget encryption.”

If “Gadget encryption” just isn't displayed, the system necessities for Home windows 11 are in all probability not met. Then examine within the firmware settings of the PC whether or not TPM and Safe Boot are activated.

Should you activate system encryption, you must save the related restoration key. You possibly can decide the important thing through account.microsoft.com/units/recoverykey after logging in along with your Microsoft account.

The restoration secret is required so as to entry your knowledge through a rescue or secondary system within the occasion of Home windows or {hardware} issues.

See additionally: The way to make Microsoft Home windows providers be just right for you

Encrypt drives with Veracrypt

Should you don’t wish to or can’t use Bitlocker or system encryption, Veracrypt is an virtually equal various. The instrument additionally has the benefit that it's obtainable for Linux and Mac OS. You can even use it to combine encrypted Home windows drives below these methods.

By way of safety, it's troublesome to match Bitlocker and Veracrypt. With the open supply instrument Veracrypt, you possibly can look at the supply code and examine the code high quality and implementation of the algorithms. This isn't potential with Bitlocker.

Neither methodology can promise one hundred pc safety — in the end, using any software program is a query of belief.

A research carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute for Safe Info Know-how (SIT) in 2020 is entitled “VeraCrypt with minor flaws.” No severe vulnerabilities have been discovered.

Veracrypt just isn't as nicely built-in into the system as Bitlocker. It's considerably cumbersome to make use of and it's important to enter the password for decryption each time you restart Home windows. For safety causes, the password needs to be greater than 20 characters lengthy and sufficiently complicated.

If that is an excessive amount of effort for you, you must contemplate whether or not you really want to encrypt the complete arduous drive. Maybe the answer offered in level 5 will suffice. Please additionally word that Veracrypt solely requests the password on a restart. When reactivating after “Sleep,” solely the Home windows password is requested by default.

If you wish to encrypt the system partition, proceed as follows:

Step 1: Using Veracrypt is taken into account safe. However, it's advisable to create an entire backup of the Home windows partition or no less than the non-public information.

If, for instance, the ability fails throughout encryption, the information on the arduous drive will now not be readable. Even have a USB stick prepared that's formatted with the FAT32 file system.

About 5MB of free house is enough and you can even use the stick for different functions.

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Veracrypt

Step 2: In Veracrypt, go to “System > Encrypt system partition/system drive.” Comply with the easy-to-understand directions of the wizard. You possibly can settle for the defaults virtually all over the place.

When coming into the password, please word that the Veracrypt bootloader works with the U.S. keyboard format. This system takes this under consideration and switches the keyboard format when coming into the password. Tick the “Present password” field to see the precise password.

Step 3: The wizard prompts you to create a rescue knowledge service. By default, Veracrypt saves the required file below the identify “VeraCrypt Rescue Disk.zip” in your “Paperwork” folder.

Unzip the file and duplicate the “EFI” folder it accommodates to your FAT32-formatted USB stick. After clicking on “Subsequent,” the wizard will examine whether or not the folder is current.

Step 4: Within the “System encryption pre-test” step, click on on “Take a look at.” Learn the outline, which is finest printed out. Click on on “Sure” if you end up prompted to restart the PC. Kind within the password and make sure with the Enter key.

If Veracrypt doesn't settle for the password, for instance whether it is entered incorrectly, press the Esc key. Home windows will then begin as ordinary from the beforehand unencrypted arduous drive and you'll have to configure the encryption once more.

In any other case, Home windows will begin after you enter the password. After Home windows logon, the “Pre-test accomplished” window seems robotically, during which you click on on “Encrypt.” Veracrypt then begins the encryption course of, which can take a while. A window will inform you of the progress.

Step 5: Strive booting from the rescue drive. It's possible you'll want to alter the boot sequence within the firmware setup. The rescue system gives a easy menu that can be utilized to restore the Veracrypt boot loader, load another boot loader, or decrypt the system partition.

Improve from Home windows 11 Dwelling to Professional

The Dwelling version will be transformed to a Professional version with out reinstallation. All you want is a brand new product key.

Microsoft at the moment prices $99 for the improve within the official retailer. Within the PCWorld store, nonetheless, you will get the official improve for simply $59.

When you have bought a Professional key, go to “System” within the “Settings” below Home windows 11, click on on “Activation” after which on “Replace Home windows Version.” Click on on “Change” after “Change product key” and enter the brand new product key.

Foundry

Encrypted container with Veracrypt

Should you encrypt your Home windows partition, you now not have to fret concerning the safety of particular person information. Then again, it's not notably handy to must enter an extended and sophisticated password when restarting the system.

For extra safety, solely encrypt the information which are actually price defending. To do that, use Veracrypt to create an encrypted container file that holds the delicate information.

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Veracrypt

Step 1: In Veracrypt, go to “Quantity > Create new quantity.” Go away the primary possibility “Create encrypted container file” and click on on “Subsequent” and once more on “Subsequent.”

Step 2: Specify the storage location and file identify after clicking on “File.” Comply with the additional directions of the wizard.

Step 3: Within the “Quantity password” window, enter a sufficiently complicated password with 20 characters or extra. Should you tick the “Present password” field, you possibly can examine the entry.

Step 4 (non-obligatory): You can even use a brief password or a PIN for those who additionally create a key file. To do that, tick the field subsequent to “Use key file” after which click on on “Key information.”

Click on on “Create key file(s)” and generate the entropy by transferring the mouse. Enter a reputation for the important thing file, click on on the “Create and save key file(s)” button and choose the storage location.

Save the file to a USB stick. The container can't be unlocked with out the stick or the important thing file together with the password.

Shut the window, click on on “Add information,” choose the important thing file you've simply created, and click on on “OK.” Proceed with the wizard.

Step 5: Within the Veracrypt fundamental window, click on on a free drive letter, go to “Quantity > Choose file” and specify the file created in Step 2. Then click on on “Quantity > Mount quantity” and enter the password.

Should you created a key file in step 4, tick “Use key file,” click on on “Key information,” and specify the file through “Add information.”

Step 6: For sooner entry to the encrypted container, right-click on the (digital) drive within the Veracrypt fundamental window and choose “Add to favorites” within the context menu.

Tick the field “Mount chosen quantity at login” and make sure with “OK.” Veracrypt then robotically opens a window for coming into the password after the Home windows logon.

In case you are utilizing a key file, you must specify this through “Settings > Default key information.” In any other case, you'll have to choose the file every time within the password entry window. You possibly can specify the identical key file when creating additional knowledge containers.

Digital second PC with Virtualbox

Virtualbox is open supply software program and due to this fact obtainable freed from cost for all Home windows editions. The vary of capabilities corresponds roughly to Microsoft’s Hyper-V. Set up Virtualbox and the Virtualbox extension package deal, which is required for some capabilities, equivalent to distant entry and encryption of digital arduous disks.

Click on on the “New” button to start out a wizard for establishing a digital machine in Virtualbox. You enter the ISO picture with the set up system and specify the working system and the scale of the RAM and digital arduous drive.

After finishing the wizard, click on on “Begin” and set up the working system as ordinary.

Configure VMs with Virtualbox: A wizard helps you with the set up of the system. You have to the ISO file of the Linux or Home windows set up system, for instance.

Oracle

Within the digital machine window, go to “Gadgets > Insert visitor extensions” and set up the visitor extensions from the digital DVD drive. The optimized drivers guarantee higher graphics efficiency, for instance.

Distant entry or distant upkeep through the community

Remotely management one other PC: The free Rustdesk allows entry to a distant desktop. This works within the native community and likewise over the Web with out additional configuration.

Rustdesk

You don't have to depend on the distant desktop connection of the Professional version for distant entry. There's loads of software program for this job. For instance, the open supply answer Rustdesk is freed from cost.

This system doesn't require a firewall configuration. The connection is established in encrypted type through the supplier’s switching server.

This system works with out set up — the individuals concerned solely want to start out it. The particular person searching for assist tells you the ID and password displayed. You then set up the connection, which the particular person on the opposite PC should affirm.

Actions that require elevated rights should even be confirmed. For handy use, nonetheless, you must set up Rustdesk utilizing the button on the backside left of the window. This additionally allows unattended entry to a pc. It's essential to set a password for this within the settings below “Safety.”